Page 36 - Poverty Issues News Today

The new year begins with the prospect of big changes to the Montana state Constitution that have been drafted by GOP lawmakers and opposed by conservation groups and others. The Republican-controlled Legislature has already introduced almost four dozen measures to change the document, which dates to the early 1970s. Its the first GOP super-majority in a half-century, and seems determined to change what has long been considered a "progressive" document that protects the states ...

Groups promoting Latino political participation are keen to get rid of the stereotype of Latino voters as a "sleeping giant," especially in light of the 2022 elections. In the midterms, Latino voters in Nevada reelected the countrys first Latina U.S. Senator, thus helping Democrats keep control of the upper chamber. ...

Not everybody gets a holiday break, especially caregivers, but advocates of paid family medical leave in Maine say momentum is building for a plan to pass in the upcoming legislative session. With Democrats in charge at the Statehouse and a ballot initiative which has already gained nearly 70,000 signatures, Mainers could get up to 16 weeks of paid medical leave a year. Bridget Quinn, associate state director of advocacy and outreach for AARP Maine, said the pandemic exposed the difficulties m...

Oregon nurses are urging state lawmakers to make hospitals better and safer places to work. With the 2023 legislative session just around the corner, the Oregon Nurses Association is calling for changes to ensure minimum staffing standards based on patient numbers and accountability for hospitals so there are enough nurses on the floor. Matt Calzia, director of nursing practice and professional development for the Oregon Nurses Association, said the lack of staffing has real implications for p...

Open enrollment for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act is already underway, and ends on Jan. 15. More than 1.3 million Georgians do not have health coverage according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. ...

The American Heart Association has developed a series of videos to educate women about heart disease. The Red Chair Series is a four-episode series of five-minute conversations about an issue relating to heart diseases effects, specifically on women. Dr. ...

Turkeys and other holiday standards are still available for struggling families through food pantries, senior centers, school districts and other community sites fueled by the Food Bank of Wyoming. Rachel Bailey, executive director of the Food Bank, said many are facing food insecurity during the holiday season for the first time, and people across the state are working hard to ensure all Wyoming families can have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving. "Theres a lot of initiatives,&quo...

Amid a wave of higher demand at food shelves, some locations in greater Minnesota are also trying to meet the needs of increasingly diverse populations. State grants are being awarded to mix in some culturally preferred items. An emerging component of the Minnesota Food Shelf Program involves grants of up to $5,000 sent to applicants outside the Twin Cities metro area. ...

An Oregon school counselor is helping families get the food they need, so students can be ready to learn. Laura Minato, a counselor at Beavercreek Elementary School outside Oregon City, has been screening student families for food insecurity, and said the idea came from a presentation by the American Heart Association. Minato started including questions about food insecurity in the family-needs survey she sends out to families. ...

Washington state has ended its COVID-19 state of emergency, and thats having effects on the public benefits people were relying on to get through the pandemic. The state of emergency came to a halt at the end of October. The declaration had lifted some of the more onerous restrictions for benefits. ...