Quote for today…

You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one. ― Michael McMillian

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 COVID numbers, unemployment claims, Gary Buchanan, Madison Cawthorn, Facebook memberships, TWW poll results, Biden approval numbers, guns, gas prices, and more!

1,001,269

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 82,951,434 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 998,740.

218,000

In the week ending May 14, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 218,000, an increase of 21,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised down by 6,000 from 203,000 to 197,000. The 4-week moving average was 199,500, an increase of 8,250 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’s average was revised down by 1,500 from 192,750 to 191,250 (DOL)

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

8,722

Gary Buchanan is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in District 2 as an independent. He needs to gather at least 8,722 signatures by May 31 to get on the ballot.

Please visit his website to help.

1,319

In the North Carolina Republican Primary (District 11), Chuck Edwards beat incumbent Madison Cawthorn by 1,319 votes. (WaPo)

Cawthorn was one of the most immature members of congress in history.

875

The Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights, a think tank that defends democracy and human rights, identified 875 lawmakers who have joined at least one of 789 Facebook groups, including white nationalist groups, groups tied to QAnon, groups that spout conspiracy theories about COVID-19, and others that promote former President Donald Trump’s “Big Lie” that voter fraud cost him the 2020 election. (Raw Story)

Check out who made the list from your state HERE.

41.4

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

Last week, Biden’s approval rating was 41.7%.

34.38

This week’s poll question asked, “Which party will control the U.S. House and U.S. Senate after the November election?”

Here are the results:

REPUBLICANS – HOUSE & SENATE: 34.38%
REPUBLICANS – HOUSE/ DEMOCRATS – SENATE: 31.25%
DEMOCRATS – HOUSE & SENATE: 28.13%
DEMOCRATS – HOUSE/ REPUBLICANS – SENATE: 6.25%

Thanks for participating!

14

The E.W. Scripps Company and the Big Sky Conference have entered into a three-year agreement to broadcast Big Sky Conference games on local TV stations. Beginning in the 2022-2023 season, Scripps stations in markets with Big Sky schools will broadcast football games, as well as men’s and women’s basketball games. The Montana Television Network, which is owned by Scripps, will have the rights to broadcast up to 14 conference football games involving Montana and Montana State including the annual Brawl of the Wild between the Griz and Bobcats. (MTN News)

This is great for Griz and Bobcat fans and advertisers.

3

A Chicago mother has been charged with child endangerment after a gun in her second grader’s backpack accidentally discharged at school, injuring a 7-year-old classmate, police said Wednesday. The 28-year-old woman appeared in court on Wednesday on three misdemeanor child endangerment counts. A judge ordered her release from Cook County Jail on a $1,000 bond. (AP)

Lock up your guns, people!

0.084 – 10.96

That is the average price per gallon of gas around the world as of May 16, 2022. (Source)

In the USA, the average price on May 16 was $4.66. The week before (May 9), the average price in the USA was $4.51.

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