Poverty Dispatch - October 23, 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:

• Increasing Need for Social Services
• Privatization of Social Services - Indiana, Texas
• Homeless Families in U.S. Cities
• Payments to Foster Parents - California
• Nebraska Safe Haven Law
• Philadelphia School Breakfast and Lunch Program
• Home Energy Assistance Programs
• No Child Left Behind - Illinois
• Report: States and High School Graduation Rates
• Health Insurance Coverage of Parents and Children
• Costs of Higher Education
• Prescription Drug Costs
• OECD Report: Income Inequality
• Opinion: Safety Net for Workers

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.

Increasing Need for Social Services

Public-assistance numbers grow in Colorado. (COLORADO) Read Article
By Kevin Simpson, Denver Post. October 22, 2008.
 

Record numbers in Florida now receiving food stamps. (FLORIDA) Read Article
By Mike Clary, South Florida Sun-Sentinel. October 23, 2008.
 

Food stamps set record. (IDAHO) Read Article
By Jon Meyer, Idaho Press-Tribune. October 22, 2008.
 

The cost of living. (IDAHO) Read Article
By Joshua Palmer, Twin Falls Times-News. October 22, 2008.
 

Medicaid rolls could be headed up. (NEW YORK) Read Article
By Jay Gallagher, Star-Gazette. October 22, 2008.
 

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Privatization of Social Services - Indiana, Texas

Lawmakers push to halt welfare modernization. (INDIANA) Read Article
By Bryan Corbin, Evansville Courier Press. October 22, 2008.
 

Social Services software system in Central Texas adds 30,000 recipients. (TEXAS) Read Article
By Robert T. Garrett, Dallas Morning News. October 22, 2008.
 

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Homeless Families in U.S. Cities

Homeless numbers 'alarming.' Read Article
By Wendy Koch, USA Today. October 21, 2008.
 

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Payments to Foster Parents - California

California's low payments to foster parents violate federal Child Welfare Act, judge rules. (CALIFORNIA) Read Article
By Carol J. Williams, Los Angeles Times. October 23, 2008.
 

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Nebraska Safe Haven Law

Lawmakers to amend ‘haven’ law in Nebraska. Read Article
By Erik Eckholm, New York Times. October 20, 2008.
 

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Philadelphia School Breakfast and Lunch Program

USDA to kill Phila. school lunch program. (PHILADELPHIA, PA) Read Article
By Alfred Lubrano, Philadelphia Inquirer. October 22, 2008.
 

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Home Energy Assistance Programs

The heat is on, but help falls short. (MINNESOTA) Read Article
By Maria Elena Baca, Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune. October 23, 2008.
 

Heating aid demand way up. (MASSACHUSETTS) Read Article
By Lisa Eckelbecker, Worcester Telegram and Gazette. October 22, 2008.
 

More Mainers to qualify for heating assistance. (MAINE) Read Article
By Noel K. Gallagher, Portland Press Herald. October 22, 2008.
 

More heating aid coming, but bills also climbing. (IOWA) Read Article
By Mary Nevans, Dubuque Telegraph Herald. October 20, 2008.
 

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No Child Left Behind - Illinois, Minnesota

More Illinois schools fail to meet No Child Left Behind goals. (ILLINOIS) Read Article
By Matt Arado, Chicago Daily Herald. October 22, 2008.
 

Students drift further from goal. (ILLINOIS) Read Article
By Tara Malone, Chicago Tribune. October 22, 2008.
 

How one failing St. Paul school made the grade. (MINNESOTA) Read Article
By Emily Johns, Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune. October 20, 2008.
 

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Report: States and High School Graduation Rates

Report: Kids less likely to graduate than parents. Read Article
By Libby Quaid (Associated Press), Washington Post. October 23, 2008.
 

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Health Insurance Coverage of Parents and Children

OHSU: Many insured parents can't afford to cover kids. (OREGON) Read Article
By Don Colburn, The Oregonian. October 21, 2008.
 

Many kids lack insurance, despite having insured parents. Read Article
By Amanda Gardner, October 21, 2008.
 

Rell's plan for HUSKY could lead to lawsuit. (CONNECTICUT) Read Article
By Ted Mann, The Day. October 23, 2008.
 

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Costs of Higher Education

Students eye cheaper colleges as crisis deepens. Read Article
By Stacy Teicher Khadaroo, Christian Science Monitor. October 23, 2008.
 

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Prescription Drug Costs

In sour economy, some scale back on medications. Read Article
By Stephanie Saul, New York Times. October 21, 2008.
 

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OECD Report: Income Inequality

Study shows gap growing between rich and poor. Read Article
By Emma Vandore and Greg Keller, BusinessWeek. October 21, 2008.
 

'More inequality' in rich nations. Read Article
BBC News. October 21, 2008.
 

Opinion: Safety Net for Workers

A safety net for the least fortunate. (Opinion) Read Article
By Peter B. Edelman, Mark H. Greenberg and Harry J. Holzer. Washington Post. October 19, 2008.
 

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