Quote for today…
Don’t die before you’re dead. ― Rachel Wolchin
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 an Air Force Base for sale, nation, state, and local COVID numbers, unemployment claims, TWW poll results, Biden weekly/first-year approval numbers, Rosendale’s NO votes, and much more!
4,500,000
A 42-acre parcel of land briefly used as an Air Force Base north of Gettysburg (SD) is on the market with an asking price of $4.5 million. The base is listed as having 50 beds and 15 bathrooms. (Aberdeen News)
I wish I could afford the place; I would let people who are down on their luck live there for free until they get back on their feet.
857,788
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 68,569,958 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 844,562.
Thanks to everyone who wears a mask and has been vaccinated – you are patriots!
545,592
That is how many Montanans have been fully immunized for COVID-19. That is just 53% of the eligible population. (Source)
Last week, the number of fully immunized Montanans was 543,336.
Find COVID-19 Vaccines Near You by clicking HERE.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Montana’s population in April 2020 was 1,084,225.
286,000
In the week ending January 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 286,000, an increase of 55,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised up by 1,000 from 230,000 to 231,000. The 4-week moving average was 231,000, an increase of 20,000 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’s average was revised up by 250 from 210,750 to 211,000 (DOL)
Note: On Thursdays, this column is published right after 6:30 a.m. (Montana time), so I can post the latest unemployment numbers.
296
The Great Falls Public Schools report there are 296 positive COVID cases in the school (staff/students) this week. (Source)
It’s very hard to operate with that many people testing positive.
283
U.S. Representative Matt Rosendale (R-MT/AL) writes on social media:
My first year in the Pelosi-controlled Congress, I voted NO on the floor 283 times—and I’m just getting started!
I will continue to unabashedly fight back against bad legislation that erodes our freedoms and spends our grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s money. (Source)
I have never voted for Rosendale and never will. So, he gets a “NO” vote from me.
49
This week’s poll question asked, “What grade do you give the Biden/Harris Administration?”
Here are the results:
B – 49%
C – 21%
F – 16%
D – 9%
A – 5%
Thanks for participating!
49
The Cascade County (Great Falls, MT) City-County Health Department reports that as of Wednesday still only 49% of eligible individuals in the county are fully vaccinated. (Source)
C’mon people – get vaccinated!
48.9
During his first year in office, an average of 48.9% of Americans approved of the job President Joe Biden was doing. Biden’s job approval ratings started relatively strong at 57%, but by September had plunged to 43%. A new Gallup poll finds 40% of U.S. adults approving of the job he is doing, his lowest to date. (Gallup)
Gallup also reported that among post-World War II presidents elected to their first term, only Donald Trump had a lower first-year average rating, at 38.4%. Bill Clinton’s first-year average was similar to Biden’s, but all other first-year presidents averaged 57% or better.
41.9
According to FiveThirtyEight.com, that is President Joe Biden’s current approval rating. (Source)
Last week, Biden’s approval rating was 42.2%.
The Western Word 
My America.