Student debt hits 1 in 5 households
WASHINGTON (AP) — With college enrollment growing, student debt has stretched to a record number of U.S. households — nearly 1 in 5 — with the biggest burdens falling on the young and poor. The analysis by the Pew Research Center found that 22.4 million households, or 19 percent, had college debt in 2010.
That is double the share in 1989, and up from 15 percent in 2007, just prior to the recession — representing the biggest three-year increase in student debt in more than two decades. The increase was driven by higher tuition costs as well as rising college enrollment during the economic downturn. The biggest jumps occurred in households at the two extremes of the income distribution.
More well-off families are digging deeper into their pockets to pay for costly private colleges, while lower-income people in search of higher-wage jobs are enrolling in community colleges, public universities and other schools as a way to boost their resumes.
Because of the sluggish economy, fewer college students than before are able to settle into full-time careers immediately upon graduation, contributing to a jump in debt among lower-income households as the young adults take on part-time jobs or attend graduate school, according to Pew. As a share of household income, the debt burden was the greatest for the poorest 20 percent of households, or those making less than $21,044. In all, 40 percent of U.S. households headed by someone younger than age 35 owed college debt, the highest share of any age group.
“Comparing the debt to their economic resources, the lowest-income fifth of households are the ones experiencing the greatest stresses,” said Richard Fry, a senior economist at Pew.
New York to get
giant Ferris wheel
NEW YORK (AP) — The Big Apple is getting another “biggest”: The world’s biggest Ferris wheel is to be built on Staten Island, in an ambitious attempt to draw tourists to what’s sometimes known as the city’s “forgotten borough,” officials announced Thursday
The $230 million attraction, to be called the New York Wheel, is to grace a spot overlooking the Statue of Liberty, New York Harbor and the downtown Manhattan skyline — a singular view that officials hope will add to the appeal what they say would be the world’s tallest Ferris wheel.
The 625-foot-tall structure would swing higher than the Singapore Flyer, the London Eye, and a “High Roller” wheel planned in Las Vegas.
“The New York Wheel will be an attraction unlike any other in New York City — even unlike any other on the planet,” Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a release.
Construction is expected to begin in early 2014 on the privately financed project, which also includes a 100-shop outlet mall and a 200-room hotel. The grand opening could come by the end of 2015. While riding the Staten Island Ferry is a staple of many visitors’ agendas, the city has long sought to entice tourists off the boat.
2 dozen join N.Y. JetBlue lawsuit
MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) — Two dozen passengers joined a lawsuit in New York on Thursday against JetBlue Airways Corp. stemming from a pilot’s rant during a cross-country flight.
They are now among 34 passengers who claim they feared for their lives when a pilot had to be restrained in the cabin while ranting wildly during the March Las Vegas-bound flight.
The flight was diverted and safely landed in Amarillo, Texas. An amended lawsuit was filed in federal court in Brooklyn; the original lawsuit was filed in June in state Supreme Court but was moved to federal court at the request of the airline, according to the amended complaint.
It claims JetBlue was “grossly negligent” in allowing Capt. Clayton Osbon to fly. Osbon was charged with interference with a flight crew, but he was found not guilty by reason of insanity in July.
A JetBlue spokeswoman said Thursday the airline does not comment on pending litigation.
A forensic neuropsychologist testified in a short, unpublicized trial that Osbon had a “brief psychotic disorder” at the time of the flight, brought on by lack of sleep.
Passengers said Osbon left the cockpit during the March 27 flight. He ran through the plane’s cabin yelling about Jesus and al-Qaida.
‘Anarchy’ actor kills landlady, self
LOS ANGELES (AP) — An actor whose character died a violent death on the TV drama “Sons of Anarchy” plunged to his death in a driveway after apparently killing his landlady and attacking neighbors near Hollywood, police said.
Johnny Lewis, who played Kip “Half-Sack” Epps in the FX show, is the only suspect in the death of 81-year-old Catherine Davis, according to Los Angeles police.
Authorities found them dead Wednesday morning after neighbors reported a woman screaming inside the home. The home was ransacked, glass was shattered and a dead cat was found. Neighbors said a man had jumped a fence and assaulted a painter and homeowner next door.
The body of Lewis, 28, was found dead in the driveway. He could have jumped or fallen from the roof, garage or balcony, or tumbled down stairs from a patio area, police said.
It appears Davis had been beaten, Smith said.
Because of the circumstances, investigators were checking whether Lewis was on drugs or had mental health issues, Smith said.
Lewis was released from Los Angeles County Jail a week ago, according to court records.
He pleaded no contest to assault with a deadly weapon and attempted burglary in separate cases this year and was enrolled in a drug, alcohol and psychiatric treatment program over the summer, according to records.
As a condition of his probation in both cases, he was ordered to stay away from narcotics.
Lewis’ attorney Jonathan Mandel said he was “surprised” and “baffled” by what happened.
Mandel declined to immediately comment on Lewis’s criminal history or possible drug problems because of client confidentiality.
Lewis’ career spanned more than a decade, mainly in small roles. He played Ricky in the 2007 movie “AVPR: Aliens vs Predator — Requiem” and was Dennis “Chili” Childress for two seasons on TV’s “The O.C.”
His was on “Sons of Anarchy” in 2008 and 2009 before his character was killed.
Kurt Sutter, the show’s creator and executive producer, tweeted news of Lewis’ death Thursday:
“It was a tragic end for an extremely talented guy, who unfortunately had lost his way,” Sutter wrote. “I wish I could say that I was shocked by the events last night, but I was not. I am deeply sorry that an innocent life had to be thrown into his destructive path.”
