Suburban poverty on the rise, By Susan Davis, August 9, 2013, USA Today: “Metropolitan suburbs have seen the largest and fastest-growing poverty rates in America over the past decade, according to a study released this week by the Brookings Institution. The new geographic reality means that federal policies geared towards rural poverty ‘are no longer well matched’ to the nation’s needs, with poverty affecting nearly as many residents in Republican congressional districts as Democratic districts…”
Number in poverty growing in suburbs, By Richard M. Barron, August 9, 2013, Winston-Salem Journal: “Poverty has moved to the suburbs. And North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District leads the nation, according to a report issued Thursday by the Brookings Institution, a public policy research group in Washington…”
Arizona’s foster-care crisis deepens, By Mary K. Reinhart, August 9, 2013, Arizona Republic: “Arizona is caring for a record number of foster children as child-welfare workers juggle an ever-growing number of abuse and neglect reports, according to a new state report. The biannual report shows that the state’s Child Protective Services now has 14,314 children in foster care, an increase of 40 percent since March 2010, and continues to be buried under an avalanche of reports, most of them alleging that children are being neglected…”
Focus on foster care in Pa. yields falling numbers, By Mark Scolforo (AP), August 6, 2013, Philadelphia Inquirer: “A six-year effort by the state court system and child welfare agencies has reduced by a third the number of abused or neglected Pennsylvania children in foster care or similar settings, a process that officials say has improved the lives of some of the state’s most vulnerable residents…”
King County health officials map strategy to reach uninsured, By Lisa Stiffler, August 8, 2013, Seattle Times: “Health officials in King County are rallying the troops and drafting maps to prepare for an all-out effort to get health-care coverage for uninsured residents. Countywide, approximately 16 percent of the population lacks health insurance. But from Burien and Tukwila south to the county line, and in scattered pockets to the north, those numbers are higher, reaching nearly one-third in some places…”
Colorado presses for uninsured to enroll, By Abby Goodnaugh, August 2, 2013, New York Times: “Television commercials have already run suggesting that buying health coverage through the state’s new insurance market, Connect for Health Colorado, will feel like winning the World Series…”
Critics say Obamacare may tempt subsidy applicants to lie about benefits, By Tony Pugh, August 6, 2013, Kansas City Star: “The Obama administration is trying to quiet growing concern that people will lie about their incomes and other personal information in order to land larger health insurance-premium tax credits, the cash assistance that will help millions pay for coverage next year. Once health plan enrollment begins on new state insurance exchanges in October, an estimated 7 million people are expected to purchase individual and small-group coverage by the end of March…”
