Numbers in the news

73

Traffic crash statistics released by the Pa. Dept. of Transportation show that fewer drivers in Potter, Cameron and McKean counties are wearing seat belts, when compared with those in other Pennsylvania counties.

Compliance was the worst in McKean County, where 73 percent of those involved in an accident were wearing a seat belt. In Potter and Cameron counties, the figure was about 77 percent.

There were 135 crashes in Potter County during 2006, and 60 in Cameron County. There were 68 injuries in Potter; 38 in Cameron. Over the past five years, Potter County has averaged 160 crashes, while Cameron County has averaged 63.

17

A Wall Street Journal story analyzes the sinking popularity of the Republican Party, due largely to a disconnect with younger Americans.

Some 17 percent of Republicans are age 18-34 today, down from 25 percent a decade ago. Republicans 55 and older constitute 41 percent of the party, up from 28 percent a decade ago.

80

Bowhunters still take a relatively small percentage of deer killed in Pennsylvania. About 80 percent are harvested during the rifle season.

841

Not all that many area residents applied for an elkhunting license in last weekend's drawing at Kersey.

The Pennsylvania county with the most applicants was Allegheny County with 841, followed by Westmoreland County with 787, York County with 670, and Lancaster County with 659.

Elk County had 282 applications, Cameron County had 68 and Clearfield County had 333. Some 1,760 non- Pennsylvania residents also applied for elk licenses; 463 applications were submitted from residents of New York, 315 applications from Ohio, 176 from Maryland, and 147 from New Jersey.

57B

Gambling is huge in the U.S. Topping the games in terms of spending by Americans are state lotteries.

We spent $57 billion on state lotteries in 2006, more than the amount spent on books and movies combined. Some 43 states now operate lotteries

25

A quarter-century has passed since Carnegie Mellon University professor Scott Fahlman claimed to have invented the "digital smiley face," better known as: :-)

Since then, computer users have come up with dozens of other emotional icons to expand electronic communications.

500

About 500 inmates at the Federal Correctional Institution in McKean County are studying for their GEDs.

FCI/McKean has a staff of 14 full-time literacy instructors and two contracted teachers, along with 15 tutors. Inmates can also work on college degrees, but must pay for that themselves.

It costs taxpayers about $26,000 per year to care for each inmate at FCI McKean.