Tuesday, Jul. 18, 2006

Numbers

$296 billion U.S. federal budget deficit for 2006, as estimated by the Bush Administration last week--down, because of soaring tax revenues, from the $423 billion it predicted earlier this year

$412.7 billion Budget deficit in 2004, the all-time high

$236 billion Budget surplus in 2000, the last year of the Clinton Administration

8,591 Number of potential terrorist targets in Indiana--including the Amish Country Popcorn Factory--as of January 2006, the most of any state in the National Asset Database, according to a Department of Homeland Security report released last week

5,687 Potential targets in New York State. Among spots not listed: Times Square in New York City

3,212 Potential targets in California, the most populous state

$15 million Amount the White House has asked Congress to allocate for drug testing in public schools in 2007--up 45% from '06 and 665% over the past four years

2% Percentage of U.S. middle and high schools that test students for drug use

300 Years between the 1706 conviction of Grace Sherwood for witchcraft and her pardon last week by Virginia Governor Tim Kaine

7 Years Sherwood is believed to have served in prison after floating when dropped into a river with her thumbs tied to her feet, making her the only person ever convicted in a "witch ducking" trial in Virginia

Sources: Washington Post (2); USA Today; New York Times; MSNBC; New York Times; USA Today (2); Washington Post (2)