Quote of the day…

A lie is a lie even if everyone believes it. The truth is the truth even if nobody believes it. ― David Stevens

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 in the news (in descending order) and provide commentary sometimes sprinkled with sarcasm and humor.

This week’s topics include the infrastructure plan, unemployment claims, deaths from coronavirus, Montanans fully immunized, podcast poll results, Donald & Melania, opening day, Matt Gaetz, USA death rate, Montana Legislature & pot, and much more!

2,300,000,000,000

President Joe Biden outlined a huge $2.3 trillion plan Wednesday to re-engineer the nation’s infrastructure in what he billed as “a once-in-a-generation investment in America” that would undo his predecessor’s signature legislative achievement — giant tax cuts for corporations — in the process. (AP)

Watch – the Republicans will start caring about spending as the reason to oppose the plan.

719,000

In the week ending March 27, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 719,000, an increase of 61,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised down by 26,000 from 684,000 to 658,000. The 4-week moving average was 719,000, a decrease of 10,500 from the previous week’s revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since March 14, 2020 when it was 225,500. The previous week’s average was revised down by 6,500 from 736,000 to 729,500. (DOL)

*Note: On Thursdays, this column is published right after 6:30 a.m. (Montana time), so I can post the latest unemployment numbers.

552,073

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 552,073 deaths and 30,461,066 cases across the country so far. The first death in the USA was reported on February 29, 2020. (Johns Hopkins)

Last week the death total was 545,282.

191,512

That is how many Montanans have be en fully immunized for COVID-19. (SOURCE)

Last week the number of fully immunized Montanans was 163,166.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Montana’s estimated population in July 2019 was 1,068,778.

I say this every week, but this is just a small percentage of Montanans who are fully immunized. We should all be wearing masks until we have a higher percentage of fully immunized Montanans.

45

Here are the results from the latest poll from The Western Word that asked if The Western Word should produce a weekly podcast.

YES: 45%
UNDECIDED: 32%
NO: 23%

Thanks to all who participated!

45

Former President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania are launching a new personal website called 45Office.com. (45Office.com)

30

It is Major League Baseball opening day (April 1) with all 30 teams playing. (SportingNews.com)

That means spring is here!

17

U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), one of the nation’s rising-star conservative firebrands, told Axios he is under federal investigation for sexual activity with women, and fears being criminally charged. The New York Times reported late Tuesday afternoon that the Justice Department is investigating Gaetz “over whether he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old and paid for her to travel with him.” (Axios)

He says he is not guilty, but he is being investigated.

15.9

The death rate in the United States jumped by 15.9 percent between 2019 and 2020, fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday.
The coronavirus was responsible for about 1 in 10 deaths in the country in 2020, and was the third-leading cause of death, behind heart disease and cancer. (The Hill)

It did not have to be this deadly.

3

The Montana Legislature is considering three bills to shape the policy around voter-approved recreational marijuana. (MTN News)

It is too bad the uptight Republicans want to mess with the will of the voters.

## WEAR A MASK TODAY ##