Poverty Dispatch - August 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 rsnell@ssc.wisc.edu.

Today's Topics in the News:

• Privatization of Social Services - Indiana
• TANF Programs - Virginia
• Child Poverty - Wisconsin
• Washington Post Series on Low-wage Workers
• State Medicaid Programs and Spending
• State Health Insurance Plans - Indiana, Connecticut, Tennessee
• Homelessness and Housing Programs
• Post-Katrina Temporary Housing
• Low-income Workers and Home-ownership Programs
• Utility Costs and Energy Assistance Programs
• U.S. Unemployment Rate
• Earned Income Tax Credit - Louisiana
• Child Care Subsidies - New York, Michigan
• Measuring Quality of Schools and Teachers

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.

Privatization of Social Services - Indiana

Rollout of automated Indiana welfare may be months. (INDIANA) Read Article
By Tim Evans and Francesca Jarosz, Indianapolis Star. August 1, 2008.
 

Lawmakers hear complaints about welfare system. (INDIANA) Read Article
By Rick Callahan (Associated Press), Indianapolis Star. July 31, 2008.
 

New FSSA process leaving needy behind. (INDIANA) Read Article
Editorial, South Bend Tribune. August 3, 2008.
 

Fixing state welfare system an urgent need. (INDIANA) Read Article
Editorial, Terra Haute Tribune-Star. August 2, 2008.
 

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TANF Programs - Virginia

Va. stretches to help workers make transition from welfare. (VIRGINIA) Read Article
By Chris L. Jenkins, Washington Post. August 3, 2008.
 

Debit cards soon to be available to TANF recipients. (VIRGINIA) Read Article
By Charles Owens, Bluefield Daily Telegraph. August 3, 2008.
 

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Child Poverty - Wisconsin

Teachers see firsthand the effects of poverty on children. (WISCONSIN) Read Article
By Autumn Grooms, La Crosse Tribune. August 3, 2008.
 

Beaver Dam responds to increasing poverty. (WISCONSIN) Read Article
By Terri Pederson, Beaver Dam Daily Citizen. August 4, 2008.
 

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Washington Post Series on Low-wage Workers

Hovering above poverty, grasping for middle class. Read Article
By Michael A. Fletcher and Jon Cohen, Washington Post. August 3, 2008.
 

Obama leads, pessimism reigns among key group. Read Article
By Michael D. Shear and Jon Cohen, Washington Post. August 4, 2008.
 

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State Medicaid Programs and Spending

Medicaid backlog a little lighter. (OHIO) Read Article
By Catherine Candisky, Columbus Dispatch. August 1, 2008.
 

100-hour Medicaid rule tested. (NEBRASKA) Read Article
By Nate Jenkins (Associated Press), Columbus Telegram. July 31, 2008.
 

Planned Medicaid cuts to be revised. (MISSISSIPPI) Read Article
By Natalie Chandler, Clarion-Ledger. August 1, 2008.
 

Pharmacists advising doctors in plan to cut Medicaid costs. (SOUTH CAROLINA) Read Article
By Czerne M. Reid, The State. August 4, 2008.
 

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State Health Insurance Plans - Indiana, Connecticut, Tennessee

State health insurance rolls swell past 20,000. (INDIANA) Read Article
By Patrick Guinane, Munster Times. July 30, 2008.
 

New state program for the uninsured off to slow start. (CONNECTICUT) Read Article
By Ann Marie Somma, Hartford Courant. July 31, 2008.
 

Tennessee: CoverKids offers dental coverage. (TENNESSEE) Read Article
By Emily Bregel, Chattanooga Times Free Press. July 31, 2008.
 

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Homelessness and Housing Programs

Under one roof that isn't a shelter's. (VIRGINIA) Read Article
By Chris L. Jenkins, Washington Post. July 31, 2008.
 

Homeless shelter focuses on youths. (MILWAUKEE, WI) Read Article
By Dani McClain, Milwuakee Journal Sentinel. August 3, 2008.
 

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Post-Katrina Temporary Housing

Out of FEMA park, clinging to a fraying lifeline. (LOUISIANA) Read Article
By Shaila Dewan, New York Times. August 4, 2008.
 

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Low-income Workers and Home-ownership Programs

Programs aim to break cycles of poverty in the South through home ownership. Read Article
By Talea Miller, Online NewsHour. August 1, 2008.
 

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Utility Costs and Energy Assistance Programs

Heating help hits snag in Senate. Read Article
By Barbara Barrett, Centre Daily Times. August 1, 2008.
 

Providing power: Agencies work to keep needy's lights on. (MISSISSIPPI) Read Article
By Marquita Brown, Clarion-Ledger. August 3, 2008.
 

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U.S. Unemployment Rate

U.S. unemployment at 5.7%, highest level since 2004. Read Article
By Walter Hamilton, Los Angeles Times. August 2, 2008.
 

Jobless rate climbs to 5.7% as 51,000 jobs are lost in July. Read Article
By Louis Uchitelle, New York Times. August 2, 2008.
 

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Earned Income Tax Credit - Louisiana

Agency says families got $8 million in EITC benefits. (LOUISIANA) Read Article
Baton Rouge Advocate. August 1, 2008.
 

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Child Care Subsidies - New York, Michigan

State slashes day care funding to counties. (NEW YORK) Read Article
By Stephanie Veale, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. August 2, 2008.
 

Another audit critical of Michigan child care program. (MICHIGAN) Read Article
By David Eggert (Associated Press), Holland Sentinel. July 29, 2008.
 

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Measuring Quality of Schools and Teachers

Ohio State University researchers' study suggests new way of measuring school quality. Read Article
By Scott Stephens, Cleveland Plain Dealer. August 1, 2008.
 

Poor students get fewer top teachers. (FLORIDA) Read Article
By Ron Matus, Connie Humburg, and Donna Winchester, St. Petersburg Times. August 3, 2008.
 

Metro NCLB failures based on benchmarks lower than national averages. (TENNESSEE) Read Article
By Amy Griffith, Nashville City Paper. August 4, 2008.
 

Struggling to succeed. (HAWAII) Read Article
By Alexandre Da Silva, Honolulu Star Bulletin. August 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).