One in six Americans now on anti-poverty programs

Government anti-poverty programs that have grown to meet the needs of recession victims now serve a record one in six Americans and are continuing to expand. More than 50 million Americans are on Medicaid, the federal-state program aimed principally at the poor, a survey of state data by USA TODAY shows. That's up at least 17% since the recession began in December 2007.

"Virtually every Medicaid director in the country would say that their current enrollment is the highest on record," says Vernon Smith of Health Management Associates, which surveys states for Kaiser Family Foundation. Read the rest of the article at USA Today

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Oprah's Angel Network Charity to close

The charity of high profile talk show host, Oprah Winfrey will close, according to the Associated Press, and stopped accepting donations today. The organization reported on its website that it intends to dissolve after all of its remaining funds have been disbursed.

The charity was formed in 1998 and financed through donations from Winfrey's TV viewers. Winfrey has announced she intends to leave the show in 2011 - ultimately leading to the closure of the Angel Network.

According to the AP:

Winfrey isn't ending her philanthropic efforts. The website notice says her new cable network will highlight charitable organizations in coming years.

Winfrey announced her round-the-clock Oprah Winfrey Network earlier this year. It is to start next January. She revealed last month that she'll host one of its programs, a nighttime travel and conversation show called "Oprah's Next Chapter." 

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