The government spent $74.6 billion on food stamp benefits last year, up from $30.4 billion in 2007. With 15 percent of Americans now receiving food stamps, the program’s budget is equivalent to the combined budgets of the Department of Homeland Security, the Justice Department, and the Department of the Interior.
Read more
16.0% Percentage of total military forces who are female 71.9% Percentage of military forces who are Caucasian 2.2% Percentage of military forces who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual
Read more
Number of U.S. States that allow the death penalty: 31 Proportion of U.S. police departments that are using body cameras: 1 in 3
Read more
15,654 – Total known land area, in square miles (40,544 sq km), of U.S. nuclear-weapon bases and facilities 2 – Minimum number of people required to authorize a U.S. nuclear attack
Read more
JetBlue said it would offer a chance to win free, round-trip tickets to other countries for disgusted customers whose preferred presidential candidate loses the election. The company is planning to give away more than 1,000 tickets.
Read more
Percentage by which New York City’s homeless-shelter population increased under Bloomeberg: 65 Portion of the city’s shelter population who are children: 2/5
Read more
A Pew survey found that one in five Americans is not affiliated with any religion. “Nones” are growing faster than any religious group in America.
Read more
Americans drink far less today than our predecessors did. In 1830, the average American drank the equivalent of 7.1 gallons of pure alcohol per year. In 2013, by comparison, the average American drank the equivalent of 2.34 gallons of pure alcohol.
Read more
A Florida man has been arrested and convicted of running a prostitution ring, thanks to the honesty of his 7-year-old son. Robert Burton, 34, was pulled over during a traffic stop while driving with his son and two unnamed women. When police asked who the women were, the boy replied, “Those are my daddy’s hos.” Burton last week was sentenced […]
Read more
For the past two years, Christian McPhilamy, 8, has put up with a lot of teasing over his long blond locks. But nothing could discourage the Florida boy from growing his hair to help other kids who have lost theirs. McPhilamy started his mission at age 6 after seeing an ad for a children’s hospital. When his hair recently reached […]
Read more