Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Pedestrian accident in Selinsgrove

NorCoComms: Transportation Department under investigation

SUNBURY – The Northumberland County Commissioners and the county controller said today—the county transportation department is under investigation—but they won’t suspend the director at this time. The issue is over billing—or double billing the state for transportation under the PennDOT Shared Ride program.

Director Dennis Hepler is at the center of the probe, but today the commissioner’s board was split on what action to take. Commissioner Vinny Clausi said Hepler is a personal friend of the Commissioner Chairman Frank Sawicki and that Sawicki is protecting him.

Sawicki would only say that he is acquainted with Hepler but that commissioner’s action is not appropriate yet until a case is formulated against them and no case has been compiled.

Controller Chuck Erdman said the issue is the reimbursement county seeks from the state and the issue came to light when the Area Agency on Aging was doing recalculating of their billing. He said the trips for senior citizens were inflated and it appears that about $15,000 was intentionally overcharged. He said there was not theft of money that benefited an individual.

But Commissioner Vinny Clausi said the provider of the transportation could benefit from the overbilling—but he would not elaborate. Clausi said ‘transportation’ is another department in his crosshairs and more revelations will come next week.

State Representative Bob Belfanti will not seek reelection

MOUNT CARMEL – Representative Bob Belfanti (D-107^th, Mount Carmel) will not seek reelection.  The 62-year-old representative from Mount Carmel made the announcement today that he will not be a candidate for a 16^th term.  In a statement, Belfanti says his decision waned for the past two weeks, but in the end he needed to think about his family.  He also says his quality of life is certain to continue on a negative path if he doesn’t spend much more time and effort tending to it.

Belfanti has served since 1981 and has suffered a host of health problems.  Most recently, he was stricken with severe pneumonia that kept him in the hospital in February and March of last year.

Belfanti includes in some of his accomplishments: the conversion of Roosevelt Court into a multi-faceted structure as opposed to condemnation, opening the first legislative constituent services offices in Montour County and Shamokin, KOZ legislation and an industrial park, Reinhart Foods and millions in fire services grants and loans.

In addition, Belfanti says announcements about new industry and family-sustaining jobs will be made in the very near future.

Williamsport man electrocuted while working on billboard

WINFIELD – A Williamsport man died after being electrocuted while working on a billboard off of Route 15 in Winfield Tuesday morning.  Around 7:30a.m., 52-year-old Francis Plocinski, who works with Lamar Advertising, was changing a light bulb on the billboard near Seven Kitchens Road and was electrocuted. 

Former Lycoming County DA running for the 10^th congressional district

SUNBURY – The former District Attorney in Lycoming County recently announced that he is running for the 10^th U.S. Congressional district currently held by Congressman Chris Carney (D-10^th, Dimock).

Tom Marino was a guest on our Tuesday’s On The Mark program and talked about why he has chosen to run for congress.  Marino says he wants to run because of how our money is being spent in Washington.  He says Nancy Pelosi’s arrogance is obvious, paying no attention to what the public wants. 

He says Pelosi doesn’t have to make mortgage payments or worry about paying college tuition like the average American.  Marino says the working class is stepping up and letting legislators know that they are the backbone of this country and they are tired of Washington taking money out of their pockets. 

And what is Marino’s top priority if elected to office? He says the spending must be stopped.  Marino says the deficit has reached heights they never even dreamed of, and once the spending is cut back, taxes need to be cut.  Marino says small businesses need to get incentives and this country is run on small businesses. 

After serving as District Attorney for several years, Marino was appointed to United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.  Following that tenure, Marino worked as a business law attorney. 

He is a Republican seeking the seat held by a Democrat.  Another Republican hoping to face off against Carney is Snyder County Commissioner Malcolm Derk.  To hear more comments from Marino from our On The Mark program from Tuesday, listen online at www.wkok.com.  (Ali Stevens)

Celebrating Catholic Schools Week

SUNBURY – Celebrations are ongoing throughout the country during Catholic Schools Week.  At St. Monica School in Sunbury, kids performed Tuesday for family during grandparent’s day.  The school has weeklong events planned including bowling; dress down day and a special Friday mass.  4^th graders at St. Monica say this is one of their favorite weeks. 

Principal Susan Bickhart says they are very proud of the school that reaches children both spiritually and educationally.  Other schools celebrating the week in our area include St. Joseph in Danville and Our Lady of Lourdes in Coal Township.

Crash in Northumberland County injures two

SHAMOKIN TWP – Two people were injured after a crash Tuesday morning in Shamokin Township, Northumberland County.  Around 11:55a.m., 67-year-old Marlin Snyder of Elysburg was driving near Short Road when he lost control of his vehicle, traveled across an opposite lane and hit an embankment. 

Snyder and his passenger, 65-year-old Donna Snyder of Elysburg, sustained injuries and were taken to Sunbury Community Hospital by ambulance.  No word on their conditions.  Marlin Snyder will be cited for the crash. (Sara Bartlett)

Shamokin woman accused in a destructive hit and run Sunday

SHAMOKIN – A Shamokin woman is facing a number of charges for a hit and run crash Sunday that caused damage to a truck, a home and a utility pole.  The News Item reports 18-year-old Patricia Zimmerman crashed into a parked pick-up truck in the 900 block of East Race Street early Sunday morning. 

Zimmerman also struck a utility pole in front of a home, knocking the pole onto the front porch of the home.  PPL crews were called to the scene and electric service in the area was knocked out due to the accident.  The street was closed for several hours following the incident.  Zimmerman reportedly fled the scene of the accident and a front seat passenger was not injured.  Multiple charges are pending.  (Ali Stevens)

Man stole from a volunteer fire and ambulance company

SUNBURY – A Coal Township man has been sentenced to two years probation for stealing thousands of dollars from a volunteer fire and ambulance company.  44-year-old Barry Strausser was charged with stealing about $5,000 from the Fairview Fire and Ambulance Company in Coal Township.

He served as a trustee and emergency medical services chief there.  Strausser pleaded no-contest on November 2^nd to theft by unlawful taking.  He was sentenced to serve the first 90 days of probation on house arrest and must pay $10,000 in restitution.  (Ali Stevens)

Guidance counselor reinstated after being terminated in January

SELINSGROVE – A guidance counselor who was terminated in January by the Selinsgrove School Board has been reinstated in the district following protests and petitions.  Rob Whyne will be reinstated after the board voted unanimously to grant Whyne a transfer from his position as a guidance counselor to a job as a social studies teacher in the district. 

Whyne has worked in the district for 15 years and was terminated January 4^th after allowing a student who graduated to return for additional coursework in the summer so they would qualify to compete in NCAA sports. 

Dog napped dog back home in Norry

NORTHUMBERLAND – Neighbors in Northumberland started calling Newsradio 1070 WKOK over the weekend saying…Maggie is back. Three months ago, we were first to tell you about an apparent dog napping in Northumberland. After that there was extensive media coverage, and we were first to tell you—the dog napper was identified and the dog is returned.

Maggie, the English Bulldog owned by Bethany Whyne of Second Street has been returned. It turns out, according to the Whyne, a tipster led police to a home in Williamsport where the dog had been in fact—stolen. No charges filed. Bethany tells us, it wasn’t about the criminal investigation—it was about getting the dog back. She told us the dog was unharmed and will join their household, which now has a total of three dogs.

Chocolate cake, jellybeans to honor Ronald Reagan

WEST MILTON – President Ronald Reagan would have been 99-years-old on Saturday, February 6th, and the SUN Area Council of Republican Women is hosting a family friendly birthday celebration to honor America’s 40th chief executive. Union County Vice-President Carolyn Conner says there will be chocolate birthday cake and the former president’s favorite jellybeans.

Conner adds, US Senate candidate Peg Luksik is among many candidates confirmed to appear. The event is meant to be a birthday celebration; thus there will be children’s games, such as “pin-the-tail on the elephant,” and signing of valentines for veterans at the VA Hospital in the Wilkes-Barre area.

The celebration starts at 4:00 p.m. Saturday at the Grace Covenant Community Church Banquet Hall, 99 North Shuman Street in Middleburg. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 2 to 12, with a maximum donation of $20 per household. (Matt Farrand)

Local outfitter agrees with fish commission: River is impaired

SUNBURY – Calling the Susquehanna River, “increasingly impaired”, the board of commissioners of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has called on state and federal environmental agencies to expand efforts to determine the sources of pollution contributing to the decline in small-mouth bass populations.

Ken Maurer is the owner of Southside Bait and Tackle in Sunbury and says something needs to be done to get the problem under control. Maurer says over the last five to eight years, there has been a sharp decline in the small-mouth bass population. He says it’s a complex problem and water quality always comes to the forefront.

Maurer says there are studies being done, but more is needed. He says he has seen first hand the change in the small-mouth population since 2005. Maurer says a lot of anglers are calling for some type of regulation on the number of fish you can keep, but the fish commission feels the percentage of the small-mouth that are kept will not affect the overall population.

Maurer does want folks to know that there are still good small-mouth bass to be caught. He says they may not be as plentiful, but they are big in size. The board of the fish and boat commission is urging the DEP and the EPA to increase their investigations—saying recent data confirms serious problems exist. You can get more information at www.fish.state.pa.us (Ali Stevens)

Mall mugging injures Norry teen

SELINSGROVE – A Susquehanna Valley Mall parking lot mugging left a teen injured Saturday. State Police at Selinsgrove say around noon, a 13-year-old Northumberland boy was in the parking lot of the mall, when he was approached by an unknown amount of people.

The teen was assaulted and was robbed of video game cartridges. Police did not supply a description of the suspect, nor did they mention whether a weapon was used. Anyone with information should call police at Selinsgrove state troopers at 374-8145.

Two other political announcements regarding the state house seats being vacated

UNDATED – Two political announcements are in the news today regarding the state house seats being vacated by Representatives Merle Phillips (R-108th, Sunbury) and Russ Fairchild (R-85th, Winfield).

Trey Casimir, chairman of the Lewisburg Area Recreation Authority, has announced that he will run for the 85th District and will make it official today (Tuesday). Casimir will announce his intentions at his office on Market Street in Lewisburg at 9:00 a.m.

Casimir is a Democrat and works is an acupuncturist. He also ran for state senate in the 23rd district, which is currently represented by Gene Yaw. Casimir is involved in Lewisburg Borough Council, the Lewisburg Business and Professionals Association and the Central Susquehanna Citizens Coalition.

John Meckley of Milton announced he has decided not to run for the state house in the 108th District. Meckley had been considering a run, but ultimately decided that he was already involved in a number of other committees and that a political run would take away from his commitments.

Those commitments include President of the Susquehanna Council of the Boy Scouts of America, vice president of the Milton Public Library and the Milton High School Alumni Association. (Ali Stevens)

Familiar former politician is looking to get back to Harrisburg

WILLIAMSPORT—The former mayor of Williamsport, who served two terms in the House, is looking to get back to Harrisburg, after a failed bid for state Senate in 2008. Steven Cappelli announced his bid to run for the state house in the 83rd legislative district.

The republican lost to Senator Gene Yaw in 2008 and has decided to try and win back a seat in the house, which is currently held by Democrat Rick Mirabito (D-83rd, Williamsport). The 46-year-old made his announcement at the Community Arts Center in Williamsport, saying one of his priorities will be to make sure tax dollars are being spent properly.

Cappelli also took time to apologize for voting in favor of Act 44, the legislation that allows for tolling on Interstate 80. He supported Act 44 while working as a House member in 2007. He claims language in the bill ended up getting changed to include the toll provision. (Ali Stevens)

Two still hospitalized after fatal crash in Turbotville

DANVILLE – Two people remain in Geisinger Medical Center following a crash that killed an Elysburg man last week. 24-year-old Marybeth Adams and 19-year-old Heather Wirt, both of Turbotville, are listed in fair condition. They were passengers in a vehicle driven Wednesday morning by 64-year-old Paul Adams.

Adams was crossing the intersection of Route 54 and Route 44 in Turbotville when he was hit by another vehicle. Adams was pronounced dead at the scene. Another passenger, Ellen Edall of Turbotville, was treated and released from the hospital. (Sara Bartlett)

Teen dies following crash with Pa. police cruiser

DANVILLE, Pa. (AP) - A Lycoming County teenager has succumbed to injuries following a traffic crash involving a state police cruiser last week. Officials say 15-year-old Cordell Page died Saturday night following last Monday's crash. Investigators say Page's 16-year-old brother William was driving when their vehicle crossed into the path of a state police cruiser near Williamsport.

The Montoursville brothers were both badly hurt in the crash, which caused their vehicle to catch fire. Officials say William Page remains hospitalized in critical condition. The trooper involved in the crash was not seriously injured. Police say he pulled William Page away from the scene as another trooper extinguished the flames.

Bigs plans for Union-Snyder Habitat for Humanity

SELINSGROVE – The Union-Snyder Habitat for Humanity has been helping provide local families affordable homes since 1994. Families are chosen to have a house built for them, and they must also be a part in the build including helping with construction and paying a mortgage.

Tom Rambo was recently named President of Union-Snyder Habitat for Humanity and says they have launched a two-year partnership with Central Pennsylvania YouthBuild. The program gives young adults a chance to get their lives on the right track and help others.

Rambo also says while the volunteer organization helps people, they need help themselves, including financially and volunteers for construction and non-construction jobs. Rambo says Habitat to break ground by April on their newest family home in Union County. This will be the 18th home built by the local group since their inception in 1994. For more information go to www.ushfh.org. (Sara Bartlett)

Pa. handlers get ready to rouse Punxsutawney Phil

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) - Thousands of people are expected to gather before dawn in western Pennsylvania to await a weather forecast by the world's most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil. German tradition holds that if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on Feb. 2 - the Christian holiday of Candlemas - winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow is seen, legend says spring will come early. The Inner Circle of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club annually announces Phil's forecast at dawn on Gobbler's Knob, about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. The National Weather Service has forecast 15-degree temperatures and overcast skies for the announcement. The Groundhog Club says since 1887 Phil has predicted more winter weather by seeing his shadow nearly 100 times, but there are no records for nine years.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Latest Pennsylvania news, lottery, business and entertainment

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Energy companies racing to unlock a huge Appalachian gas reserve are facing pressure to keep polluted drilling water out of public waterways.  Experts say the Marcellus Shale field could become the largest natural gas field in the country and the first where drilling water is widely recycled or reused. The drilling process involves blasting millions of gallons of water into the earth to break up the shale. Water treatment plants have trouble handling the particle-filled brine left over after the drilling.  Many companies are experimenting with different methods. Range Resources Corp. says it generates savings by reusing wastewater at its wells in southwestern Pennsylvania.

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) - Punxsutawney Phil might be an expert at shadow spotting, but texting? Not so much.  About two hours after the famous groundhog "saw" his shadow and predicted six more weeks of winter, the rodent's inaugural stab at text-messaging appeared. Phil also sent a Twitter update at about that time.  Officials with the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club didn't immediately return calls about Phil's texting skills.  German tradition holds that if a hibernating animal sees its shadow on Feb. 2 - the Christian holiday of Candlemas - winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow is seen, legend says spring will come early.  The Inner Circle annually announces Phil's forecast at dawn on Gobbler's Knob, about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.  

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A former chief state Supreme Court justice has been paid $550,000 by three casinos through an organization that he says sought his help in establishing a statewide trade group.  Former Justice Stephen Zappala told an unusual session before a joint House-Senate panel that he had not lobbied for the casinos or discussed gambling issues with any sitting Supreme Court justices.  Zappala appeared with other Pennsylvania Casino Association officials to answer questions from legislators over why the group wasn't registered under the state's lobbyist disclosure law.  Prominent Philadelphia lawyer Richard Sprague started the association in 2007 and says he recruited Zappala because casino executives were more likely to listen to him.  So far, only three of the state's 12 casino licensees have joined the group.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A panel investigating the "kids-for-cash" scandal in Luzerne County may pursue a contempt citation against the state Judicial Conduct Board if the board refuses to turn over information about a judge charged with corruption.  The Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice has issued a subpoena to the conduct board to turn over documents related to a pair of anonymous complaints filed against former Luzerne County Judge Michael Conahan in 2004 and 2006.  The commission wants to know what the conduct board did to investigate the allegations against Conahan, who is facing federal charges that he accepted millions of dollars in kickbacks to send juveniles to for-profit detention centers.  Commission chairman John Cleland said Tuesday that the panel may pursue a contempt citation if the conduct board fails to turn over the information it wants.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The state's victim advocate says a special panel should remember thousands of what she called "original victims" allegedly harmed by juveniles whose cases were tossed out as a result of a northeastern Pennsylvania criminal justice scandal. Carol Lavery told the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice on Monday that she has gotten letters from people who say they lost family heirlooms to burglaries or have children who were assaulted. They say they now have no record of ever having taken their cases to court. Former Luzerne County judges Mark Ciavarella Jr. and Michael Conahan are awaiting trial on charges of taking $2.8 million in kickbacks to place youth offenders in for-profit detention facilities. The state Supreme Court last fall vacated the convictions of juvenile defendants in some 6,500 cases.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A state prosecutor in a legislative corruption trial in Harrisburg says former House Democratic whip Mike Veon helped plan an elaborate conspiracy to spend taxpayer money on campaigns and other illegal uses. Deputy prosecutor Patrick Blessington made his opening statement Monday at the trial of Veon and three of his aides. Blessington said Veon helped create a plan to motivate legislative employees to pitch in on campaigns. He said that over three years, the bonuses-for-campaigning cash amounted to $1.4 million and was a reason why the House Democrats were able to win back a House majority. Veon lawyer Dan Raynak, attacked how prosecutors have handled the investigation and said they asked questions during the grand jury sessions that let witnesses know the answers they wanted to hear.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Gov. Ed Rendell says Pennsylvania hospitals are volunteering to accept gravely wounded Haitians. Rendell said Monday that at least 11 hospitals in Pennsylvania are responding to a request by the U.S. military last week. Carolyn Scanlan of the Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania says the wounded Haitian earthquake victims could include amputees and paraplegics. It's not clear when exactly they'll arrive. That's because the federal government is now saying it has activated more parts of its National Disaster Medical System. State officials say that means teams from the federal government, and not Pennsylvania, will screen rescued Haitians getting off military flights and decide when and where they are treated. Officials say the list of hospitals is likely to grow as the federal government searches for volunteers.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Republican Senate hopeful Pat Toomey raised more money than incumbent Arlen Specter in the last quarter of 2009, but Specter still appears to have the financial edge. Campaign finance reports on file Monday showed Toomey raised $1.7 million from October through December and ended the year with $2.8 million on hand. Specter raised $1.1 million and sent out $602,000 in refunds - mostly to contributors unhappy with his switch from the GOP to the Democratic Party last April. Still, the fifth-term senator reported having $8.7 million on hand. Before he can compete in the general election, Specter must beat a May primary challenge by U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak. Sestak has not yet filed his year-end campaign finance report, but he had nearly $5 million at the end of September.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Bake sales, chicken barbecues, fish fries and other charitable food sales would be safe from state health inspections under a bill on its way to the state House of Representatives. The state Senate on Monday passed the bill unanimously. The bill is in response to a cease-and-desist order delivered last spring at St. Cecilia's Church in Rochester, near Pittsburgh. Church officials say volunteers were cutting slices of homemade pies to sell at a fundraiser when a state food safety inspector warned them that selling baked goods made in an unlicensed kitchen is illegal. The Agriculture Department says the inspector was just doing his job from the perspective of public health.

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama wants to save $115 million this year - and $1.2 billion over 10 years - by eliminating payments to states and Indian tribes that have completed cleanup of abandoned coal mines. Obama calls the proposal common sense: Why pay states to clean up mines that have already been cleaned up? But eliminating the program may not be so easy. Obama tried the same thing last year and was rebuffed. Lawmakers from mining states say the money is needed to create jobs and to clean up other mines, including hard rock mines, that continue to pose a danger. Democratic Sen. Max Baucus of Montana says the proposal is a bad idea in the midst of a recession. He and five other lawmakers from both parties vow to keep the program.

BALTIMORE (AP) - Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts would get $13 million more under President Obama's newly released budget. While the federal Environmental Protection Agency's overall budget would shrink slightly, funding for the bay, Mississippi River and Great Lakes would increase. The increase would bring funding for EPA's Chesapeake Bay Program to $63 million. A budget summary released by the White House says the increased Chesapeake Bay funding supports Obama's May executive order, which calls for the development of a bay restoration strategy. The EPA budget summary says the increased funding will support the federal agency's regulatory, permitting, modeling and reporting efforts.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Updates on the latest in business

Dow: 10,276.22, up 90.69

S&P 500: 1,100.28, up 11.09

NASDAQ: 2,185.77, up 14.57

NEW YORK (AP) - Stocks are on the rise today, building upon yesterday's gains. Investors appear to have been cheered by word that pending home sales were up 1 percent in December.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Top administration officials today are working to sell President Barack Obama's proposed $3.8 trillion budget to lawmakers. Republicans generally contend it doesn't go far enough to trim deficits while increasing taxes too much.

DETROIT (AP) - Ford's sales rose 25 percent in January. It was helped in part by Toyota's decision to halt U.S. sales of eight popular models because of faulty gas pedal systems. Toyota says its U.S. sales fell 16 percent.

ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Greece's prime minister vows to follow "to the letter" an austerity program to cut debt. That promise comes as the European Union readies plans to closely monitor Athens' performance while possibly demanding more cutbacks.

EVERETT, Wash. (AP) - Boeing will begin fatigue testing of its new 787 aircraft by the middle of the year in Washington state. Boeing says the tests will help determine the expected lifetime of the new plane, which has been delayed several times because of production problems.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Pennsylvania Lottery Numbers

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn on Tuesday:

 Midday Big 4

     7-0-7-0

 Midday Number

     0-4-1

 Midday Quinto

     2-5-1-1-6

 Treasure Hunt

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn on Monday:

Big 4 4-8-1-9

Cash 5 01-08-32-35-36

Daily Number 5-2-3

Evening Quinto 4-0-0-2-7

Midday Big 4 5-9-9-4

Midday Number 4-4-4

Midday Quinto 6-5-7-6-7

Mix and Match 06-15-12-17-03

Treasure Hunt 10-19-22-25-29

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

'Avatar,' 'The Hurt Locker' lead Oscar nominations

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) - The science-fiction sensation "Avatar" and the war-on-terror thriller "The Hurt Locker" lead the Academy Awards with nine nominations each, including best picture and director for James Cameron and ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow.  For the first time the Oscars feature 10 best-picture contenders instead of the usual five.  Also nominated for best-picture Tuesday: "District 9"; the animated comedy "Up"; the World War II saga "Inglourious Basterds"; the football drama "The Blind Side"; the recession tale "Up in The Air," the 1960s drama "A Serious Man," and the teen tales "An Education," and "Precious."  Acting nominees include Sandra Bullock for "The Blind Side," Jeff Bridges for "Crazy Heart," Mo'Nique for "Precious" and Christoph Waltz for "Inglourious Basterds."

Usher, Shakira, Keys to perform at All-Star game

NEW YORK (AP) - No Valentine's Day date this year? How about spending the evening with Usher, Alicia Keys and Shakira?  The Grammy winners are all set to perform during the NBA All-Star game on Feb. 14. The game will air live at 8 p.m. EST on TNT. Shakira will perform two songs from her latest CD, "She Wolf"; Keys will perform new and old hits. The divas will go on during the halftime show.  Usher will sing a new song, the dance jam "More," during the introductions of the NBA all-stars. The tune is from his upcoming album, "Raymond v. Raymond." The game, which will take place at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, will go on before the largest crowd ever to attend a basketball game, according to a statement from the NBA.

Super Bowl foods

Marmot Day-Alaska

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Alaska now has its own version of Groundhog Day. Then-Gov. Sarah Palin signed a bill last year to make every Feb. 2 Marmot Day in Alaska. The bill was introduced by Sen. Linda Menard, a Wasilla Republican. Because there are no groundhogs in Alaska, Menard says it made sense for the ground squirrel to become Alaska's version of Punxsutawney Phil, the Pennsylvania groundhog famed for his winter weather forecasts. Menard's bill didn't give marmots any weather forecasting duties, but she hopes the state will create educational activities around the animal.

DOG SHOOTS MAN

LOS BANOS, Calif. (AP) - Man takes dog hunting -- dog shoots man. Authorities in central California say a hunter was wounded by his best friend, a female Labrador retriever. The Merced County Sheriff's Department says hunter had set down his shotgun to pick up some duck decoys. The dog stepped on the gun, releasing the safety and causing it to shoot. The hunter was hit in the back by some shotgun pellets. He was treated and released from a local hospital. Authorities aren't releasing the names of the hunter or the dog.

OSCAR NOMINATIONS ARE THIS MORNING

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) - "Avatar" seems a lock for a best picture nomination when the announcement is made early this morning. This year, there are 10 nominees for best picture. The Oscar people were hoping this will attract films beyond the usual art-house fare and translate into more people watching the Oscars show March 7th. But, "Avatar" might have made it into a top-5 without the expanding the category. Either way, "The Hurt Locker" is expected to be nominated along with "Precious" and "Inglourious Basterds.

SUPER BOWL ADS SELL OUT

NEW YORK (AP) - Commercials for the Super Bowl are sold out. CBS says average prices are better than last year, with some 30-second spots topping $3 million apiece. The network says it sold the last available slot yesterday morning, six days before kickoff. That's a few days ahead of schedule. Last year, NBC still had two 30-second spots remaining two days before the game. It only sold out the day before the game.