Poverty Dispatch - February 21, 2008

IRP compiles and distributes Poverty Dispatches, links to Web-based news items dealing with poverty, welfare reform, and related topics twice a week. Each Dispatch lists links to current news in popular print media. Persons wishing to receive Poverty Dispatches by e-mail should send a request to rsnell@ssc.wisc.edu.

Today's Topics in the News:

• Food Stamp Application System - Texas
• Child Welfare Oversight - Indiana
• Medicaid Rules and Funding Child Welfare Programs - Oklahoma
• Report: Anti-poverty Programs - New Jersey
• Kids Count Reports - Missouri, West Virginia
• Food Insecurity and Family Nutrition
• Long-term Unemployment
• Juvenile Offenders and Alternative Sentencing
• Higher Education and Trends in Economic Mobility
• States and Spending on Higher Education
• State Health Plans and Covering the Uninsured
• Payday Lending Legislation - South Carolina
• State Minimum Wage - Kansas
• Sales Tax Burden and Low-income Workers - Washington

Today's Articles:

Note: All links are external; some links may require a free registration at the host site (e.g., New York Times, Chicago Tribune).
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Food Stamp Application System - Texas

Texas food stamp applications delayed. (TEXAS) Read Article
By Corrie MacLaggan, Austin American-Statesman. February 20, 2008.
 

New system delaying Texas food stamps applications. (TEXAS) Read Article
Associated Press, Houston Chronicle. February 20, 2008.
 

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Child Welfare Oversight - Indiana

Deaths of kids raise oversight questions. (INDIANA) Read Article
By Tim Evans, Indianapolis Star. February 18, 2008.
 

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Medicaid Rules and Funding Child Welfare Programs - Oklahoma

State agencies could lose $37 million. (OKLAHOMA) Read Article
By Josh Rabe, The Oklahoman. February 18, 2008.
 

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Report: Anti-poverty Programs - New Jersey

Legal Services study suggests anti-poverty efforts are failing. (NEW JERSEY) Read Article
By Susan K. Livio, Star-Ledger. February 20, 2008.
 

Group calls on Corzine to ease growing poverty. (NEW JERSEY) Read Article
By Tom Baldwin, Courier-Post. February 20, 2008.
 

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Kids Count Reports - Missouri, West Virginia

Counties graded low for kids' welfare. (MISSOURI) Read Article
Springfield News-Leader. February 20, 2008.
 

Kids Count launches effort to improve child care. (WEST VIRGINIA) Read Article
By Bill Billeter, Register-Herald. February 18, 2008.
 

Grants hope to stimulate preschool access. (WEST VIRGINIA) Read Article
By Bill Rosenberger, Herald-Dispatch. February 19, 2008.
 

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Food Insecurity and Family Nutrition

Poverty drains nutrition from family diet. Read Article
By Alan Mozes, U.S. News and World Report. February 21, 2008.
 

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Long-term Unemployment

Jobless spend more time looking for work. Read Article
By Kevin G. Hall, Wisconsin State Journal. February 18, 2008.
 

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Juvenile Offenders and Alternative Sentencing

A home remedy for juvenile offenders. Read Article
By Leslie Kaufman, New York Times. February 20, 2008.
 

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Higher Education and Trends in Economic Mobility

Higher education gap may slow economic mobility. Read Article
By Erik Eckholm, New York Times. February 20, 2008.
 

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States and Spending on Higher Education

Govs propose investing in higher ed. Read Article
By Pauline Vu, Stateline.org. February 20, 2008.
 

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State Health Plans and Covering the Uninsured

States mull greater insurance eligibility for young adults. Read Article
By Kevin Freking (Associated Press), Detroit Free Press. February 21, 2008.
 

Crist wants to extend health insurance in Florida. (FLORIDA) Read Article
By John Kennedy, Orlando Sentinel. February 20, 2008.
 

Crist touts health insurance plan for working poor. (FLORIDA) Read Article
By Mark Hollis, South Florida Sun-Sentinel. February 20, 2008.
 

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Payday Lending Legislation - South Carolina

Showdown looms for payday lending bill. (SOUTH CAROLINA) Read Article
By Jim DuPlessis, The State. February 18, 2008.
 

Senate votes to limit loans. (SOUTH CAROLINA) Read Article
By Jim DuPlessis, The State. February 20, 2008.
 

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State Minimum Wage - Kansas

Lawmaker proposes big minimum wage hike. (KANSAS) Read Article
By James Carlson, Topeka Capital-Journal. February 19, 2008.
 

Senate panel debates merit of raising minimum wage. (KANSAS) Read Article
By James Carlson, Topeka Capital-Journal. February 20, 2008.
 

Bill proposes increasing minimum wage in state. (KANSAS) Read Article
By Sophia Maines and Scott Rothschild, Lawrence Journal-World. February 20, 2008.
 

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Sales Tax Burden and Low-income Workers - Washington

Sales tax rebate bill passes Senate. (WASHINGTON) Read Article
By Kathie Durbin, The Columbian. February 20, 2008.
 

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Note: All links are external; some links may require a free registration at the host site (e.g., New York Times, Chicago Tribune).