Happy New Year 2025

Tag: Pennsylvania

  • Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shaprio mocked for Cowboys dig at Eagles’ Super Bowl parade speech

    Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shaprio mocked for Cowboys dig at Eagles’ Super Bowl parade speech

    Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro couldn’t help bringing up the Dallas Cowboys while celebrating the Philadelphia Eagles Friday. 

    During the Eagles’ victory parade celebrating Sunday’s Super Bowl victory, Shapiro gave a speech in which he suggested the Eagles are “America’s Team.”

    “People love to hate on the Eagles. People love to hate on Philly. I think we became America’s Team in all of this. I hope Dallas hears this,” Shapiro yelled during his speech. 

    Shapiro then reposted a Sports Illustrated article that covered his comments on X. Many critics were quick to mock him for the comments in response. 

    “Crazy thinking about a team that hasn’t won a Super Bowl in 30 years during the parade,” one user wrote. 

    “We don’t want to be America’s team. Why would you think we do? Just stop,” wrote another user.

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    Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in his office in the state Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., Dec. 20, 2023.  (AP Photo/Daniel Shanken)

    Other critics were quick to point out the Eagles share a state with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have a longer history of success than the Eagles, with six Super Bowl wins compared to the Eagles’ two. 

    “They’re not even Pennsylvania’s team,” one user wrote. 

    Another user asked, “If the Steelers win next year…what will you say?”

    Many users pointed out how much time Shapiro and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker took during their speeches. Parker was even booed during hers and was met with chants of “wrap it up!” from fans. 

    “You and the mayor should’ve just said “Go Birds” and then exited the stage. No one was there to see either of you. I said what I said,” one user wrote in response. 

    NFL FANS INTERVENE AFTER RESTAURANT OWNED BY EAGLES’ CJ GARDNER-JOHNSON’S MOM HIT BY UNWARRANTED BAD REVIEWS

    Cherelle Parker

    Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker next to the Vince Lombardi Trophy during the Super Bowl championship parade and rally.  (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

    Another user wrote, “You and Cherelle hogged way too much time at the podium. Nobody wanted to listen to either of you.” 

    Shapiro has come under fire from conservatives after suing President Donald Trump‘s administration Thursday to unfreeze federal funds. Shapiro said the administration’s decision jeopardizes Pennsylvania projects, including “reclaiming abandoned mine land, capping and plugging orphan wells, and lowering consumer costs.” 

    Meanwhile, the Commonwealth is incurring debt on federally approved projects. 

    “The federal government has entered into a contract with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, promising to provide billions of dollars in congressionally approved funding that we have committed to serious needs – like protecting public health; cutting energy costs; providing safe, clean drinking water; and creating jobs in rural communities. With this funding freeze, the Trump administration is breaking that contract, and it’s my job as governor to protect Pennsylvania’s interests,” Shapiro said.  

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    Josh Shapiro

    Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro waves to Eagles fans during the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl victory parade along South Broad Street in Philadelphia, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Daniella Heminghaus/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

    “While multiple federal judges have ordered the Trump administration to unfreeze this funding, access has not been restored, leaving my administration with no choice but to pursue legal action to protect the interests of the Commonwealth and its residents.”

    The Trump administration has called the legal challenges to Trump’s executive orders “an attempt to undermine the will of the American people.” The White House on Thursday dismissed Shapiro’s lawsuit as an extension of the “left’s resistance.” 

    “Radical leftists can either choose to swim against the tide and reject the overwhelming will of the people, or they can get on board and work with President Trump to advance his wildly popular agenda. These lawsuits are nothing more than an extension of the left’s resistance — and the Trump administration is ready to face them in court,” White House principal deputy press secretary Harrison Fields said. 

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    Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.

  • Pennsylvania gov rebuffs PETA’s demands on Punxsutawney Phil: ‘Come and take it’

    Pennsylvania gov rebuffs PETA’s demands on Punxsutawney Phil: ‘Come and take it’

    Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro hit back at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on Friday, 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 will again make the trip to Gobbler’s Knob in Jefferson County on Sunday to witness Phil’s 138th meteorological prediction.

    Shapiro has been on-hand for every Groundhog Day ceremony in Punxsutawney since taking office in 2023.

    PETA CALLS TO END GROUNDHOG DAY TRADITION, REPLACE PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL WITH CAKE

    Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, left, appears with Punxsutawney Phil. (Getty Images)

    PETA President Ingrid Newkirk told the Post that Phil is denied the traditional lifestyle of a groundhog “for a tired old gimmick.”

    Visitors to Punxsutawney year-round can visit Phil and his “wife,” Phyllis, at the borough library. On this reporter’s last visit to the area, the rodents had recently become proud parents to a new baby groundhog, as well.

    While Groundhog Day is considered a national holiday and has even been popularized in the classic 1993 Bill Murray film of the same name, the day — and Phil himself — hold a special place in many Pennsylvanians’ hearts.

    GROUNDHOG DAY QUIZ! HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THE FACTS ABOUT THIS UNIQUE DAY?

    Nineteen other lodges based around the state have held “Versommlinge” for decades, as well. 

    However, three — “#2, Schibbach” in Montgomery County, “#3, Temple U.” in Philadelphia County and “#5, Bind Bush” in Schuylkill County — have gone defunct in recent years as the Pennsylvania German language and culture see a decline in younger generations.

    A March 2024 Versommling for “Lodge #18 an de Forelle Grick” (on Trout Creek) in Slatington featured local beer on tap, a traditional Pennsylvania German supper, stories and riddles from lodge elders told in the Pennsylvania German language, and, of course, representations of Phil himself.

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    Punxsutawney Phil is held in the air

    Punxsutawney Phil. (Getty)

    Until recently, it was the custom of groundhog lodges to forbid English-speaking in favor of “Pennsilfaanisch,” lest the violator toss a nickel in a donation jar on their table.

    Other states’ groundhogs have been less lucky than Phil, as then-New York Mayor Bill de Blasio infamously dropped Staten Island Chuck during a 2014 ceremony in West New Brighton. Chuck later died from internal injuries after appearing to land on his head.

    With the importance Groundhog Day and Phil himself hold to Pennsylvania past-and-present, Bonder said Shapiro will continue to defend the groundhog and his tradition, and will be on hand for future wintertime prognostications in Punxsutawney.

    Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital. 

    He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant. 

    Charles covers media, politics and culture for Fox News Digital.

    Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].