>>January Jobs Report Blows Past Expectations
(Washington, DC) -- January's jobs report is blowing past expectations. There were 517-thousand jobs created last month. Economists were looking for 187-thousand positions to be added. The unemployment rate was three-point-four percent. Federal officials said leisure and hospitality helped lead the way in January. Professional and business services along with healthcare also saw gains.
>>McCarthy Rejects Clean Debt Ceiling Increase
(Washington, DC) -- House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is rejecting Democrats' push for a clean debt ceiling increase. While speaking to reporters, the California Republican said he won't pass an increase without spending reform. He plans to meet with President Biden again to find ways to make spending cuts. The two met for the first time one-on-one at the White House on Wednesday. Biden has called on Congress to increase the limit without conditions, warning of a potential default.
>>Oil Giant Shell Posts Record $39.9-Billion Profit
(London) -- Oil giant Shell Thursday posted its highest-ever annual profit, just under 40-billion dollars for 2022. That's more than double the company's 2021 full-year profit of less than 19-point-three billion. Shell reported adjusted earnings of nine-point-eight billion dollars for the fourth quarter of 2022. >>Beyonce Adds Additional Concerts, Senate Committee Warns Ticketmaster
(Washington, DC) -- Ticketmaster is being warned by one U.S. Senate committee ahead of tickets for Beyonce's upcoming tour going on sale. In a tweet Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee simply said, "We're watching, Ticketmaster." The Senate held a hearing on the ticketing industry last month following Ticketmaster's botched on sale for Taylor Swift's tour. Beyonce has already added seven additional dates to her Renaissance World Tour due to overwhelming demand. Ticketmaster said the number of Verified Fan registrations for the first wave of cities going on sale -- which includes Los Angles, New York City, Las Vegas and others -- already exceeds the number of seats available by 800-percent.
>>Ticket Prices Surge As LeBron Nears Record
(Los Angeles, CA) -- Basketball fans who want to see LeBron James make NBA history are going to have to pay up big time. James is just 63 points away from breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time scoring record. Prices for tickets for the Los Angeles Lakers' games against Oklahoma City on February 7th and Milwaukee on February 9th are surging. Just to get into the building for the game against the Thunder will set fans back at least 350 dollars, while the Bucks game's get-in price is about 550 bucks. For those who want to be courtside to potentially witness history those tickets are being listed for up to 100-thousand dollars each.
