Quote for today…

Apparently, “Spite” is not an appropriate answer to “What motivates you?” – Unknown

Welcome to “Thursday Numbers!” If 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 nation, state, and local COVID numbers, unemployment claims, Super Bowl poll results, shootings, homeless students, Mansfield Metcalf dinner, Biden approval numbers, White House records, and much more!

912,257

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 77,267,876 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 894,316.

Thanks to everyone who wears a mask and has been vaccinated – you are patriots!

551,694

That is how many Montanans have been fully immunized for COVID-19. That is still just 54% of the eligible population. (Source)

Last week, the number of fully immunized Montanans was 549,132.

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.

223,000

In the week ending February 5, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 223,000, a decrease of 16,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised up by 1,000 from 238,000 to 239,000. The 4-week moving average was 253,250, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’s average was revised up by 250 from 255,000 to 255,250. (DOL)

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

1,055

Police shot and killed at least 1,055 people nationwide last year, the highest total since The Washington Post began tracking fatal shootings by officers in 2015 — underscoring the difficulty of reducing such incidents despite sustained public attention to the issue. The new count is up from 1,021 shootings the previous year and 999 in 2019. (WaPo)

We don’t seem to care about human life much these days…

427

In Great Falls (MT), there were at last count 427 students experiencing homelessness – defined as students living in a shelter, doubled up with other families, facing unsheltered/ inadequate housing, or living in hotels/motels. (KRTV)

We need elected officials to show leadership and compassion when dealing with homeless people.

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)

The “Case Rate” and “Positivity Rate” are still “High” in Cascade County.

C’mon people – get vaccinated!

44

This week’s poll question asked, “Which team will win Super Bowl LVI?”

Here are the results:

CINCINNATI BENGALS: 44%
LOS ANGELES RAMS: 37%
UNDECIDED/DON’T CARE: 19%

Thanks to everyone who participated!

44

The Montana Democrats have announced that U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) will be the keynote speaker for the 44th Mansfield Metcalf dinner on March 5 in Helena. (Source)

Tickets range from the “Gold Sponsor” which is ten tickets for $5,000, down to a $70 “General Admission” ticket for one ticket.

41.3

According to FiveThirtyEight.com, that is President Joe Biden’s current approval rating. (Source)

Last week, Biden’s approval rating was 41.8%

15

The National Archives and Records Administration has asked the Justice Department to examine Donald Trump’s handling of White House records, sparking discussions among federal law enforcement officials about whether they should investigate the former president for a possible crime, according to two people familiar with the matter. The referral from the National Archives came amid recent revelations that officials recovered 15 boxes of materials from the former president’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida that were not handed back to the government as they should have been, and that Trump had turned over other White House records that had been torn up. (WaPo)

The 45th President is not a smart man…

## WEAR A MASK INDOORS IN PUBLIC PLACES ##