News Stories Fri., Feb. 2, 2018

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s most famous groundhog foresees no early end to winter. The handlers of Punxsutawney Phil said the furry rodent has called for six more weeks of winter after seeing his shadow at dawn Friday.

Madras Girls Basketball Fan Gear can be purchased through Wednesday, February 7th. It is the last chance to purchase the mock jerseys. They are also selling Madras Basketball sweatshirts for the first time. Orders must be prepaid and need to be received by Wednesday next week. Contact coaches or players to order.

SALEM, Oregon — The Oregon State Police is now launching an easier and faster way for citizens to reach dispatch for a non-emergency from your cell phone. All you have to do is dial *OSP. *OSP (*677) is a mobile phone direct call number established to provide the public with a quick, easy to remember number to use for non-emergency reporting of traffic safety, highway hazards & obstructions, minor crashes, and requests for assistance. *OSP is not an emergency number and 9-1-1 still remains the emergency number to call for an emergency. *OSP rings directly into the State Police Dispatch center and is answered by a live dispatcher 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials say flu season continues to get worse, and there are weeks of suffering ahead. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday reported that doctor visits for the flu and hospitalizations were up again. Last week, 42 states reported heavy patient traffic for the flu, up from 39 the week before.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon’s top federal prosecutor will hold a marijuana summit Friday to hear how the state, law enforcement, tribal and industry leaders plan to address a pot surplus that he says has wound up on the black market in other states and is fueling crime. U.S. Attorney Billy Williams laid out his plans for the unprecedented event in a recent newspaper column , saying Oregon has a “massive marijuana overproduction problem” that is attracting cartels and criminal networks and sparking money laundering, violence and environmental woes. The column came shortly after Attorney General Jeff Sessions last month rescinded an Obama administration memo that outlined the steps states with legalized cannabis could take to avoid scrutiny under federal law, where marijuana remains illegal.