Poverty Dispatch - December 4, 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 irppubs@ssc.wisc.edu.

Today's Topics in the News:

• State Budgets and the Economy
• Increasing Need for Food Assistance
• Funding for School Lunch Program - California
• State Medicaid Programs - Kentucky, Nevada
• Homeless Families - Florida, Michigan
• Foster Care Programs
• Report: Self-Sufficiency Standard - Colorado
• Report: Affordability of Higher Education
• Poverty Reduction Plan - Ontario, CA
• Paid Family Leave
• Report: U.S. Health Rankings

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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State Budgets and the Economy

Govs host historic meeting with Obama. Read Article
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org. December 2, 2008.
 

Governors push economic stimulus package. Read Article
By Jonathan Tilove, New Orleans Times-Picayune. December 2, 2008.
 

Democrats in House plan a package of up to $500 billion to help states. Read Article
By Robert Pear, New York Times. December 1, 2008.
 

Shifting economy keeps states guessing. Read Article
By Stephen C. Fehr, Stateline.org. December 4, 2008.
 

State officials predict 'historic' budget deficit. (MINNESOTA) Read Article
By Tim Pugmire, Minnesota Public Radio. December 3, 2008.
 

Proposed Oregon budget looks to future, cuts some current programs. (OREGON) Read Article
By Harry Esteve and Michelle Cole, The Oregonian. December 1, 2008.
 

Combating tough economic times. (RHODE ISLAND) Read Article
By Steve Peoples, Providence Journal. December 4, 2008.
 

State's budget deficit growing. (OHIO) Read Article
By Laura A. Bischoff, Dayton Daily News. December 1, 2008.
 

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Increasing Need for Food Assistance

Tennessee sees record number of people on food stamps. (TENNESSEE) Read Article
By Rachel Stults, The Tennessean. December 2, 2008.
 

Record number of Americans using food stamps: report. Read Article
By Roberta Rampton, Reuters. December 3, 2008.
 

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Funding for School Lunch Program - California

California in danger of running out of money for school meals. (CALIFORNIA) Read Article
By Mary MacVean, Los Angeles Times. December 3, 2008.
 

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State Medicaid Programs - Kentucky, Nevada

Medicaid crisis hits Kentucky. (KENTUCKY) Read Article
By Deborah Yetter, Louisville Courier-Journal. December 3, 2008.
 

Medicaid cuts compound health, economic crises. (NEVADA) Read Article
By Marshall Allen, Las Vegas Sun. December 2, 2008.
 

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Homeless Families - Florida, Michigan

New homeless: families in bind. (FLORIDA) Read Article
By Cristina Silva, St. Petersburg Times. December 2, 2008.
 

Homelessness rises in Calhoun County. (MICHIGAN) Read Article
By Justin A. Hinkley and Elizabeth Willis, Battle Creek Enquirer. December 4, 2008.
 

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Foster Care Programs

People who age out of foster care often need help. (KENTUCKY) Read Article
By Merlene Davis, Lexington Herald-Leader. December 2, 2008.
 

Youth 'aged out' of foster care get a helping hand at Sunnyvale transitional home. (CALIFORNIA) Read Article
By Cody Kraatz, Sunnyvale Sun. December 3, 2008.
 

Foster care: Does it deliver? (PENNSYLVANIA) Read Article
By Robyn Meadows, Lancaster New Era. December 2, 2008.
 

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Report: Self-Sufficiency Standard - Colorado

Study finds 1 in 5 households unable to meet basic needs. (COLORADO) Read Article
By Sarah Bultema, Loveland Reporter-Herald. December 4, 2008.
 

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Report: Affordability of Higher Education

College may become unaffordable for most in U.S. Read Article
By Tamar Lewin, New York Times. December 3, 2008.
 

Report gives California passing grade in college affordability; rest of nation fails. Read Article
By Gale Holland, Los Angeles Times. December 3, 2008.
 

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Poverty Reduction Plan - Ontario, CA

Ontario backs '25-in-5' poverty plan. (ONTARIO, CA) Read Article
By Tanya Talaga, Toronto Star. December 4, 2008.
 

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Paid Family Leave

Hopes of mandating paid family days may lose to recession. Read Article
By David Crary (Associated Press), Van Wert Times Bulletin. December 3, 2008.
 

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Report: U.S. Health Rankings

U.S. health gains stall, could reverse. Read Article
By Steve Sternberg, USA Today. December 3, 2008.
 

Minnesota slips in healthiest state rankings. Read Article
By Josephine Marcotty, Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune. December 3, 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).