Title: Boston Globe Page One Podcast for Mar 23, 2009

" Thank you for downloading today's -- from the newsroom of the Boston cold. Here's a look at today's top stories."

" This is Dorsey Clark with the front page news summary on Monday march 23. Officials from northeastern states are accustomed to trying. And often failing to get funding for regional priorities from the federal government dominated by Sunbelt conservatives. Now they're finding a more sympathetic benefactor in the Obama administration. Which is adopted policies that are expected to pump many billions of dollars into the region. From mass transit and high speed trains to energy technology and medical research. Massachusetts and nearby states are poised to receive federal grants and economic development fund says the regions largely democratic congressional delegations. Found difficult to secure under the Bush Administration. And the former GOP run congress according to area lawmakers and advocates. Globe staff reporter Susan Milligan and correspondent -- we speak he writes that the economic stimulus package approved last month. Contains an estimated 600 million to 700 million dollars for Amtrak's northeast corridor. Eight billion dollars for homeland -- station programs that disproportionately benefit cold weather areas. And a provision allowing millions of dollars in economic development bonds to be used for Biotech industries many of which are in the northeast. In addition president Obama's budget proposal includes one point two billion dollars more than bush requested. To help lower income people -- heating oil. The program which is of intense interest in the northeast and other cold weather areas was a frequent target for Republican -- The number of Massachusetts families seeking free and reduced price meals for school children is rising as economic hardships extend. To school lunch Koreans school officials in Boston Newton. Framingham Needham and Malden. Has reported increases in children receiving some type of help for paying for lunch since the beginning of the school year. Writes the globe's right -- rusty. Statewide. About 306641. Students or in the free and reduce -- lunch program as of October 2008. An increase of about four point 5% from October 2007. When 293347. Students qualified. According to the department of education's. The state did not have more recent figures available but several districts that the numbers keep rising. Despite many testimonials about the effectiveness of -- a drug that reduces alcohol cravings."

" It is largely been a commercial flop. There are several reasons writes Todd -- of the globe staff."

" Many alcohol treatment programs resist using drugs. Some doctors contend that -- doesn't work for most patients and at 800 dollars a month it's expensive. -- the tallest made by Al occurred -- incorporated. A biotechnology company located in Cambridge. According to the national institute on alcohol abuse and alcoholism. There are about eight million alcoholics in the United States. Yet only a few thousand are using -- trawl. Nearly three years after the drug went on the market a major challenge the company faces. Is that it's novel approach runs counter to decades of tradition. Alcohol treatment programs have relied more on counseling than medication. Also. Small residential treatment programs often shown using drugs to treat drinking. Al Kirby says it recommends that the -- to supplement. Not to replace counseling. The company also acknowledges that it must change the long held ideas about treating alcoholism. They take to the platforms and passage ways of the -- every day. Stoic classical guitarist. Polished these musicians working on their chops for the next clunky. Up and coming singer songwriters hoping to emulate the success of such former subway troubadour says Tracy Chapman. This year the ranks of the posters have been swelled by a new wave of performer. People who decided to play for commuters because blending traditional employment this challenging. They represented small creative offshoot of the nationwide trend that has seen some of the recently unemployed reinvent their careers. Often an occupation they find more rewarding if less well compensated. The globe stated -- reports that performers have to submit an application and 25 dollar feed to pain -- stations. And there are some rules to follow."

" One is no playing drums or trumpets. Those instruments are deemed too loud."

" In 2008. From January 1 through march 16. 45 musicians received permits. According to MBTA spokesman -- has turow. For the same period this year 76 were issued he said. Not everyone it's a polished performer. At park street station on the Green Line here's a man who plays the -- battling. Other legendary -- have included a singer who accompanied Stevie Wonder tunes blaring from a beat box at the Harvard Square red line station. And it guitarists who scratched out solos to canned music at the same stage more recently at government center on the Blue Line. And harmonica player has alienated passengers."

" To get the full report on pieces -- news features and sports stories. 6 o'clock 8 o'clock to. Or visit boston.com. If you have comments about the looks podcasts to send me an email at dean Clark blue dot com."