Gorgi Talevski did not live long enough to see his case argued before the U.S. Supreme Court this month. A Macedonian-born resident of Indiana, Talevski operated a crane for three decades, raised a family and loved to dance before his dementia deepened, and he died last year. But the court’s decision, expected in spring, could have profound effects for tens of millions of beneficiaries of federal safety net programs, including those that provide health care, housing, education services and heating aid.
...
Safety net
Safety net
“My boss told me if I didn’t come in, I’d get fired.” So spoke a rather grumpy but nonetheless sight-for-sore-eyes Exxon attendant near Manassas, Virginia last Monday night around 10:00 pm as he mercifully allowed my wife Noelle and I to fill our gas tank and use the restrooms. The circumstances of our visit – we had recently taken leave from the excruciating crawl of a snowbound Interstate 95 a couple miles east – made both services essential.
...
Seven steps state lawmakers should take in 2021 to lift NC from the bottom of the national pack Once upon a time, North Carolina’s Unemployment Insurance program provided not only critical assistance to laid off workers and their families, but also helped to shore up the economy when times got hard. Families’ rents, mortgages, utilities, and other necessities got paid for with unemployment insurance benefits while they weathered the downturn.
...