YV still pays $2-$2.50 most of the time. The concept of how to best earn from Yahoo Voices (formerly Associated Content) has been discussed many times. The two biggest things to take in are 1) YV allows you to choose what to write about, and 2) YV pays a small amount upfront, and ongoing payments.
Put the two together, and think about writing your own projects (ebooks, sites, etc) in article-sized components that YV also wants, submit them to get accepted. Later you can add the content to your own site or e-course. Then it's like getting paid by Yahoo to create your own IM content empire. Think beyond just the $2 level, and bank up!