Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 4, 2012)
WWW . thEsKANNEr . COM J ANuArY 4, 2012 s EAttLE , W AshiNgtON V OLuME XXXiV, N O . 1 25 CENts i nSide Family Events page 2 Queen Latifah page 3 Jobs Available C hallenging P eoPle to S haPe a B etter F uture n ow page 3 Plunge! state redistrict ing Fight New minority-majority district passes in King County PHOTO BY SuSan Fried A Friends Ellen Diaz, Dennice Jordan and Mary Margaret Kopcho emerge from Lake Washington on New Years Day after immersing themselves during the 10th Annual Polar Bear Plunge at Matthew’s Bear. Each participant received the 2012 Official Patch of Courage for braving the frigid waters. Children’s health Program Wins Supporters hope state lawmakers won’t make cutbacks in services A pple Health for Kids, Washington’s health coverage program for children, has won $16.9 million from the federal government – money earned for the state’s efforts to connect more children to health care. The program’s elated support- ers say that getting and keeping kids insured means healthier families, and helps our state allocate scarce health dollars wisely. Washington’s children are more likely to have health cov- erage than children in 39 other states because of Apple Health for Kids’ affordability and streamlined enrollment prac- tices. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded the money, a perform- ance bonus, to Washington and 22 other states with health cov- erage programs that are doing outstanding work to enroll eligi- ble children. This is the third year in a row that Apple Health for Kids has earned this federal recognition. indeX News ........................2,4 Calendar ....................2 A&E .............................3 Bids/Classifieds............3 “This is something to cele- brate,” said Jon Gould, deputy director of the Children’s Alliance. “In a few short years, advocates for kids and lawmak- ers have built Apple Health for Kids into a national model for children’s health coverage. “This honor is richly deserved – and it’s another reason for leg- islators to protect Apple Health for Kids when they return to Olympia in January.” The state Legislature created Apple Health for Kids in 2007 for families with no other options for affordable coverage. It quickly became vital to ensur- ing family stability during the recession. Between 2006 and 2010, near- ly 165,000 children lost health coverage via their families’ employers. During that time, Apple Health for Kids enrolled 208,000 more children. The pro- gram now covers more than 4 out of every 10 children in the state (733,000 children). Gould noted that affordable children’s health coverage com- See KidS on page 2 s of Jan. 1, Washington State has gained its first majority-minority congressional district and Latino majority legislative district. Activists are cheering a new voting map that could result in new voting – and law- making – power for communities of color. United for Fair Representation, a coalition established to educate and encourage com- munities of color to be involved in the redis- tricting process, turned out 600 Unity Map supporters to almost all 18 redistricting forums around the state. “Thanks to the commission for taking into account the changing demographics of the state, and for offering people of color in Washington the opportunity for meaningful participation in the democratic process,” said Celestino Gallegos, board member at Latino Community Fund. The new 9th congressional district is just over one half minorities, at 50.3 percent, including Southeast Seattle, Bellevue, North Tacoma and South King County. The final redistricting plan also establish- es four majority-minority legislative dis- tricts: the 15th in Yakima county and 11th, 33rd and 37th in south King county. Supporters say Washington’s gain of a new 10th congressional district can be attributed to the growth of minorities, now one fourth of the statewide population. The Washington Redistricting Commission heard a tidal wave of testimo- ny from communities of color throughout the state about the need for the new district lines to reflect the growth of communities of color over the last decade. The 15th legislative district will serve an unprecedented 54.6 percent Latino majority population. “Let the record show that in 2011 we stood up – Black, Brown, Asian Pacific Islander, Native Americans, more – and said in one unified voice that we will be repre- sented, our voices will be heard, we will never again be taken for granted and we See COngreSS on page 2 to survive, Declining Churches unite Tacoma Churches Unite to Survive By Steve Maynard The News Tribune TaCOMa, Wash. (AP) – Something was different this Christmas for members of two declining Tacoma congregations that share the same faith and fate. They knew unless a dramatic change took place, their two churches would run out of money and die. More than 180 combined years of history and tradition would be lost. Instead of giving up, the people of Sixth Avenue and St. Paul’s United Methodist churches let go of their buildings and merged into a larger, growing congregation. This holiday season, there’s a new sense of joy and hope, members say. At services Saturday for Christmas Eve and Sunday for Christmas Day, the two groups from oppo- site sides of Tacoma will celebrate their first Christmas together as a merged congrega- tion. Margaret McGrath, 84, a member of Sixth Avenue Methodist for 50 years, said she is happier, hopeful and more relaxed. ``We’re not worrying about if the bills are going to get paid,’’ she said. ``I think we’re alive and well.’’ See uniTY on page 4
