Weekly News Roundup - Sept. 2, 2010

Reprieve for 5 of 7 Oakland Child Care Programs (Contra Costa Times, California)
“Parents scrambling to find before- and after-school care for their children next week because of district budget cuts will get some relief. School officials announced Friday they will keep the district's child care programs running through December with $2.1 million in unspent funds from last school year.”
 
Freedom School Praised by Ed Secretary (Clarion-Ledger, Mississippi)
Students at Jackson State University who are interning at the afterschool program Freedom School had the opportunity to talk last week to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan about the importance of the program. Duncan stopped in Mississippi on his eight-state, two-week “Courage in the Classroom” bus tour. Learn more about the tour here.
 
Program to Push Active Lifestyles for Children (Rapids Tribune, Wisconsin)
The South Wood County YMCA will begin its “Fit-Tastic” program at local afterschool programs this fall to teach children about healthy lifestyles and combat childhood obesity. "This program is designed to introduce healthy foods, fitness testing, sports -- we just want to make sure they are aware of what there is to be healthy," said Dan Kasper, youth sports director at the YMCA.
 
Old Phones Will Help Soldiers Make Calls (Albany Democrat Herald, Oregon)
The Keystone Club, an afterschool program of the Boys & Girls Club of Lebanon, is collecting old cell phones to recycle and will use the proceeds to purchase phone cards for soldiers serving overseas.