IRS: incomes of wealthiest 1% up, their taxes down

According to the IRS, as published recently in the Wall Street Journal, the top 1% of income earners in America make up a greater share of the nation's earnings than at any point in the past 20 years, while their average tax rate has declined to its lowest level in 20 years.

But Walmart doesn't have deer heads on the wall!

The Daily Yonder has a blog on how the competition from super grocery stores and higher fuel prices mean that many food distribution trucks won't stop at grocery stores that purchase less than $10,000 a week in inventory. This is threatening the survival of grocery stores in small towns. But Walmart just doesn't have deer heads on the wall, nor the passe wood paneling that my parents have finally removed from their 1963 home.

Racial gap in AP exams narrowing in AZ; Rural students less likely to take AP exams

Data from the College Board, shows the racial gap that exists in AP exams is narrowing in Arizona. For example, African-American students made up a 12% greater share of Arizona's student population in 2007 than they did in 2002, but the share of students taking AP exams who were African-Americans jumped by 63% during the same period. Latino students grew 18% as a share of the student population from 2002-2007, but 41% as a share of those taking AP exams. Those scoring a 3 or above did not increase by as much as those taking the exams, however, but it at least indicates schools (or somebody) is encouraging more students of color to take AP exams, with many passing.

The state still lags the nation in the percent of students who take AP exams, which is not a good sign if we intend to be the Sillicon Desert and not a minimum wage wasteland.

The rural blog The Daily Yonder points out that rural students are less likely to take AP exams. This is a big issue for rural economic development, since AP exams indicate a head start on college, and a head start on better jobs. But it is a chicken or the egg argument: are there not good jobs in rural areas because people don't go to college, or do people not go to college because (at least if they intend to stay in their community) they don't see a need to do so for the low wage jobs available in their community?

Arizona still lags the nation in the percent of students who take AP exams, which is not a good sign if we intend to be the Sillicon Desert and not a minimum wage wasteland.