Expanded safety net drives sharp drop in child poverty
For a generation or more, America’s high levels of child poverty set it apart from other rich nations, leaving millions of young people lacking support as basic as food and shelter amid mounting evidence that early hardship leaves children poorer, sicker and less educated as adults. But America’s children have become much less poor. A new analysis shows that child poverty has fallen 59% since 1993. Child poverty has fallen in every state, and it has fallen by about the same degree among children who are white, Black, Hispanic and Asian, living with one parent or two, and in native or immigrant households.
Rise in deaths spurs effort to raise alcohol taxes
Before COVID-19 lockdowns, no state permitted bars or restaurants to deliver liquor to customers at home, according to a trade association. Now, 28 states have relaxed the rules. In contrast, policies that experts consider most effective at curbing excessive drinking have been ignored. For example, even as alcohol-related deaths soared to record highs in the past few years, alcohol taxes have fallen. So an effort is afoot to influence the price of alcohol by taxing producers or sellers, which pass the cost on to consumers. This is comparable to taxes on tobacco, which studies show to be a powerful tool for reducing smoking.
Weather helping, but threat from Western fires persists
Firefighters made progress against a huge Northern California wildfire that was still growing and threatening thousands of mountain homes, while crews also battled major blazes Sunday in Oregon and Washington. Cal Fire says the Mosquito Fire in foothills east of Sacramento spread to nearly 65 square miles, with 10% containment. More than 5,800 structures in Placer and El Dorado counties are under threat and some 11,000 residents are under evacuation orders. Southeast of Los Angeles, cooler temperatures and rain brought respite to firefighters battling the massive Fairview Fire after sweltering heat last week.
A stunned Moscow admits to losing control in the Kharkiv region
Stunned by an advance by Ukrainian forces that cost it over 1,000 square miles of land and a key military hub, Russia on Sunday acknowledged that it had lost nearly all of the northern region of Kharkiv after a thrust that cast doubt on a premise that Ukraine could never defeat Russia. However, victory for Ukraine is still far from certain, particularly with a second Ukrainian offensive in the south making far less rapid progress. Late Sunday, in a strike that Ukrainian officials condemned as a fit of pique over its losses, Moscow attacked infrastructure facilities in Kharkiv, leaving many civilians without power and water.
With queen gone, former colonies find a moment to rethink lasting ties
Reconciling a seemingly benevolent queen with the often-cruel legacy of the British Empire is the conundrum at the heart of Britain’s post-imperial influence. The death of Queen Elizabeth II accelerates a push to address the past more fully and strip away the vestiges of colonialism. Many former British colonies remain bound together in the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 56 countries. The vast majority of them are connected by their shared histories, with similar legal and political systems, and the organization promotes exchanges in fields like sports, culture and education. While the Commonwealth has no formal trade agreement, its members conduct trade with one another at higher-than-usual rates.
3 dead after 7.6 quake hits remote part of Papua New Guinea
At least three people are dead after a powerful earthquake hit a remote part of Papua New Guinea. Some buildings and roads were also damaged in the Sunday morning jolt that was felt across the Pacific island country. The deaths were from a landslide in the gold-mining town of Wau. There was also damage to some health centers, homes, rural roads and highways. Authorities say the sparse, scattered population and lack of large buildings near the epicenter may have helped prevent a larger disaster from the magnitude 7.6 earthquake.
By wire sources
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