Health Insurance Coverage Ranks Lowest in Texas

From 2005-07, Texas had the most citizens without health insurance coverage according to Census Bureau reports noted in an August 27, 2008 article in the The Austin American Statesman ("Census: Texas leads nation in percentage of uninsured"). Approximately 5.7 million Texans had no health insurance during that time period. Nationally, numbers for the uninsured decreased to 15.3 percent or 45.7 million in 2007, in contrast to 15.8 percent, or 47 million, in 2006. A health care legislation expert notes that this situation occurred because "the state did not take advantage of several federal programs that could have increased coverage for children and adults."

Review selected library titles related to health insurance availability and cost at LSC-CyFair Branch Library. Click the title of a book, select the "Request" button in the listing, and enter your library card number and PIN for each title you want to reserve for pick up at the library. Call the library at 281-290-3218 to check your PIN if you do not remember it. Use these subject words to find more in the library catalog:

• health care reform
• health insurance
• medical care cost
• national health insurance
• medical policy

Critical: What We Can Do about the Health-Care Crisis by Tom Daschle with Scott S.Greenberger and Jeanne M. Lambrew - Thomas Dunne Books, 2008
call number: 362.109 Das

National Health Insurance in the United States and Canada: Race, Territory, and the Roots of Difference by Gerard W. Boychuk - Georgetown University Press, 2008
call number: 368.42 Boy

America's Health Care Crisis Solved: Money-Saving Solutions, Coverage for Everyone by J. Patrick Rooney and Dan Perrin - Wiley, 2008
call number: 338.433 Roo

Health Care edited by David M. Haugen - Greenhaven Press, 2008
call number: 362.104 Hea

Sick: The Untold Story of America's Health Care Crisis--and the People Who Pay the Price by Jonathan Cohn - HarperCollins Publishers, 2007
call number: 362.109 Coh

Sicko [videorecording] produced by Meghan O'Hara and written, produced and directed by Michael Moore - Weinstein Company, 2007
call number: DVD nonfiction 362.109 Sic

DNA Evidence Not Saved in 25 States

The ability to clear wrongly-convicted individuals is made more difficult because 25 states are not required to keep DNA evidence according to an August 5, 2008 story in USA Today ("DNA not kept in half of states"). The possibility of solving crimes committed years ago is hampered by lack of DNA samples as well. Disagreement about guidelines and length of time for saving DNA material and the requirements and cost for storage seem to be the biggest problems surrounding this issue.

Review selected library titles related to DNA evidence available now at LSC-CyFair Branch Library. Click the title of a book, select the "Request" button in the listing, and enter your library card number and PIN for each title you want to reserve for pick up at the library. Call the library at 281-290-3218 to check your PIN if you do not remember it. Use these subject words to find more in the library catalog:

• DNA fingerprinting
• DNA data banks
• judicial error
• false imprisonment
• forensic sciences

DNA Databases edited by Lauri R. Harding - Greenhaven Press, 2007
call number: 363.256 Dna

Crime Scene: Inside the World of the Real CSIs by Connie Fletcher - St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2007
call number: 363.259 Fle

The Forensic Laboratory Handbook: Procedures and Practice edited by Ashraf Mozayani and Carla Noziglia - Humana Press, 2006
call number: available from NetLibrary book database online with student/staff ID or library card if off campus (NOTE: click on link above and enter library card number if requested)
NOTE: "easy-to-read introduction to the work of the modern forensic laboratory"

Journey Toward Justice by Dennis Fritz - Seven Locks Press, 2006
call number: 347.731 Fri

After Innocence [videorecording] produced by Jessica Sanders, Marc H. Simon - New Yorker Video, 2007
call number: DVD nonfiction 614.1 Aft