Poverty Dispatch - January 5, 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:

• States and Safety Net Programs
• Food Stamp Program Enrollment
• Food Insecurity and Nutrition
• Trends in Homelessness
• Trends in Poverty Rates
• Opinions: Defining, Measuring, and Fighting Poverty
• State Budget Cuts
• Unemployment and Jobless Benefits
• Health Care Access and Costs
• Child Care Subsidies - New York, Nevada
• Teacher Experience and Low-income Students - Des Moines, IA
• Education Reform

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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States and Safety Net Programs

Policy challenge - How to expand safety net. Read Article
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org. January 5, 2009.
 

Welfare gripes persist. (INDIANA) Read Article
By Bryan Corbin, Evansville Courier Press. December 29, 2008.
 

2 GOP lawmakers may try to slow welfare changes. (INDIANA) Read Article
Associated Press, Indianapolis Star. January 1, 2009.
 

Welfare rolls on Long Island swell. (NEW YORK) Read Article
By Michael Amon, Newsday. January 1, 2009.
 

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Food Stamp Program Enrollment

Applications for welfare, food stamps are way up. (NEW JERSEY) Read Article
By Susan K. Livio, Star-Ledger. January 4, 2009.
 

Along with new focus, Food Stamps get new name. (VERMONT) Read Article
By Mel Huff, Barre Montpelier Times Argus. January 3, 2009.
 

Food stamp demand surges. (SOUTH DAKOTA) Read Article
By Steve Young, Argus Leader. January 2, 2009.
 

Almost one in 10 Floridians on food stamps. (FLORIDA) Read Article
By Jose Pagliery, Miami Herald. December 29, 2008.
 

As grocery bills rise, so does Iowa food stamp use. (IOWA) Read Article
By Steve Gravelle, Cedar Rapids Gazette. December 30, 2008.
 

In Dane County and the state, record numbers are using food stamps. (WISCONSIN) Read Article
By Jason Stein, Wisconsin State Journal. December 28, 2008.
 

Food stamps offer lifeline. Read Article
By Peter Schworm, Boston Globe. December 22, 2008.
 

Site eases process to get food stamps. (GEORGIA) Read Article
By Preston Sparks, Augusta Chronicle. December 26, 2008.
 

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Food Insecurity and Nutrition

The two faces of malnutrition. (Editorial) Read Article
Editorial, Denver Post. January 2, 2009.
 

As hunger rises in US, so do creative ways to help. Read Article
By Alexandra Marks, Christian Science Monitor. December 22, 2008.
 

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Trends in Homelessness

Families with children in city shelters soar to record level. (NEW YORK CITY) Read Article
By Trymaine Lee, New York Times. December 22, 2008.
 

Recession hurts national effort to cut homelessness. Read Article
By Dionne Walker (Associated Press), South Florida Sun-Sentinel. January 2, 2009.
 

Homelessness: Five-year plan has some success stories. (COLORADO) Read Article
By Debbie Kelley, Colorado Springs Gazette. January 3, 2009.
 

Homeless aren't out of sight anymore. (COLORADO) Read Article
By Debbie Kelley, Colorado Springs Gazette. January 3, 2009.
 

Families getting trapped in the cycle. (COLORADO) Read Article
By Debbie Kelley, Colorado Springs Gazette. January 4, 2009.
 

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Trends in Poverty Rates

Poverty issue increasing in West Texas. (TEXAS) Read Article
By Enrique Rangel, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. December 22, 2008.
 

Nearly a third in Hattiesburg live in poverty. (MISSISSIPPI) Read Article
By Valerie Wells, Clarion-Ledger. December 29, 2008.
 

Too many children are living in poverty. (WYOMING) Read Article
Editorial, Caspar Star-Tribune. December 31, 2008.
 

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Opinions: Defining, Measuring, and Fighting Poverty

'Reducing poverty' is the wrong goal. (Opinion) Read Article
By Margy Waller, Philadelphia Daily News. January 5, 2009.
 

Welfare as we knew it. (Editorial) Read Article
Editorial, New York Times. December 25, 2008.
 

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State Budget Cuts

States cut Medicaid coverage further. Read Article
By Amy Goldstein, Washington Post. December 26, 2008.
 

Governors call for $1 trillion stimulus to offset budget cuts. Read Article
By Robin Shulman, Washington Post. January 3, 2009.
 

Cash-poor states eager for a piece of Obama plan. Read Article
By Beth Fouhy (Associated Press), Washington Post. January 2, 2009.
 

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Unemployment and Jobless Benefits

Obama considers major expansion in aid to jobless. Read Article
By Jackie Calmes and Carl Hulse, New York Times. January 3, 2009.
 

South Carolina governor relents on jobless funds. Read Article
By Adam Nossiter, New York Times. December 31, 2008.
 

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Health Care Access and Costs

Jobless turn to health lifeline. (MASSACHUSETTS) Read Article
By Kay Lazar, Boston Globe. December 28, 2008.
 

Expansion of clinics shapes Bush legacy. Read Article
By Kevin Sack, New York Times. December 25, 2008.
 

Mr. Bush’s health care legacy. (Editorial) Read Article
Editorial, New York Times. January 2, 2009.
 

Shortage of general surgeons endangers rural Americans. Read Article
By David Brown, Washington Post. January 1, 2009.
 

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Child Care Subsidies - New York, Nevada

Funding cuts threaten NY child care. (NEW YORK) Read Article
By Steve Israel, Times Herald-Record. December 23, 2008.
 

City nears deadline to raise day care pay or lose subsidy. (NEW YORK) Read Article
By Leslie Kaufman, New York Times. December 30, 2008.
 

Day care subsidy cuts pose tough choice. (NEVADA) Read Article
By David McGrath Schwartz, Las Vegas Sun. December 30, 2008.
 

State cuts child care subsidies. (NEVADA) Read Article
By Tammy Krikorian, Reno Gazette-Journal. December 31, 2008.
 

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Teacher Experience and Low-income Students - Des Moines, IA

Neediest students get newest teachers. (DES MOINES, IA) Read Article
By Melissa Walker, Des Moines Register. January 5, 2009.
 

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Education Reform

In Detroit, a lesson in same-sex schools. Read Article
By James Vaznis, Boston Globe. January 2, 2009.
 

Chicago school reform could be a U.S. model. Read Article
By Maria Glod, Washington Post. December 30, 2008.
 

2009 could be crucial year for changes in schools, nationally and in Milwaukee. Read Article
By Alan J. Borsuk, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. January 4, 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).