Maps
The Rising Tide of Firearm-Related Fatalities
Gun violence continues to be a pressing issue in the United States, with recent data revealing alarming trends in firearm-related deaths across various counties. A comprehensive map by the Joslyn Law Firm has brought to light significant changes in gun homicide rates between 2018 and 2022.
Hotspots of Gun Violence
The data displayed on the map identified several areas where gun violence has reached critical levels:
- New Orleans (Orleans Parish, Louisiana): Emerged as the epicenter of gun violence, with a staggering 200 firearm homicides in 2022, translating to 54.09 deaths per 100,000 residents. This marks a near doubling of fatalities since 2018.
- St. Louis County, Missouri: Closely following New Orleans, this area recorded 152 gun-related homicides in 2022, equating to 53.04 deaths per 100,000 people. This represents a significant increase from 122 deaths in 2018.
Emerging Danger Zones
While many high-risk areas remained consistent over the four-year period, new localities have entered the list of most dangerous counties:
- Portsmouth, Virginia: Despite its relatively small population of 97,029, the city witnessed 37 gun homicides in 2022, resulting in a rate of 38.13 deaths per 100,000 residents.
- Orangeburg County, South Carolina: Another smaller county with 83,094 inhabitants, it reported 27 firearm homicides in 2022, equating to 32.49 deaths per 100,000 people.
Addressing the Crisis
The persistent and escalating nature of gun violence has sparked intense debates on potential solutions. Proposed measures include:
- Implementing stricter regulations on firearm purchases
- Enacting laws permitting the seizure of firearms in high-risk situations
- Mandating more secure storage protocols for firearms
- Revising and tightening laws governing the carrying of firearms
As gun violence continues to shape public discourse and policy debates, the need for effective strategies to curb this epidemic becomes increasingly urgent. The data presented serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by communities across the nation in their efforts to ensure public safety and reduce firearm-related fatalities.
Charts
A New Study Examines Infidelity in States Across America
NapLab looked at a sensitive topic for Americans everywhere by mapping survey results, which expose where people have engaged in and experienced the most infidelity. We can see from the results that cheating is, unfortunately, a very common experience, at least for the people who responded to the survey.
Click below to zoom.
The team’s data yields some surprising results. For example, 100% of respondents in North Carolina, Kentucky, and Alaska said they had cheated or been cheated on. Overall, in every state, over half the respondents said they have been cheated on. These are some hefty statistics.
Overall, these states ranked highest with residents most likely to cheat:
- Hawaii
- Louisiana
- Rhode Island
- Delaware
- Wyoming
- New Hampshire
- Maine
- North Carolina
- New Mexico
- Utah
These are the states where people are most likely to be cheated on:
- Kentucky
- Alaska
- Maryland
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Michigan
- West Virginia
- Oklahoma
- Maine
- South Carolina
Studies like this one can help us take steps to understand why infidelity occurs. Infidelity can be tricky to even define. Some may consider emotional involvement to be cheating, while others only consider physical romantic acts to be cheating. In other relationships, physical acts outside the relationship are acceptable as long as both partners are comfortable with them and the behavior stays within certain boundaries defined by the couple.
The data shows an interesting pattern, which is that more people reported being cheated on than cheating. This makes sense as cheating usually comes with a sense of shame. Not everyone admits to having cheated, but those who have been cheated on feel a sense of pain and outrage that makes them more likely to share their experience. Another interesting pattern is that the number of people who have self-reported that they cheated and have been cheated on is similar. That implies that many people have been both the cheater and the victim. How might that affect someone’s views on infidelity? The survey certainly leads to many more interesting questions.
People cheat for many varied reasons, including personal choices, social pressures, cultural norms, and dissatisfaction. Some couples say financial stress pushes them apart and builds resentment. The data may show some evidence for this, as low-income states like Kentucky and Louisiana rank highly on the list.
The team’s study leads to many more interesting questions to examine. For example, does age have anything to do with cheating rates? Studies seem to indicate it’s a yes. There have also been studies centered on gender, finding that men are more likely to cheat than women. Cultural factors are certainly impactful. A lot of research shows religious couples are less likely to cheat on one another, and the same is true in more conservative regions. This could be an inaccurate depiction, though, since stronger shame and taboos will make people more likely to carefully hide their infidelity and not admit to it. There’s no doubt that this study is a thought-provoking one.
Charts
Study Analyzes Kindergarten Measles Vaccination Gaps Across America
As of April 2025, there have been 16 measles outbreaks in the United States, a number that has jumped significantly over the past few years. A new study from PA Requirements shows this has a connection to vaccination gaps. Kindergarten vaccinations help protect citizens against diseases like measles and contribute to our population achieving herd immunity, which eradicates the threat of the disease. However, the team’s study reveals that a combination of policy, vaccine access, and community factors is hindering our progress toward this goal.
Click below to zoom.
The team found that these states had the highest percentage of children not vaccinated for measles:
- Idaho: 20.4%
- Alaska: 15.7%
- Wisconsin: 15.2%
- Minnesota: 13.0%
- Florida: 11.9%
- Oklahoma: 11.7%
- Colorado: 11.7%
- Utah: 11.2%
- Iowa: 10.9%
- Ohio: 10.8%
It can be useful to compare these numbers to the states with the lowest rates of unvaccinated children:
- West Virginia: 1.7%
- New York: 2.3%
- Connecticut: 2.3%
- Mississippi: 2.5%
- Maine: 2.5%
- Rhode Island: 2.9%
- Maryland: 3.4%
- Massachusetts: 3.7%
- California: 3.8%
We can observe some interesting regional patterns by examining the map, such as lower vaccination rates in the Midwest and Southwest.
Among the states with high rates of vaccination, we find that these five states don’t allow non-medical vaccination exemptions: Maine, New York, West Virginia, Connecticut, and California. It’s no surprise that stricter policies lead to a greater number of vaccinations. Among states with lower rates, we find more relaxed laws that allow for greater exemptions on the basis of religion, philosophy, and other personal reasons. Comparing each state to its neighbors reveals patterns and trends that might imply cultural differences affecting vaccination rates in different regions. We can look for locations with a high prevalence of religions that outlaw vaccines to identify reasons for the numbers on the map. Check the numbers on the states with the largest cities, and you might find stricter vaccination laws there to help prevent disease spread in population-dense areas.
There’s no doubt that state policies correlate directly with vaccination rates when we look at the numbers presented on the team’s graphic. Many states require certain vaccinations, like measles, in order to enroll in public school. These laws and requirements also directly impact vaccination rates. Looking at insurance costs and access to vaccine clinics in rural areas may also reveal why some areas have more unvaccinated children than others. Some states have created initiatives to encourage vaccination and provide education, leading to higher vaccination rates.
Overall, studies like these greatly benefit public health by increasing awareness and education about diseases like measles. People who shy away from vaccines often find them untrustworthy. The only way to convince them otherwise is to answer their questions and present them with transparent data that’s easy to understand, just like the information shown in this graphic, regarding the risks associated with declining vaccines. These studies provide policymakers, parents, and public health officials with more information to make informed decisions for the health of their children and communities.
Charts
Study Examines the Best and Worst States for Mothers to Live
A new study from Kremp examines an important aspect of motherhood. They created a scoring system to determine the best and worst locations for mothers to live in. Thanks to the multitude of details the team provided, we can see exactly how they came to their conclusions. The criteria for the scoring system examine diverse ways a community can support mothers and analyze the health and well-being of mothers and children living in each state. While something like a motherhood experience is subjective, these criteria give a fair way to compare motherhood in various locations.
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The methodology relied on these factors:
- Women’s Median Earnings
- Gender Wage Gap
- Child Care Costs
- Percentage of Mothers in Good or Excellent Health
- Percentage of Children in Good or Excellent Health
- Percentage of the Population Under 18
- State School System Scores
- Percentage of Parents Who “Definitely Agree” Their Child is Safe in School
- Weeks of Parental Leave Available
- Paid Family Leave Availability
- Job Protection
Based on these criteria, these ten states scored the highest:
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Connecticut
- Kentucky
- Delaware
- South Dakota
- New York
- Rhode Island
- Florida
While these ten states received the lowest scores:
- Montana
- Arizona
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- South Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Nevada
- West Virginia
- New Mexico
The study and map are helpful precisely because motherhood is such a subjective experience. One mother may consider education of the utmost importance, while another may not be so concerned with this but focused on childcare costs and healthcare. While the study aimed to take all these factors together and score them as a whole, concerned moms can use this data to draw their own conclusions and judge the best location for their family’s needs.
The “best” state for moms often depends on the type of mother. A working mom might have vastly different priorities from a stay-at-home mom. A working mom would likely agree that Massachusetts is the best state for them because of a smaller wage gap and plenty of paid parental leave. In fact, Massachusetts offers the most parental leave compared to all other states. A mom of one child will have unique needs compared to a mom with four children. The age of the children also plays a role. Do the children need daycare, or are they all school-aged? A single Mom may consider Virginia the best state for their situation because of the low cost of living compared to average wages, though once again, Massachusetts has a lot to offer.
The map aspect of the study’s design gives us interesting insights, too. The color patterns show us that many of the best states for motherhood are in the Northeast, while many of the worst states are in the South. This map certainly gives parents something to think about if they are considering a move or planning a future family.
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