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Man learns casino losses not deductible
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa., Jan. 27 (UPI) -- A prominent U.S. animal rights group sent a letter to the handlers of Pennsylvania's famous groundhog, imploring them to replace it with an animatronic.
Gemma Vaughan, an Animals in Entertainment Specialist with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, wrote in the letter to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club saying keeping Punxsutawney Phil on display year-round is a "cruel" way to treat the animal, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Wednesday.
"Make the compassionate decision to use an animatronic Phil and retire the live groundhogs who are used for Groundhog Day activities to a sanctuary," Vaughan wrote. "Tradition is no excuse for cruelty."
Bill Deeley, the president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, called the request "crazy."
"Phil is probably treated better than the average child in Pennsylvania," Deeley said. "He's got air conditioning in the summer, his pen is heated in winter ... He has everything but a TV in there. What more do you want?"
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MIAMI, Feb. 9 (UPI) --
Ronnie Smith, former trumpet player for the disco/funk group K.C. and the Sunshine Band, has died in a Florida hospital, his family said.
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TACOMA, Wash., Feb. 9 (UPI) --
The mother of Josh Powell, who killed himself and his sons in a fire in Washington state, said in divorce papers he exhibited disturbing behavior as a teenager.
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XINXIANG CITY, China, Feb. 9 (UPI) --
A set of parents in China said they expected a large baby, but they were shocked when their son came out weighing a potentially record-setting 15 1/2 pounds.
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ABUJA, Nigeria, Feb. 9 (UPI) --
A Nigerian militant group said a claim that it wasn't responsible for an attack on an oil pipeline is propaganda from state authorities.
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