MILWAUKEE (AP) — New data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows about 13 percent of Wisconsinites live in poverty.
The 2012 figure isn't statistically different from the previous year. The poverty threshold in 2012 is income of about $23,500 for a family of four.
Median household income in Wisconsin is about $51,000, which is similar to the national figure. Since 2000, the census data shows the state's median income has declined by about 9 percent.
Across Wisconsin, about 10 percent of people had no health insurance in 2012, about the same as 2011.
In the state's largest city, nearly a third of residents live in poverty. The Journal Sentinel reports Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett says that fact isn't just the city's problem, it should be a regional problem that calls for a regional solution.
Hans Ahlström is the host of several programs including the daily musical variety show Weekday, the mostly straight ahead jazz show Night Studio, the self explanatory Blues Today, and the eclectic Sound Spectrum. You can also hear Hans as the local host of NPR's All Things Considered news magazine. He also helps manage Public Radio 90's web content, interviews local and visiting writers and artists, works with NMU student interns, and writes the occasional news story.