Last week I spoke with Matt Kelso of the Fractracker Alliance. They monitor fracking wells across the U.S. and educate the public on their health effects. Kelso is the data manager for the alliance. For those of you who are unfamiliar with hydraulic fracturing or fracking, the video above provides an overview. Basically, the processContinue reading “Matt Kelso of the Fractracker Alliance”
Category Archives: Analysis
Election Precinct Level Data In Cambria County
Previously, I have posted on the election results at the national and state levels. This week I will focus on the county and precinct results for Cambria County. Cambria County has 125 election precincts. The map above is from the Cambria County Elections office. The county has received attention for swinging heavily towards Donald TrumpContinue reading “Election Precinct Level Data In Cambria County”
Now 12 out of the Top 20 Poorest School Districts in the Alleghenies for 2023
In an update to the most read post of last year, I am taking a look at the new poverty estimates for the school districts in Pennsylvania. The Census Bureau has come out with new Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) for every school district in the U.S. for 2023. With the New Year,Continue reading “Now 12 out of the Top 20 Poorest School Districts in the Alleghenies for 2023”
Black Life-Expectancy and the Pandemic in the Alleghenies
While looking at the numbers for Johnstown and Altoona in the last post, I looked at the county health rankings for Blair County. To my surprise the life expectancy for African-Americans there (65.1 years) was close to that for Cambria County (63.7 years). This is despite Blair County having a relatively high overall heath rankingContinue reading “Black Life-Expectancy and the Pandemic in the Alleghenies”
A Closer Look at Altoona and Johnstown
With the arrest of Luigi Mangione, Altoona has been in the news lately. He is charged with the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City. I have covered Johnstown, PA extensively because I live here. Because they are in the news I thought that I would take a closer look atContinue reading “A Closer Look at Altoona and Johnstown”
The Supplemental Poverty Measure in Pennsylvania
Local members of Put People First PA were interviewed for the website Breakthrough News on how medical debt is impoverishing and killing its victims. The video can be seen above. Government measures (which haven’t changed since the 60s) of poverty are often criticized for being inflexible. To respond to these criticisms, the supplemental poverty measureContinue reading “The Supplemental Poverty Measure in Pennsylvania”
A Different Pattern in Pennsylvania Election Numbers
Last week I looked at the national numbers for the 2024 election. This week a different pattern emerged in the Pennsylvania election numbers. Nationally turnout was lower but in Pennsylvania it was slightly higher. The table below shows the vote totals from 2024 overall and for each ballot type from the PA Dept of StateContinue reading “A Different Pattern in Pennsylvania Election Numbers”
What do the Numbers Say About the Election
There has been a lot of hand wringing about the election and why Kamala Harris lost. Did she not have enough time to campaign? Did the Democrats move too far to the left? Are minorities moving to the right towards Trump? Did third parties cost them the election? Before we can answer these questions weContinue reading “What do the Numbers Say About the Election”
Debunking Urban Legends in the Alleghenies
There is no shortage of urban legends today. One of the most prominent ones is QAnon. Carl Schultz has written a piece Debunking Urban Legends in the Alleghenies in bold. Stop me if you’ve heard this one. A few years ago, a team of Russian geologists invented a new kind of drill–one that has theContinue reading “Debunking Urban Legends in the Alleghenies”
Election Day 2024 in Johnstown
The final push of a campaign runs on optimism which deflates when the votes come in like the experience on election day 2024 in Johnstown. The video above I took with my phone is of volunteers who drove canvassers to different neighborhoods in Johnstown. The canvassers were bussed in from safe states like Maryland andContinue reading “Election Day 2024 in Johnstown”