AltWeeklies Wire
Consensus on the Censusnew
Every ten years, a survey is sent to each household in America to find out just how many people live here. Answering basic questions that pigeonhole you demographically might not sound that tough, but in the past it's proven to be a sweat-inducing task for many Americans, reminding them of those high school aptitude tests with challenging queries like, "How many people actually live in my house?" and "does my significant other's part-time residency count?"
Dig Boston |
Catherine Krug |
03-03-2010 |
Policy Issues
Tags: Felix Arroyo, census
People with Eating Disorders Can't Get Adequate Health Insurance Coveragenew
Unlike schizophrenia, depression and other mental illnesses, eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia are not often covered by health insurance. People are exhausting their life savings for treatment — or dying from a lack of it.
INDY Week |
Rebekah L. Cowell |
02-25-2010 |
Policy Issues
Sweepstakes Cafes: A Rip-Off Coming to Your Low-Income Neighborhoodnew
Since a state law passed last year created the loopholes, sweepstakes cafes have flourished throughout North Carolina. Yet that these businesses are opening is less notable than where they're opening—many of them in low-income and/or minority neighborhoods where people have little to spend and a lot to lose
INDY Week |
Lisa Sorg and Joe Schwartz |
02-25-2010 |
Policy Issues
Colorado Springs Bar Owner Says He's Found a Smoking Ban Loopholenew
After three years fighting the law the owner of Murray Street Darts says he's figured out how he and his customers can continue lighting up legally: He's opened a tobacco shop.
Colorado Springs Independent |
Anthony Lane |
02-18-2010 |
Policy Issues
Tribes, Tracks and Casinos Push to Widen Texas Gamblingnew
The economic crunch could mean 2011 will be the year that gambling promoters finally open up Texas (the biggest untapped market in the U.S.) to casinos and racetrack slots. If that happens, the economic effects will be felt in Oklahoma, Louisiana... and maybe even Nevada.
Fort Worth Weekly |
Dan McGraw |
02-17-2010 |
Policy Issues
Wake Commission Nixes Abortion Coverage for County Employeesnew
The News & Observer is reporting that Wake County Manager David Cooke changed the policy Wednesday and that elective abortions are no longer covered. The county's self-insurance plan, The N&O reported, will pay for abortions in cases of incest, rape or danger to the life of the mother.
INDY Week |
Bob Geary |
02-12-2010 |
Policy Issues
While Mayor Vows to Reduce Homeless Population, City Eyes Cutting Shelter Bedsnew
Gavin Newsom has earned a reputation as someone willing to make passionate statements about plans to fix up public housing, reform the civil service system, upgrade parks, or reduce homelessness, and then quickly turn away as if he'd never said anything at all.
SF Weekly |
Matt Smith |
01-20-2010 |
Policy Issues
New Year, New Laws! Six New Laws for Oregonnew
LUCKILY, New Year's resolutions aren't legally binding. But the new Oregon laws covering everything from TVs to tenant's rights that went into effect on January 1 are, so listen up or pay the price.
The Portland Mercury |
Sarah Mirk |
01-07-2010 |
Policy Issues
In Little Rock, It's "King Chamber"new
Mysterious Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce “contractors” doing who knows what for who knows how much taxpayers' money are given preference over legitimate city functions and accountable city employees. While protecting an annual $200,000 contribution to the Chamber, the Little Rock Board of Directors has slashed the city budget ruthlessly in other areas.
Arkansas Times |
Arkansas Times Staff |
01-07-2010 |
Policy Issues
Tea Party Medicine: Jane Orient is Leading the Fight Against Health-Care Reformnew
Jane Orient is a Tucson doctor who happens to be the executive director of a national organization that's getting a lot of attention lately, thanks to the Tea Party movement and the debate over health-care reform. She has been executive director of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons since 1989.
Tucson Weekly |
Mari Herreras |
01-06-2010 |
Policy Issues
Does Wisconsin's Health Insurance Overseer Actually Protect Consumers?new
Even when it does have regulatory authority, the state's Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) seems reluctant to throw its weight around. Of the 28 complaints we reviewed, in no instance did OCI instruct an insurance company to behave differently.
Isthmus |
Bill Lueders |
10-26-2009 |
Policy Issues
Thinking and Acting Smartly Everywhere but the Rust Beltnew
At a Brookings Institution forum last week, policy wonks and local government officials from places like Sacramento and Salt Lake City discussed how they used regional planning to cope with rapid growth. What can shrinking Rust Belt cities learn from the places that are stealing their populations?
Artvoice |
Bruce Fisher |
10-23-2009 |
Policy Issues
Change Can't Waitnew
An Orlando activist struggles with a broken health-care system.
Orlando Weekly |
Billy Manes |
08-06-2009 |
Policy Issues
Tags: health care, Orlando
Follow the Bouncing Lotto Ball in Arkansasnew
In all the haste, headlines and hubbub about what has become the biggest political story of the year, something sometimes gets overlooked. What will the lottery really mean for Arkansas' citizens and higher education system? Here, even big backers hedge their bets.
Arkansas Times |
Gerard Matthews |
07-23-2009 |
Policy Issues
Hate, Taxes and the Expectation of Changenew
This country is not as tolerant nor sophisticated or civilized as we like to believe and yet we criticize other countries for their extremists.
Random Lengths News |
James Preston Allen |
07-05-2009 |
Policy Issues
