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Daily Archives: September 12, 2017

Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the U.S.: 2016

“The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that real median household income increased by 3.2 percent between 2015 and 2016, while the official poverty rate decreased 0.8 percentage points. At the same time, the percentage of people without health insurance coverage decreased. Median household income in the United States in 2016 was $59,039, an increase in real terms of 3.2 percent from the 2015 median income of $57,230. This is the second consecutive annual increase in median household income. The nation’s official poverty rate in 2016 was 12.7 percent, with 40.6 million people in poverty, 2.5 million fewer than in 2015. The 0.8 percentage point decrease from 2015 to 2016 represents the second consecutive annual decline in poverty. The 2016 poverty rate is not statistically different from the 2007 rate (12.5 percent), the year before the most recent recession. The percentage of people without health insurance coverage for the entire 2016 calendar year was 8.8 percent, down from 9.1 percent in 2015. The number of people without health insurance declined to 28.1 million from 29.0 million over the period. These findings are contained in two reports: Income and Poverty in the United States: 2016 and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2016. This year’s income and poverty report marks the 50th anniversary of the first poverty estimates released by the Census Bureau in the Current Population report series. Another Census Bureau report, The Supplemental Poverty Measure: 2016, was also released today. The supplemental poverty rate in 2016 was 13.9 percent, a decrease from 14.5 percent in 2015. With support from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Supplemental Poverty Measure shows a different way of measuring poverty in the United States and serves as an additional indicator of economic well-being. The Census Bureau has published poverty estimates using the supplemental poverty measure annually since 2011. The Current Population Survey, sponsored jointly by the Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics, is conducted every month and is the primary source of labor force statistics for the U.S. population; it is used to calculate the monthly unemployment rate estimates. Supplements are added in most months; the Annual Social and Economic Supplement questionnaire is designed to give annual, national estimates of income, poverty and health insurance numbers and rates. The most recent Annual Social and Economic Supplement was conducted nationwide and collected information about income and health insurance coverage during the 2016 calendar year. The Current Population Survey-based income and poverty report includes comparisons with the previous year and historical tables in the report contain statistics back to 1959. The health insurance report is based on both the Current Population Survey and the American Community Survey. State and local income, poverty and health insurance estimates will be released Thursday, Sept. 14, from the American Community Survey.”

NY Appellate Division, First Dept. to Broadcast Oral Arguments in Real Time

“Presiding Justice Rolando T. Acosta announced that effective Tuesday, September 12, 2017, oral argument of cases before the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Judicial Department will be broadcast live over the internet. The public may watch the webcasts from most internet connected devices, including smart phones and tablet computers, by visiting the… Continue Reading

Takeaways on newsroom innovation from a behind the scenes tour of the Associated Press

StoryBench – Felippe Rodrigues: “The new Associated Press headquarters in lower Manhattan near the World Trade Center is dazzling, and it seems quite fitting for a news company that’s constantly innovating. Earlier this month, Storybench took a trip to New York City to chat with AP global news manager Mark Davies who told us all about how they… Continue Reading

Report – Killings of Black Men by Whites are Far More Likely to be Ruled “Justifiable”

The Marshall Project: “When a white person kills a black man in America, the killer often faces no legal consequences. In one in six of these killings, there is no criminal sanction, according to a new Marshall Project examination of 400,000 homicides committed by civilians between 1980 and 2014. That rate is far higher than… Continue Reading

Bloomberg – Why American Workers Pay Twice as Much in Taxes as Wealthy Investors

“…Politicians have intentionally set tax rates on wages much higher than those on long-term investment returns. The U.S. has a progressive tax system in the sense that well-paid workers sacrifice much more than poor workers on their “ordinary income.” But Americans with so-called unearned income—qualified dividends and long-term capital gains—get a break. A billionaire investor… Continue Reading

U.S. DOT Releases New Automated Driving Systems Guidance

“The U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today released new federal guidance for Automated Driving Systems (ADS):  A Vision for Safety 2.0. This is the latest guidance for automated driving systems to industry and States.  A Vision for Safety: 2.0 calls for industry, state and local governments, safety and mobility advocates… Continue Reading

California Sues Over Trump’s DACA Reversal

FindLaw: “The State of California, along with Maine, Maryland, and Minnesota, has filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security following the Trump administration’s announcement that it would rescind former President Barack Obama’s executive order regarding Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. The program had provided limited legal protection for individuals brought… Continue Reading

GAO – Optimizing Federal Data Centers

“In recent years, federal agencies have moved more and more of their services and operations online, increasing their need for computer power and data storage—and leading to a dramatic rise in the number of federal data centers. These buildings house computer systems and equipment and, as we’ve previously reported, have significant costs for hardware, software,… Continue Reading