Poverty Dispatch - March 30, 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:

• Economic Stimulus Spending
• Homelessness and Housing
• Unemployment and Child Support
• Unemployment Rates
• State Budgets and Cuts to Social Services
• Teacher Training and Student Achievement
• School Choice Bill - South Carolina
• GAO Report: Enforcement of Wage Theft Complaints
• Tax Refund Anticipation Loans
• European Safety Nets
• Home Foreclosures and Bank Walkaways

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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Economic Stimulus Spending

Food stamp changes: A different kind of stimulus. (MINNESOTA) Read Article
By Jean Hopfensperger, Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune. March 27, 2009.
 

Cash to Va. from stimulus package goes far beyond $4.8 billion estimate. (VIRGINIA) Read Article
By Michael Martz, Richmond Times-Dispatch. March 29, 2009.
 

State plans for school stimulus. (IOWA) Read Article
By Chase Davis, Des Moines Register. March 30, 2009.
 

Ohioans slow to receive stimulus money. (OHIO) Read Article
By Jessica Wehrman, Dayton Daily News. March 30, 2009.
 

State may get more for jobless benefits. (OREGON) Read Article
By Peter Wong, Statesman Journal. March 29, 2009.
 

California is poised to extend unemployment benefits. (CALIFORNIA) Read Article
By Marc Lifsher, Los Angeles Times. March 27, 2009.
 

Rejecting stimulus funds: Pros and Cons. Read Article
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org. March 27, 2009.
 

Tracking the recession: Who really decides whether to take unemployment money. Read Article
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org. March 28, 2009.
 

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Homelessness and Housing

Battling homelessness in Dallas requires more housing, mental health services, advocates say. (DALLAS, TX) Read Article
By Kim Horner, Dallas Morning News. March 29, 2009.
 

This winter, twice as many homeless families sought emergency shelter. (LOS ANGELES, CA) Read Article
By Jia-Rui Chong, Los Angeles Times. March 30, 2009.
 

Plan aims to end chronic Fresno Co. homelessness. (FRESNO, CA) Read Article
By Denny Boyles, Fresno Bee. March 29, 2009.
 

Fixing jobless system becoming mammoth exercise. (LANCASTER, PA) Read Article
By Robyn Meadows, Lancaster New Era. March 27, 2009.
 

Number of homeless students increasing locally as economy sours. (FLORIDA) Read Article
By Katherine Albers and Leslie Williams, Naples Daily News. March 26, 2009.
 

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Unemployment and Child Support

Fighting over child support after the pink slip arrives. Read Article
By Julie Bosman, New York Times. March 28, 2009.
 

Authorities note more appeals for less child support. Read Article
By Gloria Carr, Beacon News. March 29, 2009.
 

As economy falters, Lee County child support cases rise. Read Article
By Pat Gillespie, Fort Myers News-Press. March 29, 2009.
 

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Unemployment Rates

Rhode Island's jobless rate no longer tops in nation. (RHODE ISLAND) Read Article
By Benjamin N. Gedan, Providence Journal. March 28, 2009.
 

Jobless rate tells story, points to answers. (OREGON) Read Article
Editorial, Statesman Journal. March 29, 2009.
 

City jobless rate takes highest-ever one-month leap. (NEW YORK CITY) Read Article
By Patrick McGeehan, New York Times. March 26, 2009.
 

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State Budgets and Cuts to Social Services

Possible cuts to Medicaid payments called 'devastating.' (GEORGIA) Read Article
By Andy Miller, Atlanta Journal-Constitution. March 30, 2009.
 

State budget proposal hits counties' human services hard. (WISCONSIN) Read Article
By Jason Stein and Matthew DeFour, Wisconsin State Journal. March 30, 2009.
 

Iowa is not alone, many states face major budget problems. (IOWA) Read Article
By James Q. Lynch, Quad-City Times. March 28, 2009.
 

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Teacher Training and Student Achievement

The research: Both theory and practice are important. Read Article
By Amanda Paulson, Christian Science Monitor. March 27, 2009.
 

Second look at merit pay for teachers. Read Article
By Kristen A. Graham, Philadelphia Inquirer. March 30, 2009.
 

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School Choice Bill - South Carolina

Private schools skeptical of choice bill. (SOUTH CAROLINA) Read Article
By Gina Smith, The State. March 30, 2009.
 

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GAO Report: Enforcement of Wage Theft Complaints

Labor agency is failing workers, report says. Read Article
By Steven Greenhouse, New York Times. March 24, 2009.
 

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Tax Refund Anticipation Loans

Report: Refund loans costly to many Indians. Read Article
By Joe Ruff, Omaha World-Herald. March 27, 2009.
 

Tax filers miss out on a freebie. Read Article
By Damian Man, Southern Oregon Mail Tribune. March 30, 2009.
 

Trick of 'magic' tax refund loans? High rates. Read Article
By Carolyn Said, San Francisco Chronicle. March 29, 2009.
 

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European Safety Nets

When a strong safety net begins to fray. Read Article
By Sebastian Rotella, Los Angeles Times. March 30, 2009.
 

Aided by safety nets, Europe resists stimulus push. Read Article
By Nicholas Kulish, New York Times. March 26, 2009.
 

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Home Foreclosures and Bank Walkaways

Banks starting to walk away on foreclosures. Read Article
By Susan Saulny, New York Times. March 29, 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).