| President's budget cuts could be felt in state
WASHINGTON - The $2.9 trillion federal budget President Bush proposed yesterday slashes federal funds for Massachusetts that support Medicare, Medicaid, the state Children's Health Insurance Program, Amtrak, fuel assistance, public housing and local economic development programs. "I don't think it is a realistic budget," said U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. "The president is calling for huge cutbacks in Medicare and Medicaid, and he doesn't propose any fix for the alternative minimum tax." The president's budget calls for a $480 million cut in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which would mean a $20 million cut in Massachusetts' allocation, or 25 percent. Mark Wolfe, director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, said he is disappointed with the president's numbers, but believes Congress will restore money for fuel assistance.
Midway goes on record against stockyards, cites risk to planned ...
The proposed relocation of Blue Grass Stockyards to Midway "puts at severe risk" the plans for a new nursing home/assisted living center in that Woodford County town, according to a nonprofit task force that has worked eight years to make the nursing home a reality. For that reason and others, the Midway City Council passed a resolution this week asking Woodford Fiscal Court to withdraw the fiscal court's application for a text amendment in the county zoning law that would allow the stockyards to move to an industrial park north of Interstate 64. That amendment must be recommended by the county planning commission and approved by the Midway City Council before the stockyards could move from Lexington. A public hearing on the text amendment is scheduled for Feb.
Nursing home fee gaining support
Charging nursing homes a state fee would boost their Medicaid reimbursements -- allowing them to hire more staff and buy new equipment -- members of Gov. Martin O'Malley's administration said yesterday.
Health and Mental Hygiene Secretary John M. Colmers said Maryland should join 32 other states and the District of Columbia in charging a fee of up to 2 percent of operating income of nursing homes that have at least 45 beds.
.
Sex-ed for seniors a growing need
In some neighborhoods, prostitutes know that one of their busier times of the month will be the first few days after Social Security checks arrive. Sex-ed for seniors a growing need By LEE BOWMAN Scripps Howard News Service In some neighborhoods, prostitutes know that one of their busier times of the month will be the first few days after Social Security checks arrive. .
Who are the faces of Cool Cymru?
A BALLOON which escaped from an old people's home in Wales has been found in Norway. The white balloon had been tied to the outside of the Sunrise Senior Living home in Cardiff. Staff at the home were contacted on Monday by Trygve Lervik, a Norwegian who discovered it in his garden in the town of Algroy, 700 miles away. After noticing the balloon bore the Sunrise Senior Living logo, Mr Lervik went online to discover its origins and contacted the home. A BOOK of photographs of Welsh celebrities, including Charlotte Church and Tom Jones, will be launched in Swansea next week. .
|
