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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Census Bureau: ID Income is up, More Kids in Poverty

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Wednesday, August 27, 2008   

Boise, ID – The good news: median income in Idaho is up. The bad news: the poverty rate for kids is up, too. New numbers from the Census Bureau on poverty, income and health insurance show small improvements nationwide.

Donna Wade with the Idaho Women's Network says people should keep in mind that the report tracks what was happening last year, and this year’s economic situation has deteriorated.

"We need to take the census data with a grain of salt, and recognize some positive improvements, but there's so much more work to be done."

Wade believes families need a helping hand during the tough economic times, and offering a state Earned Income Tax Credit in Idaho is one option that will be proposed during the next legislative session. Critics of the credit argue it costs too much and the state budget is already tight.

Jared Bernstein with the Economic Policy Institute has details on how the recent economy has taken a hit on working families.

"This year, 2008, we've experienced persistent loss in jobs, the unemployment rate is rising, and inflation increasing at a rate of 5.6 percent."

Ed Shelleby with the Children's Defense Fund says while the number of kids without insurance has improved slightly, there are still more than eight million kids without.

"What we are hoping this next Congress and administration will tackle, is a real investment in ensuring that every child has health insurance."

The complete Census Bureau report is online at www.census.gov.

More information on the Children’s Defense Fund is available at www.childrensdefense.org.




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