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University of Wisconsin–Madison
Poverty-related issues in the news, from the Institute for Research on Poverty

Day: October 11, 2013

Government Shutdown and Affected Services

  • State worries over WIC program grow, By Jake Grovum, October 10, 2013, Stateline: “By early next week, millions of women could learn whether benefits to help feed them and their young children will end on Nov. 1. As the government shutdown continues, states face the possibility that they’ll run out of funds for the federal nutrition program for Women, Infants and Children, commonly known as WIC. Federal guidelines typically require states to give 15 days’ notice to those enrolled in the program before benefits expire, and Nov. 1 could be the day funding dries up nationwide…”
  • Government shutdown: Cuts to social services would affect thousands of vulnerable Oregonians, By Yuxing Zheng, October 10, 2013, The Oregonian: “In a bustling office west of downtown Hillsboro far from the divisive halls of Congress, the federal government shutdown has left some of the most vulnerable Oregonians fretting over how they’ll pay rent, heat their homes or simply eat…”
  • Pa. focuses on social services, not federal parks, By Marc Levy (AP), October 10, 2013, Philadelphia Inquirer: “A partial federal government shutdown could eventually force the state to mothball social services programs that serve women and children, top aides to Gov. Tom Corbett said Thursday, dismissing the possibility that Pennsylvania would spend its own money to reopen shuttered national parks like Independence Hall. It was the 10th day of a partial federal government shutdown, with no end in sight. For the Corbett administration, that means putting off payments and guarding cash reserves with the goal of maintaining vital services for children and families who normally receive federal money…”
  • Unemployment claims surge, partly due to shutdown, By Annalyn Kurtz, October 10, 2013, CNNMoney: “First-time claims for unemployment benefits suddenly jumped last week, marking the biggest one-week rise since Superstorm Sandy left thousands of people temporarily out of work. The rise was partly due to the government shutdown, as well as other temporary factors, the Department of Labor said…”

Kids Count Report – Colorado

Child poverty continues to grow, but Boulder County has sixth-lowest rate in Colorado, By Victoria A.F. Camron, October 10, 2013, Longmont Times-Call: “The number of Boulder County children living in poverty rose 19 percent from 2007 to 2011, even as the number of children living in the county fell 1 percent. Across Colorado, the number of children living in poverty rose 20 percent in that time, according to the Colorado Children’s Campaign…”

State Minimum Wage – Ohio

Minimum wage climbs in Ohio, but not by much, By Chip Towns, October 11, 2013, Toledo Blade: “Most of Ohio’s minimum-wage workers will get a raise on Jan. 1, but it won’t be a big one. The minimum wage for nontipped employees will rise from $7.85 an hour to $7.95 an hour. Tipped employees will see their base pay rise from $3.93 an hour to $3.98 an hour. Ohio voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2006 that says Ohio’s minimum wage will rise each year by the rate of inflation…”