It Figures

27
The number arrested by Florida officials in an ongoing investigation dubbed “Operation TGIF” because the group perpetrated staged accidents on Fridays. The staged accident ring billed auto insurers more than $300,000 in fraudulent Personal Injury Protection claims, according to the Florida Department of Financial Services.

8
The number of mining operations warned by the federal mine safety agency that they may face sanctions as repeat violators of health and safety rules. The list includes coal operations in West Virginia, Kentucky and Alabama, as well as a quarry in California and an iron ore mine in Michigan, according to the Mine Safety and Health Administration.

10%
The one-year reported increase in property crime that landed Jackson, Mississippi on the FBI’s list of the most dangerous cities in the country. The FBI report showed Jackson also had a 42 percent increase in violent crime. An analysis of that data by Jackson was among the top 10 cities in the nation in rape and burglary, top 20 in robbery and total property crime, and top 25 percent in murder, total violent crime and auto theft.

$318 million
The amount in federal assistance that Florida will receive to fund recovery efforts from the 2005 Hurricane Season, according to Gov. Charlie Crist. New federal legislation authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency to pay the entire cost of certain hurricane recovery projects. After the 2005 Hurricane Season, FEMA set the match requirement between federal and non-federal (state and local) funds at 90/10 for Hurricane Wilma and 75/25 for Hurricanes Dennis and Katrina. Now, however, FEMA will reimburse $151 million for recovery funding already contributed by Florida and local governments. Additionally, FEMA will cover 100 percent of recovery projects yet to be completed — saving Florida $167 million.

260
The Associated Press. Church Mutual Insurance Co., GuideOne Insurance Co. and Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Co. together insure 165,495 mostly Protestant churches and worship centers for liability against child sex abuse and other sexual misconduct. They also insure more than 5,500 religious schools, camps and other organizations.