Unemployment in Detroit nears 25%, and more

Unemployment in Detroit nears 25%

Largely due to the implosion of the auto industry, the state of Michigan lost more than 200,000 residents between July 2006 and July 2008. Unemployment in Detroit is now at almost 25 percent.

Reuters

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Winning the minority vote

When he easily beat Jimmy Carter in the presidential election of 1980, Ronald Reagan captured 55 percent of the white vote. John McCain won that same percentage of white voters last year, but lost decisively to Barack Obama. The difference: Blacks and Hispanics collectively accounted for 22 percent of the vote last year, up from 12 percent in 1980.

The New York Times

U.S. has twice as many bears

The U.S. bear population has doubled since 1989, to about 350,000, as a result of conservation efforts and hunting limits. There are now 20,000 “bear-human conflicts” in suburban and rural areas every year, some ending poorly for the humans.

Associated Press

Free plastic surgery and breast implants for Czech nurses

In response to a shortage of nurses, Czech hospitals are now offering free plastic surgery and breast implants to retain and recruit nurses. “There is nothing degrading about this kind of benefit,” said a spokeswoman for the Czech nurses’ association.

The New York Times

Corporate tax returns account for 15% of federal tax revenue

More than 2.5 million U.S. companies filed corporate tax returns in 2007, but because of loopholes and write-offs, their payments generated just 15 percent of total federal tax revenue.

The Atlantic Monthly