Sara Chernikoff

Seattle

Reporter, data & graphics @usatoday || Prev: Data journalist @usafacts covering education || UMD ‘21 @merrillcollege ~aspiring rhinestone cowboy~ she/her

Featured in: Favicon

usatoday.com Favicon

cincinnati.com Favicon

courier-journal.com Favicon

yahoo.com (+12) Favicon

msn.com

phillyburbs.com Favicon

aol.com

cbsnews.com Favicon

usnews.com Favicon

freep.com + 84 more

Articles

Concert ticket prices are at an all-time high. How did we get here?

3 weeks ago | usatoday.com | Sara Chernikoff

Five years after pandemic lockdowns forced music venues to temporarily close their doors, the live entertainment industry has bounced back. In 2024 alone, the top 100 touring artists in North America raked in $6.1 billion dollars, a 3% increase from the previous year, according to Pollstar, a music industry trade publication. As demand for live music rises, the price of concert tickets continues to increase. In 2024, the average cost to attend a concert was $135.92, Pollstar reported.
Federal worker data visualized: Maps and charts show jobs, locations, departments

1 month ago | usatoday.com | Sara Chernikoff

Government agencies are reporting more layoffs as the Trump administration continues its mass reduction of the federal workforce. President¬†Donald Trump¬†signed an executive order on Feb. 11 directing the federal government to implement a "workforce optimization initiative" created by¬†Elon Musk's¬†Department of Government Efficiency. Approximately 75,000 federal employees took buyouts before news of layoffs rolled in.
Which states receive more than they send to the federal government? See map.

2 months ago | flipboard.com | Sara Chernikoff

4 hours agoA century ago, a German sociologist explained precisely how the president thinks about the world. What exactly is Donald Trump doing? Since taking office, he has reduced his administration’s effectiveness by appointing to essential agencies people who lack the skills and temperaments to do their …
Which states receive more than they send to the federal government? See map.

2 months ago | usatoday.com | Sara Chernikoff

Last month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at reforming and overhauling the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He had suggested abolishing the agency, partly because of its response to Hurricane Helene. The federal government should instead send funding to governors to manage their own response to disasters, Trump said.
These states have the most unmarried adults

2 months ago | usatoday.com | Sara Chernikoff

Looking for love in all the wrong places? Maybe its "slim pickins" in your town, as Sabrina Carpenter would say. If you're single and tired of the dating pool in your area, it may be time to switch your dating app's location. How about changing it to Alaska ā where the ratio of unmarried men to women is the highest in the country (117 available men for every 100 women, to be exact).
Here's how egg prices have increased over the decades

2 months ago | usatoday.com | Sara Chernikoff

The price of eggs is steepening as bird flu spreads among poultry flocks in the United States. Farmers are grappling with egg shortages, and Americans are feeling the effects of a disrupted supply. The average price per dozen was $4.10 at the end of 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's twice as much as in August 2023.
Comparing Trump's day one executive orders to past presidents: See graphics

Jan 23, 2025 | usatoday.com | Sara Chernikoff |Ramon Padilla

President Donald Trump signed over 20 executive orders and actions on Inauguration Day — more than any previous U.S. president. The focus of the directives ranged from pardoning or commuting sentences for almost everyone convicted in the Jan. 6 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, to attempting to pause a TikTok ban and pulling the country out of the World Health Organization.
How to build the perfect snowman: A visual guide

Jan 18, 2025 | usatoday.com | Veronica Bravo |Sara Chernikoff

When someone asks, or sings, "Do you want to build a snowman?" the answer should always be yes. Building a snowman after fresh powder falls is a timeless winter activity – no matter your age. A massive winter storm hit parts of central and eastern United States last week, bringing heavy snow and strong winds. Although winter storms may complicate travel, families stuck at home can make the most of their weekend with the help of heavy snow and a few accessories.
Where are flu rates surging? See maps

Jan 16, 2025 | thenorthwestern.com | Sara Chernikoff |Janet Loehrke

Cold and flu season is in full swing as four major respiratory viruses circulate the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 15 states have "very high" levels of the flu. Wastewater levels of influenza are high nationwide for the week ending Jan 4, the CDC's wastewater monitoring systems reported. Respiratory viruses can spread quickly in winter months, as more people spend time inside.
Where are flu rates surging? See maps

Jan 16, 2025 | usatoday.com | Sara Chernikoff |Janet Loehrke

Cold and flu season is in full swing as four major respiratory viruses circulate the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 15 states have "very high" levels of the flu. Wastewater levels of influenza are high nationwide for the week ending Jan 4, the CDC's wastewater monitoring systems reported. Respiratory viruses can spread quickly in winter months, as more people spend time inside.