Thursday Numbers

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Quote for today…

Good deeds should be done with intention, not for attention. – 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, COVID in Congress, Russia, TWW poll results, Biden approval numbers, more free COVID-⁠19 tests, global gas prices, Major League Baseball, and much more!

6,023,941

The official global death toll from COVID-19 eclipsed 6 million on Monday – underscoring that the pandemic, now entering its third year, is far from over. (CBS News)

Prayers for those who have suffered losses…

963,819

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 79,406,602 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 954,519.

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

557,261

That is how many Montanans have been fully immunized for COVID-19. This is still just 55% of the eligible population. (Source)

Last week, the number of fully immunized Montanans was 556,179.

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.

227,000

In the week ending March 5, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 227,000, an increase of 11,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised up by 1,000 from 215,000 to 216,000. The 4-week moving average was 231,250, an increase of 500 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’s average was revised up by 250 from 230,500 to 230,750. (DOL)

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

152

More than one-quarter of all House and Senate lawmakers reported having COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic nearly two years ago, according to data analyzed by The Hill. In total, 152 lawmakers, which includes seven who reported having antibodies and two presumed cases, had COVID-19 since January 2020. (The Hill)

I’m glad it is an equal opportunity disease…

93

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred canceled 93 more games Wednesday, appearing to close the remaining chance to play a full 162-game schedule and threatening locked-out players with loss of salary and service time. (AP)

Might as well make it an 80-game season and call it good…

58

This week’s poll question asked, “Which statewide elected official in Montana has embarrassed you the most?”

Here are the results:

MATT ROSENDALE: 58%
STEVE DAINES: 14%
AUSTIN KNUDSEN: 10%
ELSIE ARNTZEN: 6%
GREG GIANFORTE: 6%
JON TESTER: 4%
OTHER: 2%

Thanks to everyone who participated!

50

The Cascade County (Great Falls, MT) City-County Health Department reports that as of Wednesday still only 50% of eligible individuals in the county are fully vaccinated. (Source)

The “Community Level” is still rated as “High” in Cascade County.

C’mon people – get vaccinated!

42.7

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

Last week, Biden’s approval rating was 41.5%.

17

A Russian airstrike devastated a maternity hospital Wednesday in the besieged port city of Mariupol amid growing warnings from the West that Moscow’s invasion is about to take a more brutal and indiscriminate turn. Ukrainian officials said the attack wounded at least 17 people. (AP)

The world should probably just take out Russia and call it good…

4

Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-home COVID-⁠19 tests. If you haven’t already, order yours today. I was able to order an additional set of four tests this week! (covidtests.gov)

Is this a great country or what?

0.095 – 10.718

That is the price per gallon of gas around the world as of March 7, 2022. (Source)

In the USA, the price on that date was $4.46.

Here’s a fact: Joe Biden is only the President of one country on that list, so stop with your bullshit political posturing…

Blame Putin…

## THE END ##

4 thoughts on “Thursday Numbers”

  1. In looking at the poll results, one can only wonder what true Montanan would be embarassed by Jon Tester’s recent actions.

    Just a quick look shows that Sen. Tester did the following:

    Voted for Bipartisan Infrastructure bill.
    Opposed the vaccine mandates.
    Sponsered and passed Postal Service Reform Act.
    Called for more domestic energy developmnt.
    Passed the IRAQ “Burn Pit” VA healthcare provision, plus numerous other VA related actions.
    Voted for aid to Ukraine.
    Voted for the ban on Russian energy imports.

    There are undoubtably others but they are all positive actions in line with Montanan’s general needs and desires.

    Too bad folks seem to be so blinded by partisanship that they can condone the actions of Steve Daines and Matt Rosendale and be”embarassed” by our most positively prolific federal representative.

    Sad and shocking.

    • I get Tester’s newsletter emails. Every time I do, I am struck by how measured, rational, free of partisan finger-pointing, rancor and etc. they are. Just talking about the legislation and issues. As opposed to the screechy vitriolic blame-casting ultra-partisan Fox News-wannabe talking points rags that Rosendale and Daines and most of our top state politicians spew out. Maybe you don’t agree with some of Tester’s positions on issues, but it is obvious he the adult in the room of Montana politics.

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