(19 May 2013) The average wage in North Dakota counties that had producing Bakken oil wells was $33,040 in 2007 and $50,553 in 2011. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)

(13 May 2013) In 2010, households with college-educated heads, on average, received $24,839 in government benefits while paying $54,089 in taxes. Households headed by persons without a high school degree, on average, received $46,582 in government benefits while paying only $11,469 in taxes. 50.7% of illegal alien households are headed by an individual with less than a high school degree, compared to only 9.6% of households headed by non-immigrants. The average illegal alien household received around $24,721 in government benefits and services while paying $10,334 in taxes. 84% of illegal aliens came from Mexico (60%), the Caribbean, Central America or South America. (Source: 6 May 2013 Heritage Foundation)

(12 May 2013) 37.0% of Puerto Ricans are on food stamps, compared to 15.2% in the U.S. In Puerto Rico (PR), 25% of a person's benefit can be paid in cash, which means there is no way of tracking how the money is spent. The unemployment rate in PR is 14.2%. (Source: 10 May 2013 CNS News)

(12 May 2013) A 2009 study concluded that between 92 and 98% of illegal aliens that are caught eventually enter the U.S. successfully because of multiple attempts. Others are successful on the first attempt. (Sources: Univ. of California San Diego Center for Comparative Immigration Studies, 12 May 2013 Townhall)

(12 May 2013) There are 8 signs in Texas near the Mexican border that have the following message in English, Spanish and Chinese: "If you need help Push the red button Help will arrive Do not leave the area" Each location also has a large container of water. (Source: Texas Border Volunteers)

(12 May 2013) In 2009, students in105 U.S. high schools took an Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) test. U.S. students in families in the top 50th to 75th percentiles of U.S. incomes were outperformed by students in 24 countries or regions in math and 15 countries in science that were in the same quartile of family incomes in their respective countries or regions. U.S. students in the 25th to 50th percentiles of family incomes were outperformed by students in 31 countries or regions in math and 25 in science. (Source: Apr. 2013 America Achieves)

(11 May 2013) From 1995 to 2010, New York lost $58.63 billion in net annual adjusted gross income due to state-to-state migration, the most of any state. The largest net losses were to: Florida $16.76 billion and New Jersey $11.58 billion. The only net gain was $0.12 billion from Michigan. California lost the second most, $31.76 billion. The largest net losses were to: Nevada $8.17 billion and Arizona $6.26 billion. The largest net gains were from: New York $3.32 billion and Illinois $2.49 billion. Florida gained the most, $86.39 billion. The largest net gains were from: New York $16.76 billion and New Jersey $10.20 billion. The largest net loss was $1.38 billion to North Carolina. Arizona gained the second most, $24.48 billion. The largest net gains were from: California $6.26 billion and Illinois $2.47 billion. The largest net loss was $0.51 billion to Idaho. (Sources: IRS Div. of Statistics, Census Bureau, 2013 How Money Walks)

(11 May 2013) Vehicle Production Group received a $50 million federal clean energy program loan in 2011 to make vans equipped for disabled people. In Feb., operations were suspended and its 100 workers were laid off. The Dept. of Energy has recovered $5 million. (Source: 9 May 2013 Associated Press)