Plus, pedestrian deaths reached a high in 2020. Here's the data.

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** What's the quality of your drinking water?
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Before the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970, as many as 40% of American public water systems failed to meet basic health requirements. By 2021, about 1% of public water systems accounted for the nation’s most severe, persistent quality breaches. Which states have the most violations? Here’s a look at the data ([link removed]) and insights into how violations are cataloged.
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* Between 2012 to 2021, American Samoa had the highest rate of violations per public water system at 133.2, followed by West Virginia at 65.3 and Puerto Rico at 42.7.

* These rates demonstrate how one violation can contain many significant issues. Michigan had the lowest health violation rate: 0.3. However, Flint, Michigan, has had long-standing problems with lead in drinking water, which has led to violations that took years to investigate and resolve. These issues can often appear as a single violation despite the problem continuing for years.

* There are still 6 million to 10 million lead service lines nationwide. Many are in communities of color and low-income neighborhoods.

See the article for more ([link removed]) , including which US cities have had the most water quality issues.

States and curriculum bans

The US Education Department tasks states and communities with establishing school curricula. Last year, states passed at least eight laws restricting what schools can teach about gender, race, sexuality, American history, or inequality. Here are some of the laws ([link removed]) that have recently passed.
* Mississippi passed a bill stating that public K-12 schools, colleges, and universities cannot teach "that any sex, race, ethnicity, religion or national origin is inherently superior or inferior; or that individuals should be adversely treated on the basis of their sex, race, ethnicity, religion or national origin."

* Georgia prohibited K-12 schools from implementing curriculum from a list of "divisive concepts" related to race. See the list at USAFacts ([link removed]) .

* Tennessee passed a similar law banning higher education institutions from teaching divisive concepts that could "promote resentment" for any group. It passed a similar law for K-12 public schools in 2021.

* Some states are restricting curricula on gender or sexual orientation. Florida prohibits teaching certain gender or sexuality issues depending on what the state Education Department defines as developmentally appropriate. Schools violating the law are subject to lawsuits from parents and can be subject to financial penalties.

Some states expanded curricula regarding American history and various diverse groups, including along racial and religious backgrounds. Learn about these four states ([link removed]) .


Rising pedestrian deaths

Even though people traveled less due to COVID-19 lockdowns, 2020 marked a high number of fatal car crashes nationwide. It was also a record year for pedestrians and cyclists dying in crashes. Here’s what data ([link removed]) from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says about the trend.
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* Pedestrian deaths are more likely in cities, though some cities have a fatality rate below the national average. Among cities with at least 1 million residents, New York City’s fatality rate was 1.09 deaths per 100,000 people, below the national rate of 1.98 per 100,000.

* Dallas and Phoenix had the country’s highest pedestrian fatality rates among big cities. An audit of Dallas pedestrian safety found that limited resources and funding led to unmaintained crosswalks and pedestrian traffic signals. Limited crosswalks, frequent driveway access, and old signal equipment were common characteristics of Phoenix roads with many crashes.

* New Mexico had the highest pedestrian fatality rate at 3.75 deaths per 100,000 people. Maine had lowest at 0.67.

* Nationally, the cyclist fatality rate was around 14% of the pedestrian fatality rate (or 0.28 cyclist deaths per 100,000 people). Florida had the highest rate (0.78 deaths per 100,000), then Louisiana (0.73 per 100,000). Montana and South Dakota didn’t record any cyclist deaths in 2020.

How can infrastructure improvements change this trend? Read the report to find out ([link removed]) .

One last fact
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Crude oil is just one factor influencing gas prices; there’s also taxes, marketing, and transportation. Crude oil historically accounts for 40% to 70% ([link removed]) of the cost of gasoline.

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