Numbers

6 million Estimated number of people left without power after Hurricane Isabel hit the East Coast

$120 million Estimated cost to the economy of the two-day shutdown of government offices in Washington because of the storm

$51.2 million Value of grants given by Microsoft chairman Bill Gates to New York City public schools

500 Maximum number of students in each of the 67 small, theme-based high schools that the grants will fund

57% Percentage of consumers who pay at least one bill online

17% Percentage who paid at least one bill online three years ago

284 Number of people who died last year after being infected with the West Nile virus

81 Number of people who have died so far this year, a drop attributed to earlier intervention, even though the number of cases is on the rise

Sources: AP; Washington Post; New York Times (2); InsightExpress (2); AP (2)