European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 28, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 a the stars and stripes saturday september 28, 1991poverty climbs for first time in 8 years by the Washington Post Washington a poverty in the United states Rose sharply last year for the first time since 1983 and median household income dropped the census Bureau reported thursday in a comprehensive statistical confirmation of the effects of the recession. The figures represent increased unemployment lower wages and More households with Only one income. It was also unwelcome news for the White House. A you can interpret data in Many different ways depending on your political Bias and your Point of View but there is no denying that the poverty rate has increased and the recession has been a major Factor a said White House press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater. While some conservatives said the figures painted a picture More gloomy than reality democrats and others said they were proof of a recession that has at times seemed spotty and elusive. Quot the figures Are terribly disturbing but no Surprise to people who work with vulnerable and impoverished populations a said a. Sidney Johnson executive director of the american Public welfare association. A welfare Rolls have increased for 22 consecutive months and Are at an All time High in american  the bureaus report based on surveys of about 6 1,000 households found a the proportion of americans below the poverty line Rose from 12.8 percent in 1989 to 13.5 percent in 1990. A the number of persons in poverty Rose from 31.5 million to 33.6 million. In 1983, the poverty rate Rose to 15.2 percent As a result of inflation and two recessions in the Early 1980s, but had dropped every year since. A median household income adjusted for inflation dropped from $30,468 in 1989 to $29,943, the first decrease since 1982. The median is the Point at which half the households have lower income half higher. The poverty line for a family of three was set in 1990 at $10,419. A the portion of americans not covered by health insurance Rose from 13.6 percent in 1989 to 14 percent because of a loss in private health insurance. Most private insurance is obtained through employment and can be lost when unemployment rises. Kate Walsh of Beirne vice president of the conservative heritage foundation said the official poverty figures a greatly exaggerate poverty because they count Only Cash income not non Cash benefits such As food Stamps thereby ignoring $129 billion in welfare spending and assets such As a  she said 38 percent of those counted As poor own their own Homes. The Bureau in a supplement to its report estimated that the poverty rate would be 11 percent if All no Cash income were included and taxes deducted. The use of an inflation measure considered by some More accurate than the one used by the government would put the poverty rate at 9.5 percent it said. By either of these experimental methods however the poverty rate would have increased from 1989 to 1990. The Bureau published income and poverty figures for poverty in America the poverty rate since 1965 median household income 1990 17.3% 1965 15% 10% 15.2% 1983 13.5% 1990 $38,450 breakdown by race and hispanic origin 1965 1970 1975 1960 1985 1990 National asian White hispanic Black Avarala percentage of people in poverty by state ten highest poverty rates i j ten lowest poverty rates the states for the first time based on average figures for 1988-90. Connecticut with Only 4.3 percent in poverty and a $41,162 median household income was the nations most affluent while Mississippi with 25 percent in poverty and $20,414 median income was at the Bottom. The median Job earnings of full time year round workers were $27,866 for men and $19,816 for women. The poverty line for a single person for 1990 was $6,652. The poverty line was first set in the 1960s at three times the amount of Money needed to buy a minimum Marke Baskel of food for families of various sizes. The poverty rate for Whites Rose to 10.7 percent from 10 percent in 1990. For hispanic people the figures Rose to 28.1 percent from 26.2 percent. The rate for Blacks remained the highest of the three groups at 31.9 percent. By census figures hispanic people May be either Black or White. The Northeast was the Only Region to experience a growth in poverty to 11.4 percent from 10 percent in 1989, although its rate remained the country slowest. In 1990, the rate was 12.4 percent for the Midwest 15.8 percent for the South and 13 percent for the West. The poverty rate inside metropolitan areas Rose to 12.7 percent from 12 percent in 1990. The poverty rate for the elderly Rose to 12.2 percent trom 11.4 percent even though the Overall earnings of the elderly did not decline. While the elderly rate Rose it is still sharply diminished from its Levels a generation ago. In 1967, the poverty rate for the elderly was 29.5. 1 he census Bureau produces the annual report by interviewing 60,000 households each March in a data base separate from the decennial census. Loud Rock music can cause hearing loss doctor warns Kansas City to. A loud Rock music damages the hearing of musicians and concert goers and some lop stars agree it is time people act to protect themselves says the founder of a group that encourages hearing awareness. Quot hearing loss has been covered up for years. Musicians Are just now hearing the problem a or. Flash Gordon a san Francisco physician said wednesday at the 95lh annual american Academy of otolaryngology meeting. Gordon and musician Kathy Peck Are co founders of hear a hearing education and awareness for rockers. They showed part of a documentary on the dangers of loud music to 2,500 ear nose and Throat specialists from around the United states. The film contained interview s with about 50 performers including Pete Townshend Huey Lewis and Ray Charles warning about the dangers of High volume music. A noise is the most common preventable cause of irreversible hearing loss Quot said or. Paul Lambert an ear specialist at University of Virginia medical Center. Quot music is an important part of our culture. Its pervasive. Quot but music today is getting louder. It May be the most common form of noise among  Peck said the san Francisco based hear created in 1988, provides free counselling and a free hearing screening program at the City a height Ash Bury free clinic. A i lost my hearing because of music Quot said Peck a Lead Singer in a san Francisco Punk Rock band in the late 1970s. Quot in a not saying give up loud music but use precautions use  Noriega received payoffs for cocaine sex Pilot says by the los Angeles times Miami a Manuel a. Noriega demanded a payoff of at least $100,000 for every plan Load of colombian cocaine passing through Panama saying that it would have beens a crazy Quot for him to take less the deposed dictators former personal Pilot testified thursday. Floyd Carlton Caceres who said that he piloted four drug flights into Panama with Noriega a approval told a Federal court jury he delivered $600,000 in Cash tilled envelopes to the military Leader in 1982 and �?T83, giving them to Fri intermediary at Noriega a instructions. Coming on the heels of earlier testimony by a former trusted aide who said that he handed two of the Bulky envelopes to Noriega without checking their contents Carlton a sworn account marked the prosecution s heaviest blow against Noriega so far m the first two weeks of testimony. . District judge William m. Hoe Veler recessed the trial until monday when Carlton will be Cross examined defense attorney Frank Rubino. Carlton 42, said that Noriega Bechai Quot exceedingly upset Quot when Carlton to him in 1982 that Medellin drug car Leader Pablo Escobar had suggested talk to Noriega about allowing coca flights to pass through Panama in Roi to the United states. But he said that a week or two Lai Noriega mellowed indicating that would entertain the idea. However Noriega hotly rejected est bar s proposal that the Cartel pay h $30,000 to $50,000 per flight the Witni said. A Noriega told me either they we crazy or 1 was crazy a Carlton Testi fic he would not allow that to happen i less than $100,000.�?� identifying photographs of two plan he used to ferry drugs from Colombia 1 Anama Carlton said that he made pc flights in 1982 and �?T83