News in Numbers
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)
The average rate increase State Farm, California’s largest insurer, is asking the state to approve for policy holders. The insurer says the recent L.A. fires have imperiled its finances, and it wants these rate increases as an “emergency” cash infusion as it attempts to pay out claims.
The number of Oregon state employees who make more money than Gov. Tina Kotek. The governor earns $98,600 a year, which is less than all the governors save those in Maine, Colorado and Arizona. Her relatively modest salary means that one in every five state employees in Oregon make more money than the governor. (The Oregonian)
The amount it would cost annually to clean up the dead zone off the coast of Louisiana. A vast dead zone is caused seasonally by nutrient runoff from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers that cause algae blooms and cut off oxygen. The Environmental Protection Agency has set a goal of reducing runoff by 45 percent, which would cost $7 billion per year, according to a new study. (Louisiana Illuminator)
The projected cost of a new school voucher plan in Tennessee over the next three years. Last week, legislators passed a bill making Tennessee the latest state to offer vouchers to all families, regardless of location or income. Critics said the cost will grow much higher. The bill was a top priority for GOP Gov. Bill Lee.
