One in five children in R.I. living in poverty, Kids Count report says, By Richard Salit, January 22, 2015, Providence Journal: “A new report finds that more than one in every five children in Rhode Island was living in poverty in 2013, a rate that is little improved since the end of the recession and is worse than the rest of New England. The report, put out by Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, says 21.5 percent of children younger than 18 live below the federal poverty level. That’s 44,923 of the state’s 208,700 children, according to the report…”
Tag: Rhode Island
Minimum Wage Laws
- Rhode Island governor signs minimum wage increase, By Curtis Skinner, July 3, 2014, Chicago Tribune/Reuters: “Rhode Island’s Democratic governor, Lincoln Chafee, has signed a bill to increase the state’s minimum wage by $1, to $9 an hour, his office said on Thursday, following similar moves by neighboring New England states. The hike, which will take effect next year, comes as Democrats across the country have made raising the minimum wage a key priority ahead of November’s elections, saying wages for millions of Americans have not kept pace with the rising cost of living. . .”
- Measure to repeal Seattle $15 minimum wage moves closer to ballot, By Alex Dobuzinskis, July 3, 2014, Chicago Tribune/Reuters: “A Seattle business group has submitted signatures to try to force a public vote to repeal a municipal measure that would raise the city’s minimum wage to $15 an hour, a leader of the organization said on Thursday. Forward Seattle, which represents restaurants, retailers and other businesses, handed in just under 20,000 signatures to the Seattle City Clerk on Wednesday, more than the 16,510 needed to qualify for the November ballot, said group co-chair Angela Cough. The proposal would ask Seattle voters to repeal a $15 minimum wage increase. . .”
Kids Count Reports – Rhode Island, West Virginia
- Positive trends in Factbook on RI’s kids, By Jen Rodrigues, April 18, 2014, Warwick Beacon: “Rhode Island KIDS COUNT released its 2014 Factbook this week, celebrating 20 years of providing data in nearly 70 different areas related to children. The annual report is often used to craft legislation and policy changes affecting youth. The report – an inch-thick volume packed with charts and graphs – was released during a breakfast at the Crowne Plaza attended by about 500 policy makers and community leaders from government and the areas of education, health and human services…”
- Report: 90% of W.Va. kids lack early educational opportunities, By Lydia Nuzum, April 16, 2014, Charleston Gazette: “More than nine out of 10 West Virginia children aren’t receiving the early childhood education that would help them excel later in life, according to a report released by one of the state’s largest child-advocacy organizations. According to the 2013 data released by West Virginia KIDS COUNT, 93 percent of children under 6 are receiving unknown or minimum-quality child care, and only one in five of those children is enrolled in preschool. West Virginia ranks 45th in the nation for the number of 3- and 4-year-olds enrolled in preschool, despite ample evidence to suggest early education has high returns for kids down the road, according to Margie Hale, executive director of KIDS COUNT…”