Poverty Dispatch - February 2, 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:

• State TANF Programs and Policies
• Hunger and Food Assistance
• Nationwide Homeless Count
• State Children's Health Insurance Program
• State Health Care Programs - Wisconsin, Colorado
• Child Care Subsidies - Oregon, Illinois
• Job Loss and Health Insurance Coverage
• Economic Stimulus and Spending on the Poor
• Reports: Racial Disparities in Quality of Life - Mississippi, Minnesota
• Refugees Living in the U.S. and the Recession
• Earned Income Tax Credit and Tax Preparation

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.

State TANF Programs and Policies

Welfare aid isn’t growing as economy drops off. Read Article
By Jason DeParle, New York Times. February 1, 2009.
 

Welfare fraud rises in budget debate. (MINNESOTA) Read Article
By Mike Kaszuba, Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune. January 31, 2009.
 

Groups press FSSA to let clients register to vote. (INDIANA) Read Article
By Mary Beth Schneider, Indianapolis Star. February 2, 2009.
 

Change for TANF funds. (WEST VIRGINIA) Read Article
West Virginia MetroNews. February 2, 2009.
 

Addicts get better with intense care. (NEW JERSEY) Read Article
By Judy Peet, Star-Ledger. January 30, 2009.
 

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Hunger and Food Assistance

Tough choices for America's hungry. Read Article
By John D. Sutter, CNN. February 2, 2009.
 

Families turn to food stamps to feed 282,000 county children. (OHIO) Read Article
By Rita Price, Columbus Dispatch. January 31, 2009.
 

Stimulus bill needs to include help for hungry. (Editorial) Read Article
Editorial, Morning Sentinel. February 2, 2009.
 

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Nationwide Homeless Count

First census since the recession finds more newly homeless, countless hard-luck stories. Read Article
By Evelyn Nieves (Associated Press), Chicago Tribune. January 29, 2009.
 

Finding few out in the cold. Read Article
By David Betancourt, Washington Post. January 30, 2009.
 

Counting the homeless. (SAN DIEGO, CA) Read Article
By Ronald W. Powell, San Diego Union-Tribune. January 31, 2009.
 

Face of homelessness changing; chronic homelessness drops. (MASSACHUSETTS) Read Article
By Sue Scheible, The Enterprise. January 26, 2009.
 

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State Children's Health Insurance Program

Senate approves children’s health bill. Read Article
By Robert Pear, New York Times. January 29, 2009.
 

Senate passes children's health insurance bill. Read Article
By Noam N. Levey, Los Angeles Times. January 30, 2009.
 

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State Health Care Programs - Wisconsin, Colorado

More relying on state health care programs. (WISCONSIN) Read Article
By Stacy Forster, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. January 29, 2009.
 

Health services in distress. (COLORADO) Read Article
By Michael Booth, Denver Post. February 1, 2009.
 

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Child Care Subsidies - Oregon, Illinois

Child care subsidy is a lifeline, but it may be changing. (OREGON) Read Article
By Hillary Borrud, Bend Bulletin. February 2, 2009.
 

State aid available for child care. (ILLINOIS) Read Article
By Tara Becker, Sauk Valley Newspapers. January 31, 2009.
 

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Job Loss and Health Insurance Coverage

Laid-off workers face health insurance worries. Read Article
By Jason Roberson, Lansing State Journal. February 2, 2009.
 

Chattanooga: No extended benefits. (TENNESSEE) Read Article
By Emily Bregel, Chattanooga Times Free Press. February 2, 2009.
 

Shock to the system. (MINNESOTA) Read Article
By Julie Forster, Pioneer Press. February 1, 2009.
 

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Economic Stimulus and Spending on the Poor

Medicaid a prickly issue in stimulus package. Read Article
By Julie Rovner, National Public Radio. February 2, 2009.
 

Stimulus should start with help for those most in need. (Opinion) Read Article
By Mary Kaye Nealen, Great Falls Tribune. February 2, 2009.
 

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Reports: Racial Disparities in Quality of Life - Mississippi, Minnesota

Study: Life span of black males in Miss. shorter. (MISSISSIPPI) Read Article
By Jerry Mitchell, Clarion-Ledger. January 27, 2009.
 

For Minnesota's minorities, the good life isn't as good. (MINNESOTA) Read Article
By Richard Chin, Pionner Press. February 1, 2009.
 

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Refugees Living in the U.S. and the Recession

For refugees, recession makes hard times even harder. Read Article
By Erik Eckholm, New York Times. January 29, 2009.
 

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Earned Income Tax Credit and Tax Preparation

Thousands fail to apply for tax credit. (OHIO) Read Article
By Jona Ison, Chillicothe Gazette. January 31, 2009.
 

State EITC offers workers relief. (NORTH CAROLINA) Read Article
By Sabine Vollmer, News and Observer. February 1, 2009.
 

Michigan offers earned income tax credit. (MICHIGAN) Read Article
By Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press. January 31, 2009.
 

Banking your tax refund to combat poverty. (MINNESOTA) Read Article
By Jessica Mador, Minnesota Public Radio. January 27, 2009.
 

Alabama needs a law to regulate tax preparers. (ALABAMA) Read Article
By Stephen Foster Black, Huntsville Times. February 1, 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).