Mid-South ranks #1 for child poverty, again

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Memphis is once again in the national spotlight for crime. A University of Memphis professor has a simple answer for what's driving the problem: poverty. New federal data shows the Mid-South ranks number one for child poverty, again. "Children have done nothing to deserve poverty," explained Dr. Elena Delavega, a professor of social work at the University of Memphis. "I'm worried for what 's happening in the future." According to her analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data, the city of Memphis has a poverty rate of 38.8%, which is just below Detroit's child poverty rate of 51.1%. However, the Memphis Metro Area (including communities in Mississippi and Arkansas) has a child poverty rate of 27.8%. That's the highest in the country. Delavega blames minimum wage job