Quote for today…

People run in packs because they don’t feel safe alone. I run alone because I don’t feel safe in packs. – Unknown

Welcome to “Thursday Numbers!” In case you are a first-time visitor, this is the weekly column where I 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 Senate Democrats reconciliation package, Super Mario 64, coronavirus numbers, unemployment claims, overdose deaths, poll results, confidence in major U.S. institutions, Cora Neumann, and much more!

3,500,000,000,000

Senate Democrats on Tuesday reached an early agreement to pursue a sweeping $3.5 trillion reconciliation package that would expand Medicare benefits, boost federal safety net programs and combat climate change, aiming to sidestep Republican opposition and deliver on President Biden’s top economic priorities. (WaPo)

I guess it’s go big or go home for the Senate Democrats…

1,560,000

An unopened copy of Nintendo’s Super Mario 64 has sold at auction for $1.56 million. Heritage Auctions in Dallas said that the 1996 game sold Sunday, breaking its previous record price for the sale of a single video game. (AP)

Wow…

608,115

That is how many people have died in the United States from coronavirus, according to the latest data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. There have been 33,947,232 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 606,196.

435,241

That is how many Montanans have been fully immunized for COVID-19. That is just 47% of the eligible population. (Source)

Last week the number of fully immunized Montanans was 431,644.

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

Find COVID-19 Vaccines Near You by clicking HERE.

360,000

In the week ending July 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 360,000, a decrease of 26,000 from the previous week’s revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since March 14, 2020 when it was 256,000. The previous week’s level was revised up by 13,000 from 373,000 to 386,000. The 4-week moving average was 382,500, a decrease of 14,500 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 up by 2,500 from 394,500 to 397,000. (DOL)

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

93,000

Overdose deaths soared to a record 93,000 last year in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. government reported Wednesday. That estimate far eclipses the high of about 72,000 drug overdose deaths reached the previous year and amounts to a 29% increase. (AP)

The AP also reported that the estimate of over 93,000 translates to an average of more than 250 deaths each day, or roughly 11 every hour.

76.67

This week’s poll question asked, “Do you favor removing Sacagawea, Meriwether Lewis, and William Clark statues?” (Background)

Here are the results:

NO – 76.67%
UNDECIDED – 16.67%
YES – 6.66%

Thanks to all who participated.

33

Americans’ average confidence in major U.S. institutions has edged down after increasing modestly several months into the coronavirus pandemic last year. Currently, an average 33% of U.S. adults express “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in 14 institutions, marking a three-percentage-point dip since 2020 and a return to the level seen in 2018 and 2019. (Gallup)

Check out the list by clicking on the link.

3

Cora Neumann announced Tuesday a run for Montana’s new U.S. House seat, becoming the third Democrat to join the race. (AP)

You can visit her website by clicking HERE.

Montana Candidates: Please add The Western Word to your press lists: Western_Word@Yahoo.com.

## GET YOUR VACCINE ##