In The News 2 February 2025

Six more weeks of winter? Phil says yes; Chuck says no

Punxsutawney Phil woke up on Sunday and saw his shadow, meaning we are destined for six more weeks of winter, according to legend.

Legend has it that if Punxsutawney Phil, perhaps the world's most famous groundhog, sees his shadow then winter will continue for another six weeks, but if he does't see his shadow spring will come early.

Meanwhile, on Friday, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro hit back at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), after the activist group sent a letter to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club promising to send them a vegan "weather reveal cake" if they agreed to stop pulling Punxsutawney Phil out of his burrow for his Feb. 2 prognostication.

"Come and take it," Shapiro tweeted in response to a New York Post story on PETA's demand.

Manuel Bonder, a spokesman for Shapiro, told Fox News Digital the governor stands by his comments and said he again made the trip to Gobbler's Knob in Jefferson County on Sunday to witness Phil's 138th meteorological prediction.

• In Ohio, Marion's famous groundhog, Buckeye Chuck, has predicted an early spring. Chuck saw cloudy skies and did not see his shadow early Sunday, meaning that we may have an early spring, at least according to a centuries-old annual tradition in the U.S.

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