Vaccine-Preventable Outbreaks
Council on Foreign Relations | READ STORY

A new a Council on Foreign Relations interactive map documents "vaccine-preventable outbreaks" worldwide 2008-2014 as reported in the LA Times. A couple of manifestations stand out; one is the prevalence of measles in Europe -- especially Britain -- and the U.S. Measles is endemic in the underdeveloped world because of the unavailability of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine.

World Economic Inequality
Oxfam | READ STORY

A new Oxfam report, Working for the Few: Political Capture and Economic Inequality, states that just 85 of the world's richest people own the wealth of half of the world's population. In the U.S. following the 2009 financial crisis, the bottom 90 percent has become poorer while the top one percent has captured 95 percent of the growth.

Two in Three Americans Upset by Income, Wealth Inequality
Gallup | READ STORY

According to a new Gallup survey, a full 67% of respondents expressed some level of dismay at the current way wealth and income are distributed in society. Americans, seeming well aware that economic inequality is on the rise in the US and around the world, are showing an increased disdain for an economy unevenly skewed to the richest

Interstate Movement Patterns

Atlantic Cities | READ STORY

This map, presented by the Atlantic Cities, shows which U.S. states in blue if they experienced population growth during 2013, red if their population remained stable, and orange if their population diminished. Many densely populous states are seeing outward movement, while Montana, alongside Idaho, Oregon and North Dakota, is among the few states to see growth.

More Evidence of Ongoing Climate Change
NOAA | READ STORY

2013 tied for the world's fourth warmest year on record, according to calculations by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. According to calculations by NASA also recently released, 2013 tied with 2009 and 2006 for the seventh warmest year since records began in 1880. Both federal agencies agree that 9 of the 10 warmest years have happened since 2000.

Rural Job Loss Trend Persists
Daily Yonder | READ STORY

Although national employment rates have improved, rural counties continue to lose jobs. In the one-month period spanning October 2013 to November 2013, metropolitan counties gained 680,000 plus jobs, while non-metropolitan areas lost more than 51,000. However, the unemployment rate is uniformly down since last year, showing a 0.5 percent drop since November 2012.