Today's News-Monday, February 2, 2009

PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL SEES SHADOW, WINTER TO CONTINUE

Punxsutawney Phil sees shadow, winter to continue

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) - The world's most famous groundhog has seen his shadow which, legend has it, means we can expect six more weeks of winter. Punxsutawney Phil's forecast was announced in front of thousands of revelers gathered at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. They gathered under overcast skies with temperatures hovering around the freezing mark Monday morning, with many revelers buoyed by the Super Bowl victory by the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday night. German tradition holds that if a hibernating animal cast a shadow on Feb. 2 - the Christian holiday of Candlemas - winter
would last another six weeks. If no shadow was seen, legend said spring would come early.
Since 1887, Phil has seen his shadow 97 times, hasn't seen it 15 times, and there are no records for nine years, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.

FIRE IN CRESSONA RULED ACCIDENTAL

A fire that destroyed a Cressona home early Saturday has been ruled accidental. Borough firefighters along with help from adjoining communities battled the blaze that broke out around 3am at 19 and 21 South Third Street. The state police fire marshal indicates the fire started when a blanket was placed too close to a burning candle in the front room of the home. Damages are estimated in excess of $60-thousand-dollars. Two women were displaced by the early Saturday fire. 46 year old Kim Long, was injured but has been released from the hospital.

STATE POLICE LOOK FOR ATV DRIVERS

Schuylkill Haven state police are looking for two men involved in an ATV crash Friday night near Schuylkill Haven. Police were pursuing the pair as they were headed south on Sunnyside Drive, as they were driving the ATV on the road illegally. The vehicle crashed on a snow bank and the duo fled on foot. Anyone with information about the incident should call state police at 593-2000.

Scranton diocese to close more than 30 parishes

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - The Diocese of Scranton says it is closing more than 30 Roman Catholic parishes over the next 3 1/2 years as part of a reorganization. Bishop Joseph Martino announced the plan in an audio recording Saturday and Sunday. The calls for consolidating almost half of 72 parishes in the 11-county area, beginning in July and continuing until 2012. Martino's announcement ended a yearlong wait by parishioners wondering how the reorganization would impact their parishes. The diocese had said the move was inevitable because the number of active priests, donations and the population of many parishes are declining.

Pa. farm recalling enoki mushrooms

KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. (AP) - A southeastern Pennsylvania mushroom farm is recalling packages of enoki mushrooms because they may be contaminated with a bacteria that can cause a potentially fatal illness. Phillips Mushroom Farm of Kennett Square, Pa., said in a statement Sunday the enoki mushrooms have been distributed in the United States and Canada through retail and food service channels. They were packaged under various brand names and sold between Jan. 13 and 30. The company says the mushrooms were packed in clear plastic bags with blue, green or red graphics panels, plastic tills wrapped with film or one pound bags for food service. Phillips officials say the mushrooms may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, which can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease that is most dangerous to people with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and people with HIV.

Pa. shortfall promises big test for gov, lawmakers

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania state government's budget shortfall was already growing as the nation's economy was plodding to a halt and layoffs were accelerating last summer. It started in May, when the state recorded its first of what is now nine consecutive monthly shortfalls. And the shortfall is now so large that it begs comparison to the handful of budget crises that rank as the worst of the past 40 years. And it promises to entangle Gov. Ed Rendell and state legislators in a protracted battle into the summer and possibly into the campaigns for the 2010 elections. The Democratic governor and legislative leaders of both parties are pledging to work together and erase the shortfall without a major tax increase. Rendell now projects that revenues will lag $2.3 billion - or nearly 8 percent - behind expectations when this fiscal year ends on June 30. So far, Rendell has sought to freeze $500 million in spending and has threatened to lay off state employees unless he gets money-saving concessions from labor unions.

Pa. governor wants to boost tuition aid by $128M

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Gov. Ed Rendell is proposing a $128 million plan to boost financial aid for incoming Pennsylvania college students. The aid would go to freshman at the 14 schools in the state system and those entering community college this fall. Students whose family income is less than $100,000 would be eligible for the grants. The money would provide up to $7,600 for tuition, books, fees and room and board. Rendell also plans to provide an increase of $45 million in grants to current students. The state spent about $407 million last year on aid grants. Rendell's plan represents an increase of about $173 million. He estimates it could bring an additional 10,000 students into the state system and another 10,000 to community colleges. He'll announce next week how he would pay for the plan.

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama thinks some GOP lawmakers will end up supporting his economic stimulus package. But Republicans say it needs to undergo some changes before that happens. No Republican in the House voted for it last week. Obama
says all that matters is that it passes.

WASHINGTON (AP) - An economic stimulus package could create hundreds of thousands of new government jobs. A White House report predicts many would be at the state and local level, and even some conservative economists say that'll help spur economic recovery by stabilizing things.

WASHINGTON (AP) - It looks like President Barack Obama's choice for attorney general will be confirmed today. After initiating some delays, even most Republicans are expected to approve Eric Holder's nomination.

CANEYVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky's is still reeling from last week's ice storm. Tens of thousands of customers are in the dark, and the entire Army National Guard is at work. An ocean away, a snow storm in Britain is hampering all forms of transportation in London this morning.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A sensational catch by MVP Santonio Holmes in the final seconds gave the Steelers a 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl 43. It happened right after Kurt Warner hit Larry Fitzgerald for a 65-yard touchdown pass, giving Arizona their first lead. Warner has set the record for most passing yards in Super Bowl history.