U.S. Census: Poverty down in Alabama

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A new U.S. Census report shows the poverty rate in Alabama is mostly unchanged but has gone down some over the last year, while the median income in the state has gone up. The report released Wednesday shows Alabama 42nd among the 50 states in median household income. The census report found Alabama's median household income to be $42,590 compared to the national median household income of $50,054. The U.S. Census Bureau also reported the state was making some progress in the fight on poverty, The Census report showed the poverty rate in Alabama was 15.49 percent. That's an improvement from 17.2 percent in 2010. But an advocate for the state's poor residents, Alabama Arise executive director Kimble Forrester, said the state has a ways to go to eliminate poverty.