U.S. green-card lottery draws 15 million, and more

U.S. green-card lottery draws 15 million

A record 15 million people from dozens of countries this year entered the U.S. green-card lottery, an immigration program that leads to permanent U.S. residence for 50,000 people annually. Winners are selected randomly, then receive a background check.

The Wall Street Journal

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Poverty rate rises to 14.3 percent

The poverty rate in the U.S. rose to 14.3 percent last year, the highest level in more than 50 years. Black household incomes fell an average of 4.4 percent, almost three times the drop in white household incomes.

The Washington Post

A net favorability rating like no other

Nancy Pelosi, recently chosen by House Democrats to remain their leader in the next Congress, is the most unpopular active politician in the U.S., according to polls. Pelosi’s net favorability rating of negative-25 (55 percent unfavorable, 30 percent favorable) is worse than Dick Cheney’s (negative-17), Sarah Palin’s (negative-14), and George W. Bush’s (negative-9).

NYTimes.com

The most dangerous city in the U.S.

St. Louis had the highest violent-crime rate last year, supplanting Camden, N.J., as the most dangerous U.S. city. Camden was second, followed by Detroit, Flint, Mich., and Oakland, Calif.

Associated Press

China reroutes internet traffic

For 18 minutes last April, 15 percent of the world’s Internet traffic was mysteriously redirected through China, including movement through U.S. military and government websites, a congressional panel says. A state-owned Chinese telecommunications company rerouted the traffic, for reasons that are unknown.

The Wall Street Journal