News in Numbers
The increase in firearm deaths among children and teens between 2019 and 2023. Firearms have been the leading cause of deaths for American youth for three years running, followed by vehicle accidents. Black children were more than eight times as likely to die due to weapons than white kids; firearms have been the leading cause of death for Black youth since 2015.
The amount of funding the Trump administration has stripped from the University of Pennsylvania for allowing Lia Thomas, a transgender athlete, to compete on its women’s swimming team. The White House made an announcement on social media, but Penn said it has received no official notice, pointing out that it has followed NCAA guidelines.
The number of employees left at the National Center for Education Statistics. The center, part of the federal Department of Education, used to have 100 employees but was among the hardest hit by last week’s employee purge. NCES administers the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, which is also known as the Nation’s Report Card. Only one of the three left is a testing expert and none of them works directly with NAEP.
The typical number of laying hens at a Canadian poultry farm. By contrast, many farms in the U.S. have more than 1 million. Putting so many chickens in one basket, so to speak, is one reason why avian flu has been a bigger problem in the U.S. than in Canada, which is not seeing the same sort of price spikes for eggs.
The amount of money raised by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the first two weeks since officially launching his campaign for New York City mayor. Along with earlier fundraising and public matching funds, his total for the first quarter will likely be $4.1 million, putting him well ahead of any other Democrat in the money chase.
The number of pounds of dye used to turn the Chicago River green for St. Patrick’s Day. Since 1962, the Chicago plumbers’ union has used two boats to dye the river, switching to an environmentally friendly vegetable-based dye from an oil-based dye used in the past.
The amount of growth in Dawson County, Ga., between July 2023 and July 2024, making it the nation’s fastest growing county. The 10 fastest-growing counties were all in the Sunbelt, including four in Texas. Metropolitan counties are growing faster than the nation as a whole, driven by international migration.
The increase in energy prices in February. Gasoline prices were down but electricity and natural gas both increased. Inflation, which ticked down to 2.8 percent last month, was driven largely by higher prices for shelter, which accounted for half the overall increase.
The risk of a recession in the coming year, according to Mark Zandi, the chief economist at Moody’s Analytics. Zandi is a prominent forecaster who has consulted with politicians from both parties. “The economy will likely suffer a downturn if the Trump administration follows through on the tariff increases it has announced and maintains those tariffs for more than a few months,” Zandi says.
The share of Indiana counties that are expected to lose population over the next 30 years. Many smaller counties in the state are actively seeking grants for programs to reverse this trend, largely by improving local quality of life.
Number of historic photos and online posts marked for purging from the Department of Defense as part of its effort to remove materials related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Many of the images feature women and minorities. “In some cases, photos seemed to be flagged for removal simply because their file included the word ‘gay,’” according to the Associated Press, “including service members with that last name and an image of the B-29 aircraft Enola Gay, which dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, during World War II.”
The salary and bonuses earned by Salvador Cavazos, superintendent of Valere Public Schools, a small network of charter campuses in Texas. The network serves fewer than 1,000 students. That’s more than double the compensation for Melissa Aviles-Ramos, chancellor of New York City schools, which serve nearly 1 million students.
The share of the vote taken by St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones in Tuesday’s primary. Jones finished well behind Cara Spencer, a former alderwoman who was her opponent four years ago and took 68 percent on Tuesday. Jones and Spencer will proceed to a runoff next month.
The number of days per week that California state employees will have to work in their offices, beginning July 1. In issuing the order, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom said that the return to in-person work will help restore trust with the public and also be more fair to employees who already have to work in person, including custodial staff.
The number of babies whose health was protected by James Harrison. The Australian railway clerk had rare antibodies in his blood that, when administered during pregnancy, help prevent hemolytic disease of the newborn, a condition that can cause stillbirth and neonatal death. Harrison, who died last month, donated blood every two weeks for more than 60 years. “There are so many people walking around with a little bit of James,” said a spokeswoman for American Red Cross Lifeblood.
The number of measles cases in Texas, as of Friday. One child has died and 20 more are hospitalized. The outbreak, the worst in the state in decades, has grown from two cases a month ago.
Approximate average annual wage for federal workers who live in Washington, D.C., according to Labor Department data for 2023. D.C., Maryland and Virginia have the highest federal wages per worker, with those in Maryland making about $126,000 and those in Virginia making about $111,000.
The percentage of “highly religious” Americans who strongly lean toward the Republican Party. Thirty-two percent of the same group identify as Democrats. The figure is higher among white Americans – 77 percent – because Black Americans are likely to identify as Democrats regardless of their level of religious engagement. Among White Americans with low levels of religious engagement, 68 percent lean toward the Democratic Party.
The amount states would lose in funding if Congress eliminates enhanced Medicaid funding for the expanded program population created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The House is considering a budget proposal that would shrink Medicaid spending in various ways. If the extra ACA money went away, states would have to come up with $44.3 billion to make up the loss. Otherwise, the uninsured population would increase by 10.8 million people.
The amount college tuition could go up for so-called Dreamers in Florida. Dreamers, who are undocumented immigrants brought to this country as children, have been able to pay in-state rates but the Legislature plans to repeal that policy. That would raise their annual tuition costs from $6,300 to $22,000.
The amount that rates of sepsis increased for Texas women hospitalized when they lost their pregnancies in the second trimester, according to a new investigation from ProPublica. The increase occurred after Texas banned abortion in 2021.null
The number of people who have tested positive in West Texas for the measles. Four patients who contracted measles said they were vaccinated against the disease. Thirteen patients have been hospitalized. The outbreak is the state’s largest in more than 30 years.
The approximate number of people with autism who have jobs that align with their skill level and offer competitive salaries, according to Amy Wetherby, director of the Florida State University Autism Institute. On Tuesday, the Florida Senate Committee on Education PreK-12 unanimously backed a bill designed to create more work opportunities for individuals with autism during its first committee hearing.
Number of people being held in Wisconsin's state correctional facilities, which have an official capacity of 17,638. Gov. Tony Evers wants to dedicate over $325 million toward a plan that would update the state’s aging correctional facilities, close the Green Bay Correctional Institution in 2029, and spend more than $40 million to help "stabilize" the prison population through programs aimed at reducing recidivism, including workforce training and substance abuse treatment.
The estimated amount a judge has ordered Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to seek from the federal government in unemployment benefits. Like other Republican governors, DeWine opted out of a federal pandemic program that provided enhanced unemployment payments before it ended in 2021. A judge has ordered DeWine to obtain those funds, which would be distributed to about 300,000 people. The state intends to appeal the ruling.
The amount the U.S. House GOP raised the U.S. debt limit in their budget resolution, released Wednesday. The resolution, if adopted, would extend Donald Trump’s 2017 tax cuts and boost border security spending.
Across Florida, and the nation, the high cost of child care — on average more than $12,600 a year for an infant in the Sunshine State.
Percentage of public-sector employees who say student loan debt affects their decisions when considering job offers, with about a third of public-sector employees with student debt saying they perceive it as a barrier to their career advancement and 23 percent reporting negative work morale.
The number of Venezuelans who stand to lose their Temporary Protected Status under Donald Trump, who announced late last month that he would cancel an extension of the TPS program for Venezuelans in the U.S. In the Miami suburb of Doral, Venezuelans have been some of the president’s biggest supporters. Their feelings about these latest policies remain varied and complex – but some have grown to fear they may have to leave the country. (Washington Post — Feb. 9, 2025)
