Hot labor market, 22M meals for Gaza, and a spy pigeon.

Happy Saturday! Today’s edition is 617 words, a 3-minute read.

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Today’s Big Story

The labor market stays hot

The January jobs report revealed that the labor market is on fire.

• The economy began 2024 with a huge gain of 353,000 jobs in January — the most in a year. December was also hotter than previously reported with 330,00 jobs added.

• The unemployment rate held at a historically low 3.7%. It has stayed below 4% for two years, which hasn’t happened since the 1960s. Wage growth has also been strong and has topped inflation over the last 12 months.

• The strength of the labor market will unfortunately force the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates at the same level. Job and wage growth will prevent the March rate cut from happening and possibly the May cut, according to industry strategists.

Saturday’s Quick Hits

• Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow on Groundhog Day, which means we’re in for an early spring. Meteorologists agree somewhat, saying that most of the US will have above-normal temperatures in February. The pattern is likely to continue into March and April as well. (More)

• A boss from one of Italy’s most violent mafias who escaped from prison last year by using bed sheets has been caught in France. Surveillance footage captured him using the sheet like a rope to scale down the prison wall before he ran off. (More)

• Tesla has recalled almost all its vehicles sold in the US because some warning lights on the instrument panel are too small. Nearly 2.2 million vehicles will undergo a software update that will increase warnings and alerts to drivers. Owners won’t have to bring their vehicles to a dealership for the update. (More)

• The Republican-led House Judiciary Committee issued a subpoena for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over allegations that her office misused federal grant funding. The $500,000 grant was meant to fund an at-risk youth program, but an ex-employee said the office planned to use it on laptops, travel, and swag. (More)

• Connecticut will become the first state to forgive medical debt for eligible residents. The state will erase $1 billion in debt this year by leveraging $6.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds. The state is partnering with a nonprofit that purchases medical debt and eliminates it at a reduced cost. (More)

Weekly Dose of Positive

• A 17-year-old Indian teen has invented a device that can alert caretakers if a person with Alzheimer’s disease falls or wanders. Its detection function works up to 1 mile away in urban areas a 3 miles in rural areas. The device can also remind patients to take their medication. (More)

• Two people, dressed only in towels, rescued two passengers from a car that plunged into the Norwegian fjord where they were enjoying a floating sauna. The two occupants escaped to the roof of the vehicle where the sauna raft picked them up. (More)

• Chef Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen has now provided over 22 million meals in Gaza. The organization has deployed over 800 trucks to the area and set up 27 kitchens along with 750 clean cooking stoves. (More)

• A startup called Dolls for All is working to create a doll that represents children with disabilities. Their goal is to create a doll that can look like any child that has limitations. The first model is designed to personify children who have missing limbs. (More)

Bonus Material

A photographer captured a stealth bomber flying over a football stadium.

The most expensive states for groceries in the US.

Australian police rescued a kid who crawled inside a claw machine.

India released a Chinese pigeon accused of being a spy.