May your troubles be less and your blessings be more and nothing but happiness come through the door. ­ ­- Dorien Kelly

Welcome to “Thursday Numbers!” In case you are a first-time visitor, this is the weekly column where I take a look at the numbers that are in the news (in descending order) and provide commentary sometimes sprinkled with sarcasm and humor.

This week’s topics include Mega Millions Lottery, Montana Public Service Commission, unemployment, USA deaths from coronavirus, Trump’s tweets, Mike Cooney, Dawn Wells, Trump’s presidential legacy by the numbers, McRib, Montana GOP’s civil war, minimum wage, and much more!

401,000,000

That’s the estimated jackpot for the next Mega Millions Lottery drawing on Friday night. (Mega Millions)

Last week the jackpot was 352,000,000…

2,500,000

A $2.5 million damage claim has been filed against members of the Montana Public Service Commission, and staff members, by exiting Commissioner Roger Koopman, the target of an email spying scheme and phony police investigation. (Lee Newspapers)

The Montana Republican Party may implode in 2021…

787,000

In the week ending December 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 787,000, a decrease of 19,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised up by 3,000 from 803,000 to
806,000. The 4-week moving average was 836,750, an increase of 17,750 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’s average was revised up by 750 from 818,250 to 819,000. (DOL)

*Note: On Thursdays, my column is not published until right after 6:30 a.m. (Montana time), so I can post the latest unemployment numbers.

342,414

That is how many people have died in the United States from coronavirus, according to the latest data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. There are at least 342,414 deaths and 19,745,136 cases across the country so far. The first death in the USA was reported on February 29. (Johns Hopkins)

Last week, there were 326,242 deaths. Please pray for those who have lost loved ones this year.

25,000 and Counting:

That’s how many tweets, including original messages and retweets, were sent by President Donald Trump since he took office on Jan. 20, 2017, according to Factba.se. (AP)

4,700

Former Democratic candidate for Montana governor Mike Cooney will pay a fine to the state’s top political cop after he was found to have violated the state’s campaign finance rules. Cooney, who lost the November election to Republican Greg Gianforte, will pay $4,700 to the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices. (AP)

Cooney lost by about 13 points and now ends up having to pay a fine for cheating. Talk about a double whammy…

82

Dawn Wells, who played the beloved girl-next-door Mary Ann Summers on “Gilligan’s Island,” died Wednesday in Los Angeles after battling COVID-19. She was 82. (NY Post)

That means Tina Louise, who played Ginger Grant, is the last surviving cast member.

23

The Associated Press has compiled “Trump’s presidential legacy, by the numbers.” There are 23 numbers, good and bad. Check it out HERE.

The best number that has anything to do with Trump is January 20, 2021.

20

Although Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell won’t allow a vote on the Cash Act that would give people $2,000, a meme making the rounds says that he and the Republicans have graciously added a $20 Walmart gift card plus a two for one McRib coupon to the stimulus package. (iFunny)

For those from Iowa, this was a joke…

17

A group of state Republican legislators led by House Majority Leader Brad Tschida accused fellow Republican U.S. Sen. Steve Daines of “clear betrayal of our state and of President Trump” for getting the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Water Compact signed into law. “(Daines) proceeded unilaterally to hurt Montana when he acted as a member of the DC Swamp that voters rejected in 2016 and 2020,” Tschida and 17 other legislators wrote in an email sent to the Missoulian by Tschida’s aide Drew Zinecker on Monday. (Missoulian)

Here we go – The Montana Republicans control the state and they are already forming a circular firing squad. Get the popcorn ready! #Dumbasses

8.75

Montana’s minimum wage will increase from $8.65 per hour to $8.75 per hour beginning on Friday, January 1, 2021. (MTN)

That two for one McRib coupon will come in handy…

## HAPPY NEW YEAR ##