AUSTIN, Texas

Raising the minimum wage to a living wage begins the cycle of lifting single mothers out of poverty, according to a policy report released by the Institute for Urban Policy Research & Analysis (IUPRA) at The University of Texas at Austin. The U.S. census shows more Americans  — 46.2 million people — are living in poverty than ever before. And for African American and Hispanic women, a full-time minimum wage job isn’t enough to break out of the poverty cycle. According to the report, working women of color make $0.64 and $0.56, respectively, for every dollar white men earn. Shetal Vohra-Gupta, an IUPRA research fellow, said this disparity is concerning because female-led households with children have increased by approximately 10 percent during the past decade — and more families than ever before depend on women as primary breadwinners. To illustrate the adverse effects of a stagnant minimum wage, the analysis points to Texas, which has the largest number of low-wage workers ($7.25/hour) in the nation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Despite its national reputation for economic growth, Texas ranks sixth in the number of people living in poverty, and its poverty rate is growing faster than the national average, according to the 2010 U.S. census. African American and Hispanic women are hit the hardest. Drawing from U.S. census and American Community Surveys data, the report shows the nation’s total of single-mother households increased 163 percent among Hispanics and 33 percent among African Americans during the past decade. To rise above the poverty threshold, a single mother raising two children and working full time would need to earn $17.50 to $31.60 an hour, according to the Economic Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank for economic research. This amount, known as the living wage, is more than twice the average minimum wage in most communities. The findings indicate that Congress should work to increase the federal minimum wage and then adjust it to inflation in order to increase purchasing power and ultimately boost the U.S. economy. King Davis, professor of African and African Diaspora Studies and IUPRA director, says the report reveals the dire implications of a stagnant minimum wage on the U.S. economy. “Low wage earners cannot participate fully in the economy, thus lowering the overall economic health of their neighborhoods and communities,” Davis says. “Dr. Vohra-Gupta identifies that where race, low education and limited skills combine, the risks of long-term poverty for the women and their children requires policy action by a Congress that is intent on eliminating rather than increasing the worth of entitlements.” In a separate policy report, Vohra-Gupta and a team of IUPRA researchers analyzed demographic trends in the African American population in Texas since 1950. The findings show that single mothers comprise the third largest group of householders. Of the 24 percent living below the poverty level, single mothers comprise 65 percent. The researchers also found the share of African Americans in the category of “high school graduate, GED or alternative” is five percentage points higher than the general population. Yet that group is seven percentage points lower in the category of “bachelor’s degree or higher.” The reports raise important questions about several important issues, such as racial disparities in higher education, the economic toll of a stagnant minimum wage and the cycle of poverty among African American single mothers. “Wages that do not provide women with the ability to meet their needs is a major national problem that is often ignored,” Davis says. “This research shows just how concentrated low wages are in populations of women of color. The absence of a living wage greatly limits their ability to sustain themselves and their families or get out of poverty.”

A professor of personal financial planning at Texas Tech University was named to the InvestmentNews Power 20 list of men and women who will play a key role in shaping the financial advisory industry in 2013.  InvestmentNews noted research published by Michael Finke in 2012 that estimated the impact of proposed fiduciary legislation on the brokerage industry as the “paper heard ‘round the advisory world.”  The paper, published in the Journal of Financial Planning, investigated the behavior of brokers within states that had a stricter fiduciary standard and concluded that legislation requiring a fiduciary standard wouldn’t have an adverse effect on brokers’ ability to serve customers.  The industry had argued that a stricter fiduciary standard would harm consumers by limiting the availability of advising services.   “Part of our goal as the largest academic program in financial planning is to advance the concept of advising services as a profession,” Finke said. “Through our research on a number of topics, we’ve been able to improve the base of knowledge within the financial planning industry. We hope to have an even greater impact on the profession in 2013.”   Finke also will be the keynote speaker at the National Association of Professional Financial Advisors conference in 2013. NAPFA is the country’s leading professional association of fee-only financial advisors.   Other members of the 2013 Investment News Power 20 include others involved in the debate over fiduciary legislation of financial advisors such as U.S. Senator-elect Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass), Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Elisse Walter, Labor Secretary Phyllis Borzi, and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority CEO Richard Ketchum.

COLLEGE STATION, Texas

Conditions could line up for an active winter wildfire season in some parts of the state, and Texas A&M Forest Service officials are urging residents to take precautions. The agency has identified an “area of concern” where large wildfires could occur this winter if conditions are right. The area includes everything north of a line from Fort Stockton along I-10 to San Antonio, north to Austin, northeast to Tyler and east along I-20 to the state line. That region didn’t get enough rainfall this year to eliminate drought but did get enough to increase grass growth. Low humidity, dry conditions and high winds can cause fire to spread rapidly, said Justice Jones, Wildland Urban Interface coordinator for Texas A&M Forest Service. Although there are particular areas of concern, fires can occur anywhere in the state, and residents should remain cautious. “Any time the state experiences dry periods with strong, gusty winds, the threat of wildfire will increase and extra caution is encouraged to avoid devastating wildfires,” Jones said.

Several precautions are suggested for the holiday season:           

 • Check for and obey burn bans and fireworks restrictions.

 • When and where outdoor burning is allowed, keep the fire small, never leave it unattended and remove flammable leaves and other materials from the area surrounding the fire. Avoid lighting piles on windy days.

 • Keep water nearby in case a fire starts. A spark or burning ember can ignite dry, fine-textured fuels like grass and weeds.

 • Read and follow label instructions on how to properly discharge fireworks. • Use fireworks with close adult supervision and only in areas clear of dry vegetation.

 • Avoid using fireworks, particularly aerial varieties, around buildings. Wind can carry hot fireworks onto roofs where leaves or other flammable debris may have accumulated.  

 • Remove your natural Christmas tree soon after the holidays and consider community tree recycling projects. Christmas trees can be ground up for mulch or provide shelter for birds and other wildlife.

• Dispose of wrapping paper, boxes and other holiday waste by recycling, when practical. Burn paper and cardboard in a burn barrel or other fire-proof receptacle topped by a metal screen or grill, as winds can carry embers over long distances. 

HOUSTON –

Many of us may feel guilty if we treat ourselves a little too much during the holidays, but for those with diabetes, overindulgence can lead to a greater health concern. Dr. Alan Garber, professor of medicine in the section of diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism at Baylor College of Medicine, offers diabetes management tips for the holidays. “Holiday foods tend to be rich in carbohydrates and fats and both of these tend to increase insulin requirements,” Garber said. “You should also beware of the amount of sugar in holiday treats.”

Garber offers the following tips:

 -If you have a sweet tooth, look for sugar-free items at the grocery store.

 -Control your portions when eating foods that are high in fat.

 -High-fat meals independently produce insulin resistance and raise insulin requirements, so be sure sugar-free items are not high in fat.

 -At holiday parties, eat less by sampling foods or eating ahead of time to avoid temptation.

 -Avoid alcoholic drinks, they stimulate your appetite and can have high sugar contents.

 -Balance any indiscretion with exercise immediately after the meal, which burns calories and reduces insulin resistance.

Garber suggests not becoming too preoccupied with your diabetes diagnosis during the holidays, but reminds that it’s always important to be cautious of what you’re eating. “You need to remember that excess consumption is never good for you, diabetes or not,” he said.