People who surf the 'net to find information about their state's welfare program and other social benefits may find themselves adrift in confusing Web sites that don't always deliver.

All 50 states use Web and Internet technologies to provide basic information about state welfare, unemployment and other social safety net programs, but only a few states, such as Pennsylvania and Washington, provide "one-stop shopping" that connects citizens to everything for which they may qualify.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 -- New government figures show a profound change in welfare spending, shifting money from cash assistance into child care, education, training and other services intended to help poor people get jobs and stay off welfare.

Cash assistance payments now account for less than half of all spending under the nation's main welfare program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, federal officials say.

The new Kenai Home Depot is seeking workers to fill the 130 or so positions that will be needed when the doors open for the first time this winter.

The store's grand opening is set for Dec. 18, and store manager Terry Rahlfs said the new home improvement retail center is working to be fully staffed by then.

It's October - which means PFD HH season and of course, Halloween! Do you have questions on PFD Hold Harmless on how to count retained PFD's as resources or how long to give a household hold harmless benefits or even which notice to send?

So if you do (or even just want to check your knowledge of the PFD HH program) and are up for a little Halloween fun, take our new PFD Hold Harmless Skill Challenge.

More than 1,100 elderly Alaskans previously excluded from the Longevity Bonus program are among 7,200 seniors who are now receiving monthly checks of $120 under the new Alaska Senior Assistance Program, established by Governor Frank H. Murkowski.

The governor directed the needs-based program be established to take the place of the bonus program, which was terminated effective this past August. Under the previous program, 18,000 of the state's estimated 44,000 seniors received a monthly check of between $100 and $250. However, the other 26,000 over the age of 65 did not recive any bonus payment. The previous program was based on date of birth criteria only, and did not take into account the personal wealth of an individual.