Poverty Dispatch - March 31, 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 Program Enrollment
• Child Welfare Computer System - Ohio
• Child Welfare System - Alabama
• Medicaid Funding - Mississippi
• State Children's Health Insurance Program - Kentucky
• State Budgets and Spending on Programs and Education
• New Jersey FamilyCare Health Program Audit
• Home Energy Assistance Programs and Rising Costs - Maryland
• Re-entry from Institutions and Homelessness - Kentucky
• The Working Poor - Michigan, Tennessee, Florida, Texas
• High School Graduation Rates - Ohio, Florida
• College Scholarship Program for Low-income Students - Washington
• Access to Cable and Internet Services for the Low-income
• Prescription Drug Program for the Uninsured - West Virginia
• Arizona Guest Worker Program
• Opinions: Understanding and Fighting Poverty

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).
Article links will open in new browser window.

Food Stamp Program Enrollment

As jobs vanish and prices rise, food stamp use nears record. Read Article
By Erik Eckholm, New York Times. March 31, 2008.
 

One in 6 West Virginians is on food stamps. (WEST VIRGINIA) Read Article
By Justin D. Anderson, Charleston Daily Mail. March 26, 2008.
 

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Child Welfare Computer System - Ohio

County: State plan could hurt kids. (OHIO) Read Article
By Aaron Marshall, Cleveland Plain Dealer. March 30, 2008.
 

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Child Welfare System - Alabama

Court agrees to end foster care oversight. (ALABAMA) Read Article
By Phillip Rawls (Associated Press), Montgomery Advertiser. March 31, 2008.
 

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Medicaid Funding - Mississippi

Officials open to Medicaid proposal. (MISSISSIPPI) Read Article
By Natalie Chandler, Clarion Ledger. March 29, 2008.
 

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State Children's Health Insurance Program - Kentucky

Louisville group seeks to boost enrollment in health care plan for low-income children. (KENTUCKY) Read Article
By Deborah Yetter, Louisville Courier-Journal. March 30, 2008.
 

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State Budgets and Spending on Programs and Education

States are hit hard by economic downturn. Read Article
By Keith B. Richburg and Ashley Surdin, Washington Post. March 31, 2008.
 

Federal health care cuts put new pressure on state budget. (OKLAHOMA) Read Article
By Tim Talley (Associated Press), Durant Daily Democrat. March 31, 2008.
 

Agencies gird for new cuts. (FLORIDA) Read Article
By Carol E. Lee and Lloyd Dunkelberger, Sarasota Herald-Tribune. March 31, 2008.
 

Foster kids, frail seniors among losers in budget plan. (FLORIDA) Read Article
By Steve Bousquet, St. Petersburg Times. March 27, 2008.
 

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New Jersey FamilyCare Health Program Audit

Wealthy people enrolled in N.J. program for poor. (NEW JERSEY) Read Article
By Tom Hester Jr. (Associated Press), Newsday. March 31, 2008.
 

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Home Energy Assistance Programs and Rising Costs - Maryland

With utility bills up, aid programs feel the heat. (MARYLAND) Read Article
By Mary Otto, Washington Post. March 31, 2008.
 

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Re-entry from Institutions and Homelessness - Kentucky

Bill to reduce homelessness advances in Senate. (KENTUCKY) Read Article
By Deborah Yetter, Louisville Courier-Journal. March 28, 2008.
 

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The Working Poor - Michigan, Tennessee, Florida, Texas

Home life of working poor grueling. (MICHIGAN) Read Article
By Susan Harrison Wolffis, Muskegon Chronicle. March 30, 2008.
 

80 percent of poor Americans work. (TENNESSEE) Read Article
By Wendi C. Thomas, Memphis Commercial Appeal. March 30, 2008.
 

Florida's death toll high for working poor, report says. (FLORIDA) Read Article
By Mark K. Matthews, Orlando Sentinel. March 27, 2008.
 

Low-income families look forward to influx of cash from tax refunds. (TEXAS) Read Article
Forth Worth Star Telegram. March 30, 2008.
 

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High School Graduation Rates - Ohio, Florida

Ohio's grad rate to drop. (OHIO) Read Article
By Jennifer Smith Richards, Columbus Dispatch. March 30, 2008.
 

Low graduation rate draws Florida lawsuit. (FLORIDA) Read Article
By Stacy Teicher Khadaroo, Christian Science Monitor. March 26, 2008.
 

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College Scholarship Program for Low-income Students - Washington

State promises help with college costs for low-income students. (WASHINGTON) Read Article
By Manuel Valdes (Associated Press), Seattle Post-Intelligencer. March 30, 2008.
 

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Access to Cable and Internet Services for the Low-income

Limited access: Over half of Mississippians must leave home to get on the Internet. (MISSISSIPPI) Read Article
By Richard Lake, Clarion Ledger. March 26, 2008.
 

As TV goes digital, some viewers may be in the dark. Read Article
By Kim Hart, Washington Post. March 31, 2008.
 

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Prescription Drug Program for the Uninsured - West Virginia

New program offers free medicine to uninsured. (WEST VIRGINIA) Read Article
Associated Press, Charleston Daily Mail. March 28, 2008.
 

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Arizona Guest Worker Program

Arizona considers a guest worker program of its own. (ARIZONA) Read Article
By Faye Bowers, Christian Science Monitor. March 24, 2008.
 

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Opinions: Understanding and Fighting Poverty

The sting of poverty. Read Article
By Drake Bennett, Boston Globe. March 30, 2008.
 

Remember state's pledge to fight poverty. (MINNESOTA) Read Article
By Peter Rogness, Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune. March 30, 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).