Quote for today…

Common sense is so rare these days that it should be considered a superpower. – 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 coronavirus deaths, Boebert’s husband, fully immunized Montanans, unemployment claims, U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III, TWW poll results, Afghanistan poll, remembering Woodstock, Biden’s approval rating, plus much more!

624,260

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 37,158,309 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 618,496.

478,000

Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert’s husband made $478,000 last year working as a consultant for an energy firm, information that was not disclosed during Boebert’s congressional campaign and only reported in her financial disclosure forms filed this week. In paperwork filed with the House of Representatives on Tuesday, the Republican congresswoman reported that her husband, Jayson Boebert, received the money as a consultant to “Terra Energy Productions” in 2020, and earned $460,000 as a consultant for the firm in 2019. (AP)

I see a stiff fine in her future…

453,218

That is how many Montanans have been fully immunized for COVID-19. That is just 49% of the eligible population. (Source)

Last week the number of fully immunized Montanans was 448,533.

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.

348,000

In the week ending August 14, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 348,000, a decrease of 29,000 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 2,000 from 375,000 to 377,000. The 4-week moving average was 377,750, a decrease of 19,000 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 500 from 396,250 to 396,750. (DOL)

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

640

A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III safely evacuated some 640 Afghans from Kabul late Sunday, according to U.S. defense officials and photos obtained by Defense One. That’s believed to be among the most people ever flown in the C-17, a massive military cargo plane that has been operated by the U.S. and its allies for nearly three decades. Flight tracking software shows the plane belongs to the 436th Air Wing, based at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. (Defense One)

That was quite an accomplishment – God bless our military!

77.5

This week’s poll asked, “Should children in public K-12 schools be required to wear masks while indoors?”

Here are the results:

YES: 77.5%
NO: 7.5%
UNDECIDED: 15%

Thanks to all who participated.

62

A significant majority of Americans doubt that the war in Afghanistan was worthwhile, even as the United States is more divided over President Joe Biden’s handling of foreign policy and national security, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Roughly two-thirds (62%) said they did not think America’s longest war was worth fighting, the poll shows. Meanwhile, 47% approve of Biden’s management of international affairs, while 52% approve of Biden on national security. (AP)

52

It was 52 years ago this week (August 15-18, 1969) that the Woodstock Festival started in upstate New York. (Source)

I wish I had been there…

49.8

President Joe Biden’s approval rating has fallen below 50 percent in two key polling averages for the first time in his presidency, as chaos in Afghanistan dominates news coverage.
After many months of steady approval in the mid-50s, the president’s approval rating has fallen to 49.8 percent in FiveThirtyEight’s average of polls, and 49.4 percent in the RealClearPolitics average. In both cases, Biden remains above water, with average disapprovals of 44 percent and 46.8 percent, respectively.
Biden’s predecessor, former President Donald Trump, never got above 49 percent in the Gallup tracking poll, the 538 average (45.5%), or the RCP average (44.5%). (Mediaite.com)

44

The Cascade County (Great Falls, MT) City-County Health Department reports that as of Wednesday only 44% of eligible individuals in the county are vaccinated. The weekly average COVID-19 case rate has risen to 55.31 per 100K. Last week it was 39.8. (Source)

It’s becoming very dangerous in Montana…

8

U.S. health officials Wednesday announced plans to dispense COVID-19 booster shots to all Americans to shore up their protection amid the surging delta variant and signs that the vaccines’ effectiveness is slipping. The plan, as outlined by the chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other top health authorities, calls for an extra dose eight months after people get their second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. The doses could begin the week of Sept. 20. (AP)

I will get my booster because I am a patriot, and I care about my family, my community, and my country.

## GET YOUR VACCINE ##