Here is a bone-jarring investigation by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that you can keep in mind this weekend while watching/covering the NFL Playoffs. The investigation showed:
The 2003 NFL injury rate was nearly eight times higher than that of any other commercial sports league, according to the U.S. Department of Labor — and that includes the National Hockey League, the National Basketball Association, and professional auto racing.
The paper points out a trend among some speed players to stop wearing heavy pads and the NFL does not require them to, however they can be fined if they do not wear the proper socks.
The paper found:
- In the 2000 through the 2003 seasons, NFL players racked up 6,558 injuries. More than half the athletes are hurt annually, with the number spiking at 68 percent in 2003-04, according to the NFL’s weekly injury reports.
- Defenders are injured more than their foes on the offense. A defensive back alone is 30 percent more likely to get hurt than a quarterback, even though a passer touches the ball on every possession. Two out of three cornerbacks and safeties suffer injuries in the NFL annually, and half of those will suffer a second, unrelated injury before the Super Bowl.
- Quarterbacks, tight ends, wide receivers, safeties and cornerbacks routinely suffer high rates of brain concussions and spine injuries that could trigger paralysis, dementia, depression, and other ailments later in life. During typical four-year careers, one of every 10 NFL receivers experiences a concussion. On average, seven pro football players a week face potentially life-altering head, spine, or neck trauma.
- Over the past six decades, the typical NFL player has super-sized his body mass by 25 percent. With the weight of a modern lineman far above 300 pounds, and running backs, linebackers and tight ends only 50 pounds lighter, at no time in the league have players been as big, strong or fast as they are today — making collisions on the field that much more devastating.
- No position is immune from the violence. One of every five kickers and 14 percent of all punters get hurt annually, suffering high rates of wrist, heel, and leg injuries.
- To help chart the myriad ways players hurt each other, The Trib analyzed the only public injury information doled out by NFL clubs — the weekly injury report. The league refuses to release more detailed data.
The investigation also includes a look at the problems that the extra weight many players carry around cause them later in life.
Here Comes the Flu
The flu is picking up. The flu is starting to spread and by next week we may see it building toward its annual problematic self.
See the current state activity chart.
Usually the worst flu outbreaks occur in February, and it takes about two weeks for vaccines to work. What is the flu vaccine supply situation now in your town? Lots of towns are still holding clinics.
Return of the Toll Road
Stateline.org says toll roads are gaining popularity with states, if not the drivers in those states, again. The story said:
States are taking the free out of freeway. Toll roads are booming because gas tax revenues are woefully inadequate to pay for constructing and improving highways.
California, Florida, and Texas are adding toll lanes or turning existing lanes into pay-as-you-go roads. Georgia is debating charging a toll on an existing road, and Colorado and Virginia are considering toll lanes in sections of interstates.
In an emerging trend, some states are turning away from strict public financing of new roadways and forging partnerships in which private companies build and operate a toll road in return for long-term toll revenue. Maryland has looked at teaming up with private firms to build express toll lanes, and Texas is building a toll road between San Antonio and Austin in partnership with a private company.
Indiana Gov.-elect Mitch Daniels (R) is even considering a plan to sell the state toll road to private interests to generate billions of dollars.
States are looking at tolls as a revenue source because of the declining vigor of the gas tax, but other factors also are driving the appeal of tolls. A federal transportation bill would give states more tolling authority. In addition, toll roads have state transportation officials seeing dollar signs.
Seniors Work Off Tax Bills
The Boston Globe ran a terrific story about how some communities are allowing senior citizens to do community work in exchange for a break on their rising property taxes. I have never heard of this before, have you?
As real estate taxes soar along with other living expenses, senior citizens — even those with healthy pensions — say it is increasingly difficult to afford life in the suburbs. But many elders, for reasons both emotional and practical, refuse to sell their homes, some of which have skyrocketed in value over the past several years.
At least 20 communities south of Boston have adopted programs that allow senior citizens to swap service to the town for tax abatements. Town officials say they get help they could not otherwise afford, and seniors get a tax break that makes living a little easier. It is also cheaper for the town in the long run, in many cases, to keep senior citizens as residents because they require fewer services — such as schools — than a new family with young children, town officials say.
”These programs are getting more popular and catching on across the state,” said Emmett H. Schmarsow, program manager for the Massachusetts Council on Aging, which operates under the Executive Office of Elder Affairs. ”The town receives valuable services and the elder gets financial help, which allows them to remain in their homes. It’s good for seniors. It’s good for the community.”
They don’t get paid much, but every penny comes off their tax bill. A separate Globe story said:
The number of participants varies from town to town. The amount of credit possible also varies, with a maximum reduction of $750 allowed under state law. The elders are paid minimum wage, $6.75 an hour, and their salary is automatically deducted from their tax bills.
”It’s really a win-win situation for both the city and our residents,” said Jeremy Solomon, director of policy and communications for Newton. ”They do outstanding work, great work, and in many cases they do work that would otherwise not get done. They are essentially the face of Newton when people visit City Hall. As greeters manning the help desk, assisting people with questions, they are the most visible part of the town offices.”
Food Stamp Use Increase (follow-up)
A couple of weeks ago I told you about what appears to be a big increase in the number of people nationwide using food stamps. I have heard from the folks at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch about their good work on this story a month ago. There is a good bit for you to follow up on.
The Post-Dispatch found:
After a seven-year decline, the number of Americans on food stamps has shot up 39 percent since 2000, according to federal statistics. Every state, except Hawaii, has felt the impact. In Arizona, food stamp rolls have increased 104 percent, in Nevada, 97 percent; Oregon, 79 percent; South Carolina, 68 percent; Missouri, 65 percent.
Texas has added nearly a million people to its food stamp rolls in only four years.
Part of that increase was fueled by states’ increased efforts to enroll a greater portion of people eligible for food stamps and the placement of people back onto the rolls who were knocked off during welfare reform. Most of it, however, social workers say, is the growing number of Americans unable to feed themselves without help.
“Clearly, most of this is because of increased need,” said Carol Adams, head of the Illinois Department of Social Services. Illinois has seen a 31 percent increase in the number of people on food stamps since 2000.
This increase in food stamp use has been building for some time. This is an Al’s Morning Meeting piece I did back in April of last year.
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