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The Mercury News' series is the product of an exhaustive examination of the files of 1,500 licensed child care facilities. The series found that problems deemed "immediate risks" to children were found at 31 percent of the centers and 35 percent of the homes. An additional 27 percent of centers and 34 percent of homes had "potential hazards." Yet, during the most recent year for which statistics were available (1994) only 12 center were fined and legal steps taken to close just two. (Sept. 10 - 12, 1995)