A popular program which assigns volunteers to abused or neglected kids gets a new lease on life. The Court-Appointed Special Advocate or CASA program was to be closed down soon as part of the cuts ordered in the judicial branch of state government. Senate President Mary Kramer, a republican from West Des Moines, met with the Chief Justice yesterday and convinced him to keep the program running ’til February 1st.Kramer says that gives legislators time to try to find a way to keep the program afloat.Thirty-nine state employees who coordinate the volunteers who work with the kids were to have been laid off, but got a reprieve yesterday.