Poverty Dispatch - January 12, 2009

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:

• Joblessness and Unemployment
• The Unemployed and Health Insurance Coverage
• Welfare-to-Work Programs - California
• Food Stamp Program
• WIC Program and Nutrition - Kentucky
• Child Care Assistance - North Carolina, California
• Report: Child Well-Being - Texas
• Sales Taxes on Food - Tennessee, Alaska
• Section 8 Housing Program - Delaware
• Children's Health Insurance Coverage
• Homelessness and Housing - Hawaii, Massachusetts, Florida
• School Districts and Homeless Students
• Medicaid Reform - Rhode Island
• Dallas Morning News Investigative Series

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.

Joblessness and Unemployment

Job losses at highest level since 1945. Read Article
By Maura Reynolds and Peter Nicholas, Los Angeles Times. January 10, 2009.
 

Black men hardest hit by joblessness in U.S. Read Article
By Kirsten Valle, Charlotte Observer. January 9, 2009.
 

States swamped by spike in jobless rates. Read Article
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org. January 9, 2009.
 

Jobless claims overwhelm state offices. Read Article
By Ron Scherer, Christian Science Monitor. January 12, 2009.
 

Unemployment claims jam states' websites, phone lines. Read Article
By Marisol Bello, USA Today. January 12, 2009.
 

Adding to recession’s pain, thousands to lose jobless benefits. (NEW YORK) Read Article
By Patrick McGeehan and Mathew R. Warren, New York Times. January 11, 2009.
 

Social services see recession's toll. (CALIFORNIA) Read Article
By David Lazarus, Los Angeles Times. January 10, 2009.
 

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The Unemployed and Health Insurance Coverage

COBRA too costly for many unemployed, report finds. Read Article
By Ceci Connolly, Washington Post. January 10, 2009.
 

Families can't afford COBRA. (OHIO) Read Article
By Peggy O'Farrell, Cincinnati Enquirer. January 10, 2009.
 

Newly unemployed often can't afford to continue health insurance. (WISCONSIN) Read Article
Shawn Doherty, Capital Times. January 10, 2009.
 

Report: COBRA cost is too much. (FLORIDA) Read Article
By John Dorschner, Miami Herald. January 10, 2009.
 

Out of work, with no health insurance. (Opinion) Read Article
By Paul Thissen, Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune. January 9, 2009.
 

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Welfare-to-Work Programs - California

County rates poorly in getting assistance recipients into jobs. (CALIFORNIA) Read Article
By Kathleen Wilson, Ventura County Star. January 9, 2009.
 

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Food Stamp Program

Need is growing for food stamps. (TENNESSEE) Read Article
By Mariann Martin, Jackson Sun. January 11, 2009.
 

Economy, seniors push up number of food stamps users. (ALABAMA) Read Article
By Jason Morton, Tuscaloosa News. January 10, 2009.
 

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WIC Program and Nutrition - Kentucky

WIC to promote healthier choices. (KENTUCKY) Read Article
By Ronica Shannon, Richmond Register. January 11, 2009.
 

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Child Care Assistance - North Carolina, California

Reduction in child care subsidies hurts parents, providers. (NORTH CAROLINA) Read Article
By Laura Smith, Burlington Times-News. January 10, 2009.
 

Child-care funds go unused in county. (CALIFORNIA) Read Article
By Melissa Evans, Contra Costa Times. January 10, 2009.
 

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Report: Child Well-Being - Texas

TCC: Underinvesting in Texas' children may take toll on state. (TEXAS) Read Article
By Ann Work, Times Record News. January 9, 2009.
 

Advocacy group finds Texas 'under-investing' in kids. (TEXAS) Read Article
By Nancy Martinez, Houston Chronicle. January 6, 2009.
 

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Sales Taxes on Food - Tennessee, Alaska

Food sales tax targeted. (TENNESSEE) Read Article
By Christina E. Sanchez, The Tennessean. January 5, 2009.
 

Chambers renews push for food tax exemption. (JUNEAU, AK) Read Article
By Jeremy Hsieh, Juneau Empire. December 29, 2008.
 

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Section 8 Housing Program - Delaware

Thousands hoping for Section 8 aid. (DELAWARE) Read Article
By Angie Basiouny, Wilmington News Journal. January 11, 2009.
 

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Children's Health Insurance Coverage

Goal to insure all kids could fall to budget ax. (WASHINGTON) Read Article
By Kyung M. Song, Seattle Times. January 12, 2009.
 

Health funds for kids get priority. Read Article
By Kevin Freking (Associated Press), Atlanta Journal-Constitution. January 12, 2009.
 

Cover the children. (Column) Read Article
By E. J. Dionne Jr., Washington Post. January 12, 2009.
 

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Homelessness and Housing - Hawaii, Massachusetts, Florida

Many at risk of being homeless in Hawaii. (HAWAII) Read Article
By Mary Vorsino, Honolulu Advertiser. January 6, 2009.
 

Patrick to revise homeless services. (MASSACHUSETTS) Read Article
By Lee Hammel, Worcester Telegram and Gazette. January 8, 2009.
 

Tallahassee homeless advocates struggle with reduced budgets, housing shortage. (FLORIDA) Read Article
By John Crawford, Tallahassee Democrat. January 11, 2009.
 

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School Districts and Homeless Students

PSD's homeless count could pass 1,000 mark. (COLORADO) Read Article
By Hallie Woods, The Coloradoan. January 11, 2009.
 

Homeless students present challenge. (MASSACHUSETTS) Read Article
By Ted LaBorde, The Republican. January 11, 2009.
 

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Medicaid Reform - Rhode Island

In R.I., sides line up over governor’s bid to cap Medicaid spending. (RHODE ISLAND) Read Article
By Cynthia Needham and Katherine Gregg, Providence Journal. January 10, 2009.
 

Patients, dentists fear loss of Medicaid coverage. (RHODE ISLAND) Read Article
By Lynn Arditi, Providence Journal. January 11, 2009.
 

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Dallas Morning News Investigative Series

State of Neglect. (TEXAS) Visit Series Homepage
Dallas Morning News. January, 2009.
 

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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).