WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate on Tuesday voted an additional $6 billion for child care for welfare recipients and the working poor as part of a bill to renew the landmark 1996 welfare reform law.
The measure easily won Senate passage, 78-20. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and 30 other Republicans voted for it, but the Bush administration opposes the provision and House Republicans did not include it in the version of the legislation that passed the House last year.

WASHINGTON, March 21 - In a trend that has surprised many experts, the federal welfare rolls have declined over the last three years, even as unemployment, poverty and the number of food stamp recipients have surged in a weak economy.

After Congress overhauled the nation's welfare system in 1996, the number of families receiving benefits dropped much faster than federal and state officials had expected. Even more remarkable, officials say, the rolls did not grow during the recession of 2001 or the sluggish economy since.

WASHINGTON - Sunshine and warm temperatures aren't the only lures for retirees. They also want cheaper housing and some elbow room, and that has made places like Colorado, Idaho, Utah and New Mexico increasingly attractive to the over-65 set.

Each of those states saw its senior population grow by at least 6 percent between 2000 and 2003, placing them among the 10 fastest-growing states for that age group, according to Census Bureau figures being released Wednesday.

The USDA has just released the report "Reaching Those In Need: State Food Stamp Participation Rates in 2001". As always, participation rates are calculated using U.S. Census data adjusted to estimate the number of eligibles in each State. You'll note that Alaska, Hawaii, and Oregon continue to shine as top participation performers, while Arizona, Nevada, and Oregon earned participation gains in 2001.

By Laura Oates, KTVA 11 News

Right now more than 80 Alaskans are waiting for a second chance at life. Their names are on a closely monitored list. While their ailments may be different, their hope is the same, that they will live long enough to recieve an organ donation and a fighting chance at survival. In a special health report, we bring you the story of two Anchorage residents whose fates collided changing both of their lives forever.