Poverty Dispatch - December 8, 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:

• Unemployment and Joblessness
• Recession and State Budgets
• Food Assistance Programs
• Welfare-to-Work Programs - Colorado, Minnesota
• Medicaid Costs and Programs - Louisiana, Washington
• Healthy Families Program - California
• Poverty and Child Brain Development
• No Child Left Behind and School Progress
• Child Care Costs
• Payday Lending
• Welfare Reform - UK
• Poverty Reduction Plan - Ontario, CA

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.

Unemployment and Joblessness

U.S. unemployment at 15-year high. Read Article
By Jim Zarroli and Renee Montagne, National Public Radio. December 5, 2008.
 

U.S. loses 533,000 jobs in biggest drop since 1974. Read Article
By Louis Uchitelle, Edmund L. Andrews and Stephen Labaton, New York Times. December 5, 2008.
 

1.25 million jobs lost in three months. Read Article
By Maura Reynolds and Catherine Ho, Los Angeles Times. December 6, 2008.
 

Grim job report not showing full picture. Read Article
By David Leonhardt and Catherine Rampell, New York Times. December 5, 2008.
 

Layoffs flood a weakened unemployment system. Read Article
By Moira Herbst, BusinessWeek. December 7, 2008.
 

When a job disappears, so does the health care. Read Article
By Robert Pear, New York Times. December 6, 2008.
 

Even worse for teens. (Editorial) Read Article
Editorial, New York Times. December 8, 2008.
 

Obama offers first look at massive plan to create jobs. Read Article
By Michael D. Shear, Washington Post. December 7, 2008.
 

Obama pledges public works on a vast scale. Read Article
By Peter Baker and John M. Broder, New York Times. December 6, 2008.
 

US task: Put jobless into jobs. Read Article
By Ron Scherer, Christian Science Monitor. December 8, 2008.
 

Canadian employers wipe out 71,000 jobs. (CANADA) Read Article
By Ann Perry, Toronto Star. December 6, 2008.
 

A domino effect in the global work force. Read Article
By Floyd Norris, New York Times. December 5, 2008.
 

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Recession and State Budgets

State budget gaps balloon to $97 billion. Read Article
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org. December 5, 2008.
 

Mich. economy stuck in 8-year recession. (MICHIGAN) Read Article
By Mark Hornbeck and Gary Heinlein, Detroit News. December 8, 2008.
 

A placid North Dakota asks, recession? What recession? (NORTH DAKOTA) Read Article
By Monica Davey, New York Times. December 5, 2008.
 

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Food Assistance Programs

One in seven Mainers receiving food aid. (MAINE) Read Article
By Mal Leary, Bangor Daily News. December 8, 2008.
 

Food stamp usage grows significantly. (MARYLAND) Read Article
By Elisha Sauers, Annapolis Capital. December 8, 2008.
 

USDA barter program providing food for hungry. Read Article
By Forrest Laws, Delta Farm Press. December 8, 2008.
 

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Welfare-to-Work Programs - Colorado, Minnesota

Faith Partners a model for welfare-to-work. (COLORADO) Read Article
By Debbie Kelley, Colorado Springs Gazette. December 6, 2008.
 

Welfare's changing face: Off the dole, off to find work . (MINNESOTA) Read Article
By Jean Hopfensperger, Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune. December 7, 2008.
 

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Medicaid Costs and Programs - Louisiana, Washington

Medicaid costs crush budget. (LOUISIANA) Read Article
By Marsha Shuler, Baton Rouge Advocate. December 6, 2008.
 

Backlog leaves people fighting to see. (WASHINGTON) Read Article
By John Stucke, Spokane Spokesman-Review. December 7, 2008.
 

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Healthy Families Program - California

Despite deficit, Steinberg sure he can get all state's kids insured. (CALIFORNIA) Read Article
By Aurelio Rojas, Sacramento Bee. December 7, 2008.
 

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Poverty and Child Brain Development

Study: Poverty dramatically affects children's brains. Read Article
By Greg Toppo, USA Today. December 7, 2008.
 

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No Child Left Behind and School Progress

Even top schools may fail. (FLORIDA) Read Article
By Dave Weber and Leslie Postal, Orlando Sentinel. December 8, 2008.
 

Students making progress, but state says it's not good enough. (WASHINGTON) Read Article
By Jane Gargas, Yakima Herald-Republic. December 5, 2008.
 

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Child Care Costs

Poor economy makes affordable quality child care hard to find. (FLORIDA) Read Article
By Elliott Jones, Treasure Coast Palm. December 8, 2008.
 

Child care cuts impacting kids, families. (ARIZONA) Read Article
By William Roller, Yuma Sun. December 7, 2008.
 

Leaders must tackle worsening child care crisis. (NEW YORK) Read Article
Editorial, Syracuse Post-Standard. December 5, 2008.
 

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Payday Lending

Payday loans can lead to bankruptcy. Read Article
By Mark Huffman, Consumer Affairs. December 5, 2008.
 

Surely payday lending isn't the most workable option for working poor. (Opinion) Read Article
By Steve Blow, Dallas Morning News. December 6, 2008.
 

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Welfare Reform - UK

Welfare claimants face conditions. (UNITED KINGDOM) Read Article
BBC News. December 7, 2008.
 

Welfare mothers to be forced to work. (UNITED KINGDOM) Read Article
By Jonathan Oliver, Sunday Times. December 7, 2008.
 

Growing support for tougher benefit rules. (UNITED KINGDOM) Read Article
By Allegra Stratton, The Guardian. December 8, 2008.
 

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Poverty Reduction Plan - Ontario, CA

'First step' on poverty draws praise. (ONTARIO, CA) Read Article
By Laurie Monsebraaten and Tanya Talaga, Toronto Star. December 5, 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).