You’re reading Significant Digits, a daily digest of the telling numbers tucked inside the news.
3 teams
Right on schedule, the St. Louis Rams, San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders filed their applications to relocate to Los Angeles on the first day the NFL would allow them to do so. Los Angeles has been without an NFL team since the mid-1990s. [ESPN]
10 provisions
Today President Obama will announce 10 executive actions that aim to change U.S. gun policy. The FBI will hire additional staff to process background checks for firearm purchases 24/7, and one major provision will require more gun sellers to be licensed and have background checks. [The Washington Post]
10 drivers
Despite new penalties under Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Vision Zero traffic safety program, only 10 of the drivers who struck and injured 20,082 pedestrians and cyclists over the last two or so years have been charged under the new laws. [DNA Info]
12 seasons
It’s the end of an era: New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, who has sat upon the most erratically hot seat in coaching, has announced he is leaving his job after 12 seasons. During his tenure, he did manage to win two Super Bowl rings, and last I heard New England parents were still chiding their children with tales of a cherry-cheeked sideline screamer who would punish them if they didn’t behave. So, overall, a solid run, Tom. [ESPN]
24 percent
An index of eight fast-casual dining restaurant stocks compiled by Bloomberg — Chipotle, Noodles & Co., Panera Bread Co., Zoe’s Kitchen Inc., Potbelly Corp., Habit Restaurants Inc., Cosi Inc. and Fiesta Restaurant Group Inc. — dropped 24 percent in 2015. Consumers may be softening on companies that serve mediocre food in slightly more impressive packaging. [Bloomberg]
77 players
After serving a two-year transfer ban because of rule violations, Barcelona signed 77 soccer players in a single day. [Caught Off Side]
93 percent
The armed takeover of a wildlife refuge by anti-government demonstrators continues. The thing is, the grazing fees that have so infuriated the leaders of the armed group are actually a good deal for ranchers: Right now grazing rights from the Bureau of Land Management go for about 93 percent less than the going market rates. [FiveThirtyEight]
$42 million
Yahoo Screen, a digital network that broadcast an NFL game, concerts, as well as the sixth season of “Community,” was shuttered by the company. The closure was not particularly shocking after the struggles of the division forced Yahoo to issue a $42 million write down last year. [Variety]
$500 million
GM, a company that makes cars, invested $500 million in Lyft, a company that drives them. Lyft is the second banana in the rideshare sector to Uber, but GM’s investment is in part aimed at increasing Lyft’s autonomous car technology. The robot cars are probably coming, and now they’re more likely to be Chevys. [The Wall Street Journal]
CORRECTION (Jan. 5, 10:15 a.m.): An earlier version of Significant Digits incorrectly described the 10 drivers who struck pedestrians and cyclists in New York City and have been charged under Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Vision Zero program. That number referred to drivers who injured pedestrians and cyclists, not drivers who struck and killed pedestrians and cyclists.
If you haven’t already, you really need to sign up for the Significant Digits newsletter — be the first to learn about the numbers behind the news.
If you see a significant digit in the wild, send to to me: @WaltHickey.