Child poverty skyrockets in Colorado, By Allison Sherry, April 13, 2010, Denver Post: “Colorado has the fastest-growing child-poverty rate in the nation – a distinction attributed to a burgeoning number of poor in Denver’s suburbs and a widening gap between Latino and non-Latino income. While the state ranked 22nd nationally, Colorado’s child-poverty rate has climbed 72 percent since 2000, according to KIDS COUNT in Colorado, an annual report by the Colorado Children’s Campaign. Much of that increase is among the state’s growing Latino population, according to the data. The state’s non-Latinos are actually higher income than the national average, but Latinos in Colorado are among the poorest in the nation. In other words, Colorado’s large income gap between Latinos and non-Latinos is creating what advocates say is a ‘tale of two Colorados…'”
Report: Colorado has fastest-growing child poverty rate in U.S., By Barbara Cotter, April 13, 2010, Colorado Springs Gazette: “The number of children living in poverty has been growing faster in Colorado than anywhere else in the nation, and the gap between the haves and have-nots is widening, according to a report released today by the nonprofit Colorado Children’s Campaign. The report, 2010 Kids Count in Colorado, says the number of children living at or below the federal poverty level of about $22,000 for a family of four rose 72 percent between 2000 and 2008. Paradoxically, Colorado ranked in the middle of the pack — No. 22 — in overall child well-being, which takes health, education and other social and economic factors into consideration. The reason, the report says, is the growing disparity between children who are doing well and those who aren’t…”
Food stamps: Many Utah seniors shun them – or lack information – and admit hunger, By Julia Lyon, April 11, 2010, Salt Lake Tribune: ” Most nights around 5 p.m., Eldon Hendricks walks a few blocks from his Salt Lake City apartment to dine on a burger bargain fit for a retiree’s wallet. At $3.22 for two Arctic Circle burgers, fries and a bottomless drink, the fast food feast is about all his budget allows. This is what it’s like to be old in Utah for thousands of seniors: Eating well is a luxury they can’t afford. Some cross pricey items, such as meat, off the grocery list. Others choose between prescriptions and food, putting their health at risk. But few turn to the federal government’s food stamps program for help while participation in the program by families and middle-aged adults has skyrocketed…”
Stigma lingers with food assistance program, By Brett Rowland, April 11, 2010, Northwest Herald: “Changes to the federal food assistance program, which is helping more people than ever before, allow some to keep their head up, but the stigma related to using what is commonly known as food stamps lingers. ‘People aren’t so shy anymore,’ said Eric Hendricks, general manager at Wisted’s Super Market in Woodstock. ‘Twenty years ago, they used to come up and whisper that they were using food stamps.’ But things are different now. Congress expanded the program and simplified the rules. ‘More people are accepting because of the economy,’ Hendricks said. ‘A lot more people are out of work and using them.’ In October 2009, 37 million Americans, including 1.5 million Illinois residents, enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a record high for the United States, according to Hunger in America 2010, a study by the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Feeding America…”
Senators end impasse on extending jobless aid, By Carl Hulse, April 12, 2010, New York Times: “The Senate on Monday agreed to consider a temporary extension of unemployment benefits after four Republicans joined Democrats in voting to debate the proposal, which has become the focus of an intensifying fight over deficit spending. Despite objections from conservative Republicans, the Senate voted 60 to 34 to move ahead with a measure that would keep checks flowing to jobless Americans who are exhausting their benefits and maintain federal subsidies for health insurance for the unemployed. The measure must clear other procedural hurdles, but Democrats hope to win its approval this week…”
After politics ended jobless benefits, Senate takes steps to restore them, By David Lightman, April 12, 2010, Miami Herald: “The Senate on Monday took a major, and likely decisive, step toward restoring jobless benefits for hundreds of thousands of people, as those constituents endured an eighth consecutive day without assurances of any help. Efforts to provide the benefits have been stalled while senators fought over how and whether to pay for the aid. A 60-34 Senate vote Monday to overcome a procedural hurdle and move to a final vote offered new hope that the impasse will be broken later this week…”
Jobless benefits advance in Senate with Republican votes, By Ben Pershing, April 13, 2010, Washington Post: “The Senate moved closer Monday to extending jobless benefits that expired a week ago, overcoming a procedural vote over the objections of deficit-conscious Republicans. The chamber voted 60 to 34 to proceed on a measure that would extend unemployment insurance, subsidies for the COBRA health insurance program and federal flood insurance through May 5. Four Republicans — Sens. Scott Brown (Mass.), Susan Collins (Maine), Olympia J. Snowe (Maine) and George V. Voinovich (Ohio) — joined every Democrat present in voting to move the bill forward, making it likely that the measure will pass in a final tally this week…”
