From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

The high cost of higher education.

Hello again, I'm Aran Alney, and this is To the Poet from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

President Obama wants

every American to have access to college, but tuition and other costs are too high for millions

of young people. The president would make Pell Grants a big new entitlement program financed by money

saved if the government takes over student loans. Even some Democrats are dubious about that

in the midst of the recession,

and private lenders have an army of lobbyists on Capitol Hill. We'll hear both sides

and talk to graduates burdened with debt before getting their first jobs in a tough market.

On reporter's notebook later on, The Best Record in Baseball and Performance En and performance enhancing drugs. First, the news.

Support for To the Point comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica and from the Public Radio

International Program Fund, whose contributors include the Ford Foundation and the John D. and

Catherine T. McArthur Foundation. Hello again. Warren Alney, back with To the Point.

The rising cost of tuition and fees makes college inaccessible for millions of young Americans,

while others graduate with tens of thousands of dollars in debt.

We'll look at their plight, their prospects, and President Obama's plan to take over student loans

and create a big new entitlement program.

On reporter's notebook, L.A. Dodgers star outfielder Mani Ramirez has been suspended for

violating the drug policies of the major leagues. First, this news update, results of the

much-awaited stress tests for American banks will be formally announced later today, but a lot

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