News numbers

410

Remember -- the price of a first class postage stamp increases to 41 cents, effective May 14. New stamps will go on sale April 12.

Postal patrons can lock in the 41-cent rate by purchasing "forever stamps," which cost 41 cents and will be usable for first-class postage even after future rate increases.

50

Major League Baseball opens its season on Sunday. The Pittsburgh Pirates, local favorites, are 50-to-1 shots to win the World Series. Favored this season to win it all are the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, both at 7-to-2, followed by the New York Mets at 8-to-1.

95M

About $95 million will be spent on U.S. Rt. 219 improvements in Elk and McKean counties over the next three to four years. Work includes bypasses around Bradford and Johnsonburg, a new bridge near Ridgway and smaller jobs.

190

Some 190 police agencies in the state, including the local Pa. State Police barracks, are part of "Smooth Operator." The mission is to crack down on the number one cause of highway fatalities in the Pennsylvania - - and it's not drunken driving. Aggressive driving kills far more motorists than DUI. The state is pumping $2 million into special aggressive driving patrols during five weeklong periods, one of which started on Sunday and concludes this weekend. Others are July 1-7, Aug. 5-11 and Sept. 2-15.

Officers will ticket drivers who are observed speeding, tailgating, running traffic lights, failing to stop at stop signs and making unsafe lane changes.

Some of the money has gone for police training and equipment, such as wireless infrared speed detectors. The rest is being used for police overtime costs.

215,000

A 65-year-old couple retiring this year can expect to need $215,000 to cover medical expenses over the rest of their lives.

The figure rose by 7.5% in one year. About one-third of the amount will be for Medicare coverage premiums for expenses from doctors' visits, outpatient hospital care and prescription drugs. Another third will come from other cost-sharing provisions of Medicare (co-payments and deductibles).