Child Welfare
The State of Illinois has prevailed in the lawsuit brought by Catholic Charities over non-renewed contracts for foster care and adoption, reports Manya Brachear of the Chicago Tribune. Following enactment of the state’s new civil union law this summer, the agencies wanted to continue licensing foster and adoptive parent, but refer elsewhere couples who were civilly joined. The state decided not to renew contracts with Catholic Charities.
Catholic Charities is mulling its next move, reports Pam Adams of the Peoria Journal Star, while the state plans to resume shifting the contracts over to new providers.
State budget cuts in California trickled down and forced cuts to county-led programs that provide health care and services for young children, reports Ilian Cervantes-Branum of the Sacramento Press.
Education/Jobs
A boxing club in Santa Ana, Calif., admittedly relied too much on government money and now faces closure, reports Annie Kim of the Orange County Register. The Santa Ana Boxing Club has teetered on the brink of extinction for years, and this year did not win any funds through the Workforce Investment Act.
Juvenile Justice
Before the Luzerne County juvenile court scandal becomes old news, opines John Baer on Philly.com, legislators need to add juvenile justice reform to the September priority list and get something to the governor.
Flash mobs with an eye on crime are posing serious challenges to policing strategy, reports Rick Jervis of USA Today.
The California Assembly will vote on a bill that would allow some juveniles sentenced to life without parole to re-consider their sentences after 15 years, reports CNN.com.
