Issues

From the World Health Organization: Nearly 1000 new cases were reported in the week ending 14 September alone — certainly an underestimate of the true burden of disease. If the present rate of increase continues — if nothing is done to intervene — somewhere between 2500 and 5000 cases will occur, each week, just four weeks from now. Affected countries could be seeing more than 10,000 cases weekly by mid-November. more »

The FBI is releasing a study of 160 active shooter incidents that occurred between 2000 and 2013 throughout the US. The largest percentage of incidents — 45.6 percent — took place in a commercial environment (73 incidents), followed by 24.3 percent that took place in an educational environment (39 incidents. The remaining incidents occurred in open spaces, military and other government properties, residential properties, houses of worship, and health care facilities. more »

Imagine you're at home. Maybe that's in Florida, Wisconsin, Rhode Island, wherever. You have cancer. You just had another round of chemo, and the phone rings. "My name is Kate. I'm a health care counselor," the gentle voice says from her cubicle in Cherry Hill, NJ. The caller could also choose to allow the counselor to talk to his doctors or family directly. It's paid for by insurers and federal privacy rules permit this for business purposes. This is no telemarketing call … it’s about the end of your life. more »

In one state, a high-school dropout can land a six-figure job. In another area of the country, only college graduates can compete for that kind of salary. Nevada's median household income fell 9 percent to $51,230 between 2008 and 2013, the largest percentage decrease among states. Maryland has the top median income in the nation, at $73,022, followed by Alaska at $72,626 and New Jersey at $70,223. Since 2008, Alaska has overtaken New Jersey and Connecticut to become the state with the second highest median income, thanks to a 6 percent increase. more »