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Census: Small US cities lose luster in downturn

America's small cities are losing some of their traditional appeal to upwardly mobile families seeking wholesome neighborhoods, a stable economy and affordable living.

AP sources: Probers eye census worker's insurance

Investigators trying to solve the mystery of a census taker found hanging from a tree with the word "fed" scrawled on his chest are examining whether he manipulated the scene in order to conceal a suicide and make a life insurance claim possible for his son, law enforcement officials told The Associated Press.

Report: Gay couples similar to straight spouses

Same-sex couples who identify as married are similar to straight spouses in terms of age and income, and nearly one-third of them are raising children, according to Census data released Monday that provides a demographic snapshot of gay families in America.

College enrollment up, mostly at 2-year schools

Some are there because of the recession, and others despite it. Regardless, more young Americans than ever are in college — especially community college, according to a new report.

Coroner: Census worker died at tree in Ky. forest

A part-time census taker died at the tree in a Kentucky forest where his body was found with a rope around his neck and the word "fed" scrawled on his chest, officials said Wednesday.

Census: 'Brain gains' for high-tech cities

Many college graduates are passing up industrial centers and former hotspots in the Southwest, which have been hit hard by the recession, in favor of life in urban, high-tech meccas. Their moves are fueling a resurgence of brainiacs in parts of California, North Carolina and Texas.

Correction: Gay Marriage Census

In an Oct. 22 story about the U.S. Census Bureau's efforts to count married same-sex couples, The Associated Press misspelled the surname of the assistant chief of the bureau's field division. His correct name is Tim Olson, not Olsen. In addition, the story erroneously implied that a Web site designed to encourage gay households to participate in the census was a bureau project. The Our Families Count site will be produced privately.

More detailed questions in new UK census

How many bedrooms in your home? What kind of heater do you use? Who's staying over at your apartment tonight?

Census bureau says 2020 count could include gays

The U.S. Census Bureau is making an unprecedented effort to include same-sex couples in next year's national population count, but legally married gay couples won't show up as such in the official once-a-decade tally, bureau representatives said Thursday.

Minority lawmakers: No census citizenship question

A coalition of black, Latino and Asian lawmakers on Thursday expressed opposition to a proposal that would require next year's census forms to ask about the status of a person's citizenship.

Groves worried about cost overruns in 2010 census

The head of the Census Bureau on Wednesday expressed concern about cost overruns in preparations for next year's high-stakes count, saying he was taking steps to help prevent the expenses from ballooning further.

Census 2010 to include outreach in more languages

With the launch of the 2010 census less than six months away, the U.S. Census Bureau is preparing its most targeted and far-reaching language outreach yet to more accurately count the country's immigrants.

Foreclosures pose challenge, cost to census count

Foreclosures will make it tougher and more expensive to get an accurate census count next year as families move in with relatives or are left homeless, the Census Bureau's director said Tuesday.

Cities lag in preparations for high-stakes census

With the 2010 census looming, major U.S. cities whose residents are at high risk of being missed are struggling with a shortage of money and manpower to prepare for an accurate count.

Official: Census takers want teams after Ky. death

The manager of a part-time census taker who died under mysterious circumstances in southeastern Kentucky says other workers are requesting to visit houses in teams rather than alone.

Halt to gov't raids not an option to boost census

With the 2010 census six months away, the Commerce Department said Thursday it won't seek a halt to immigration raids as it did in the previous census in hopes of improving participation in hard-to-count communities.

US income gap widens as poor take hit in recession

The recession has hit middle-income and poor families hardest, widening the economic gap between the richest and poorest Americans as rippling job layoffs ravaged household budgets.

Latinos bank on bilingual census form to aid count

When Teresa Ocampo opens her census questionnaire, she won't have to worry about navigating another document in English.

Census workers trained to deal with hostile people

Violence against census employees is rare, the Census Bureau said Thursday, but it nevertheless trains its canvassers in how to deal with angry or hostile citizens.

Geography makes difference in health coverage

Where someone lives makes a difference in whether or not that person has health insurance.

Groves urges public campaign to boost 2010 census

The head of the Census Bureau says he's worried the poor economy and tensions over immigration will deter people from participating in next year's high-stakes count.

Census: 150,000 gay couples report they're married

Nearly 150,000 same-sex couples reported being in marriage relationships last year, many more than the number of actual weddings and civil unions, according to the first U.S. census figures released on same-sex marriages.

Census: Recession had sweeping impact on US life

A broad survey of Americans has provided striking measures of the recession's effect on life at home and at work: People are now stuck in traffic longer, less apt to move away and more inclined to put off marriage and buying a house.

Census Bureau severs ties with ACORN in 2010 count

The Census Bureau on Friday severed its ties with ACORN, a community organization that has been hit with Republican accusations of voter-registration fraud.

State-by-state breakdown of census response rates

A list of the percentages of U.S. households that returned census questionnaires in 2000 by mail or submitted information on another form, over the phone or by Internet. The nation averaged a 67 percent response rate.

The Vine
The New Geography Of Health Care
Source: National Journal Online

The new census data show that the uninsured are represented by some of healh care reform's Biggest supporters ... and Critics.

Some details emerge on death of census worker Sparkman | Midwest Voices
Source: The Kansas City Star

A good overview of the Sparkman murder case. The census worker was killed some weeks ago and the case has seemed to go cold.

Battle Over Census Becoming Fight Over Illegal Immigration -- Politics Daily
Source: Politics Daily

Even though 100 million forms have already been printed, the census director recently told a Senate panel that reprinting the forms would cost about $22 million, not exactly a princely sum in Washington these days.

Fact-Checking the Conservative Crusade Against the 2010 Census
Source:

Last week, Senators David Vitter (R-LA) and Bob Bennett (R-UT) drafted a controversial amendment to H.R. 2847, the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies appropriations bill, that would add questions on citizenship and immigration status to the 2010 census.

The 'Average American' Is Dying Off; We Are Becoming "A Complex, Multidimentional Society that Defies Simplistic Labeling"
Source: businessinsider.com

The 2010 Census is expected to find that 309 million people live in the United States. But one person will be missing: the average American.

Senators try to exclude illegal immigrants from 2010 Census
Source: USA Today

A controversial amendment that would require the Census Bureau to ask for the first time whether people are in the USA illegally is headed for a Senate vote Wednesday.

Census Bureau Worker's Son Says Dad Murdered
Source: KDKA TV/Associated Press

Josh Sparkman told The Associated Press in a phone interview that he is frustrated investigators have not ruled out suicide or accidental death.

Interactive: U.S. Census Bureau's 2008 American Community Survey
Source: USA Today

Overall, the Census report showed the recession has taken a big bite out of the financial health of American households, softened somewhat by the safety net of government programs.

Where Americans Pay Most To Live: Housing costs--including taxes, insurance and utilities--cost residents of these 20 metros most.
Source: Forbes

It happens every month: Millions of American pony up for the gas bill, mortgage or rent payment and real estate taxes--and subsequently watch their bank balances dwindle. That's because housing expenses are the biggest monthly expense most families face.

Facebook index shows when you're happy | The Social - CNET News
Source: CNET.com

Facebook is even more omniscient than you thought: it can now chart the world's collective hopes and dreams and highs and lows--sort of, at least.

Criminals may have been hired for census work
Source: thehill.com

Errors by census bureau employees may have resulted in 200 people with criminal records being hired to do door-to-door canvassing.

Colorado Latino leaders work to derail proposed census boycott
Source: coloradoindependent.com

"We're hoping it doesn't become a huge issue here," said Chandra Russo, spokeswoman for the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition. "Latinos gain strength in numbers," she said.

Statistics of Bangladesh in USA
Source: alapbangladesh.com

Bangladeshi's are immigrating to USA every year, but their number is very small compare to India, Mexico or other countries. According to the latest Census the Bangladeshi population in USA are more than 145,000.

Right-wing blogger wonders if murdered census worker was a pedophile
Source: Media Matters for America

'Keep in mind, Riehl quickly admits he doesn't have the slightest idea why the census worker was killed, and that the "child predator" thing is just, y'know, a hypothetical. He's simply "speculating" and "keeping an open mind." But he's gonna float it anyway.'

Bill Sparkman Murder: Tragic Details About Census Worker Found Hanged
Source: The Huffington Post

More on the murder of a Kentucky census worker and substitute teacher Bill Sparkman. It is looking more certain that it is a case that involves anti-government sentiment

Conservatives' Census Paranoia
Source: Crooks and Liars

There are many unanswered questions about the tragic hanging death of Bill Sparkman, a US Census Bureau employee, in rural Kentucky. But one thing is clear.

Census worker's death by asphyxiation might not be homicide, police say
Source: Kentucky.com: Homepage

Reports that Sparkman was hanging from a tree at the cemetery create an image that doesn't fit the evidence where Sparkman was found, Rudzinski said.

Police: Census worker died of asphyxiation
Source: msnbc.com

When Bill Sparkman told retired trooper Gilbert Acciardo that he was going door-to-door collecting census data in rural Kentucky, the former cop drew on years of experience for a warning: "Be careful."

Send the body to Glenn Beck
Source: trueslant.com

Today we learn that 51-year old Bill Sparkman, a part time worker for the US Census Bureau, was found hanged from a tree near a Kentucky cemetery with the word "fed" scrawled across his chest. The FBI is investigating to determine if Mr.

Census worker found hanged with 'fed' on body in Clay County Kentucky
Source: Yahoo! News

WASHINGTON – A U.S. Census worker found hanging from a tree near a Kentucky cemetery had the word "fed" scrawled on his chest, a law enforcement official said Wednesday, and the FBI is investigating whether he was a victim of anti-government sentiment.

9-12 Tea Party Lynching ? - Have Republicans gotten the message?

Although the FBI and local Kentucky authorities are not confirming any details there are many reports that suggest that the lynching of a 51 year old part time census worker is related to anti government sentiment. Reportedly the victim had the word "Fed" scrawled on his chest.

Immigrant population in California declines
Source: The L.A. Times

More than three decades of rapid growth in the country's foreign-born population came to a halt last year, census data show, as surging unemployment made the U.S. economy less attractive to outsiders.

ksl.com - Latinos puzzled by Bennett's latest bill
Source: KSL News

What seems to be the issue? Either you are legal or illegal! if you have nothing to hide, why worry about this issue.

Conservatives Draw Blood From Acorn, Favored Foe
Source: The New York Times

WASHINGTON — For months during last year's presidential race, conservatives sought to tar the Obama campaign with accusations of voter fraud and other transgressions by the national community organizing group Acorn, which had done some work for the campaign.

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