The number of states plus the District of Columbia that allow some or all types of consumer fireworks. Four states allow only sparklers and four others ban consumer fireworks altogether.
Steven Aftergood, director of the Project on Government Secrecy for the Federation of American Scientists, reacting to the news that the United States spent more than $11 billion last year to protect its secrets. The cost of secrecy has more than doubled in a decade.
After months of debate and negotiation over Metro’s Silver Line rail extension, all eyes will be on Loudoun County on Tuesday as the Board of Supervisors decides on commitment to the project. If approved it would bring Metrorail to Dulles International Airport and eastern Loudoun.
The network of agencies that provide social services to Kansans — SRS, KDOA, KDHE — are being scrambled in what officials are claiming is the biggest reorganization in the history of Kansas state government. The end result should be more streamlined and efficient services.
The number of people receiving food stamps has hit a record high during the recent recession and is holding steady. But that has not been the case for welfare. In some states, welfare participation rates have actually decreased over the past few years.
