Latest news with #Punxsutawney
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Yahoo
Punxsutawney woman sentenced to probation for $91K social security fraud
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) — A Punxsutawney woman was sentenced to probation in federal court for social security fraud totaling over $91,000 in payments. Patty Merlo, 66, was sentenced to five years of probation on her conviction of theft of government funds, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced. The sentence was given by United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines. According to information presented to the court, from May 2016 to January 2022, Merlo embezzled and converted approximately $91,300 in Social Security payments she knew she was not entitled Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General led the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Merlo, Rivetti added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Should you expect a warm spring 2025? Maps show NOAA's weather outlook
Punxsutawney Phil may have signaled six more weeks of winter, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has its own predictions for spring. The NOAA released its three-month weather outlook this week, analyzing the temperature and precipitation predictions for March through May. La Niña, the climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean responsible for cooler-than-average temperatures, remains in full force, but forecasters estimate a 66% chance of a switch to more neutral weather this spring, the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center reported. Here's what weather may be expected this spring. NOAA forecasts temperatures to be above normal throughout the South, Southeast and East Coast this spring. There is a 50-60% chance that temperatures will be above normal in parts of the Southwest, southern Texas, southern Gulf States, including Florida and southern Georgia, the NOAA reports. Throughout all of the East Coast, there is a 40-50% chance that temperatures will be higher than normal. The northern-most part of Alaska will also experience warmer temperatures. On the flip side, there is a 40-50% chance that temperatures will be colder throughout the northern-most parts of Washington, Idaho and Montana, NOAA reports. The west coast and almost all of the Midwest may expect normal temperatures this spring. The majority of the Southwest, and even some of the Midwest, are expected to see less precipitation than normal this spring, NOAA reports, perpetuating the regions' drought. Specifically, there is a 50-60% chance that there will be less precipitation than normal throughout most of Utah, eastern New Mexico, southeastern Arizona and southwestern Colorado. Drier weather is expected radiating out from these four states. There is also a 33-40% chance that the Gulf Coast will experience less precipitation than normal this spring, NOAA reports. There is a 40-50% chance that there will be more precipitation this spring in the Northwest, Great Lakes and interior Northeast, in addition to the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, NOAA reports. The East Coast and much of the northern United States should expect average precipitation. The NOAA's "climatic normals" are based on weather conditions analyzed between 1991 and 2020, according to the NWS Climate Prediction Center. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Spring weather forecast 2025: See maps for NOAA's temperature outlook
The Hill
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hill
PETA issues swap deal: Punxsutawney Phil for a vegan cake
PETA is urging Punxsutawney Groundhog Club to remove Punxsutawney Phil from his Groundhog Day duties. The animal activist organization doesn't plan on leaving the club empty-handed, offering a weather-reveal vegan cake in his place. In a letter to club president Tom Dunkel, the nonprofit offered the cake in exchange for placing Phil and his family in an animal sanctuary. How could the cake tell the weather, you may ask? Well, according to PETA, the dessert would have one of two colors: Blue or pink. Should blue be on the inside of the cake, it would signify an extra six weeks of winter. If it were pink, an early start to spring would be on the horizon. 'When allowed to be themselves, groundhogs avoid humans, create intricate networks of underground burrows, communicate with one another, and even climb trees, but poor Phil is denied all of that for a tired old gimmick,' PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said in the release. Despite PETA's opposition, the Groundhog Day tradition dates back to 1887, and thousands flock to the central Pennsylvania borough to celebrate.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Groundhog Day Trivia: How much do you know about the tradition
(WTAJ) — Punxsutawney Pennsylvania is preparing for a weekend of festivities as the prognosticator gets ready to make his prediction, but how much do you know about the over-100-year-old tradition? He's the most famous groundhog in PA and possibly the world, but before he tells us whether there will be six more weeks of winter or early spring, we'll be testing out your knowledge. Here are some Trivia questions, let us know how many questions you got right: Question 1: What is Punxsutawney Phil's full title? Check back in each day till Groundhog Day for a new trivia question. We'll continue to update the story each day. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
PETA calls to end Groundhog Day tradition, replace Punxsutawney Phil with 'vegan weather reveal cake'
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is calling to ax a beloved American tradition – and to replace it with what it calls a "delicious" vegan substitution. The animal rights nonprofit organization is seeking to replace the Groundhog Day tradition with a vegan "weather reveal" cake. PETA announced the proposal in a news release on Jan. 20. "PETA will deliver a delicious 'Weather Reveal' vegan cake each Groundhog Day in perpetuity if [the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club] agrees to let Punxsutawney Phil and his family retire to a reputable sanctuary, a move that will earn the outfit kudos from wildlife fans," the press release stated. PETA also published pun-filled letter to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, arguing that the groundhog's annual duties were "no piece of cake" for him. "Groundhogs are shy prey animals who, when allowed, actively avoid humans," the letter detailed. "Yet, year after year, Phil is transported to Gobler's Knob, whisked on stage, and subjected to a noisy announcer, screaming crowds, and flashing lights against all his natural instincts." Groundhog Day Quiz! How Well Do You Know The Facts About This Unique Day? Read On The Fox News App "If approached in his natural habitat, he would run away in fear, not volunteer to live year-round in captivity, unable to do anything that's natural and important to him like hibernate or burrow – just to be a town's once-a-year fake meteorologist." In a statement, PETA president Ingrid Newkirk also called for Groundhog Day officials to "sprinkle some happiness" into Phil's life by letting him retire. "When allowed to be themselves, groundhogs avoid humans, create intricate networks of underground burrows, communicate with one another, and even climb trees, but poor Phil is denied all of that for a tired old gimmick," Newkirk argued. PETA told Fox News Digital that it has not received a response from the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, and called for the organization to develop "kinder, innovative" traditions that make animals happy. Peta Suggests Replacing Punxsutawney Phil Groundhog With Giant Gold Coin: 'Cruel Annual Gimmick Is Abusive' "Our letter suggests the groundhog club demonstrate true respect for Phil and set a wonderful example for how everyone can move beyond 'Groundhog' Day by replacing him with a delicious vegan 'Weather Reveal' cake that revelers can enjoy as an alternative to exploiting wild animals," a spokesperson explained. "The time is long overdue." PETA has called for Groundhog Day alternatives in the past, including offering to send a giant gold coin to replace the animal in 2024. Groundhog Day has been celebrated in the U.S. since 1887. Thousands of observers flock to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, every year on Feb. 2 to see Phil predict the weather. Tradition dictates that if Phil sees his shadow at daybreak and runs away, six more weeks of winter will follow. However, if he has no shadow, spring will arrive sooner. In 2024, Phil announced that he did not see his shadow, marking a rare prediction for an early spring. Fox News Digital reached out to PETA and the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club for comment. Fox News Digital's Ashlyn Messier contributed to this article source: PETA calls to end Groundhog Day tradition, replace Punxsutawney Phil with 'vegan weather reveal cake'
