Midday Roundup: Groundhog gives hope to snow-socked states

Get ready for spring. Today is Groundhog Day, and the wily and wise rodent on whom all hopes for an early spring rest has declared winter dead. Beady-eyed forecaster Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his burrow this morning and failed to see his shadow, a sure sign that warmer days are on the way. Midwest residents will be glad to hear it. Heavy snowfall is forecast today in Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Colorado residents are digging out from a storm that dumped more than a foot of snow yesterday in the Denver metro area. But in Gobbler’s Knob, Pa., the thousands of people who gathered to witness the groundhog’s prediction enjoyed clear skies and almost balmy temperatures of 21 degrees Fahrenheit.

Day in court. Comedian Bill Cosby made his first court appearance today in Pennsylvania to face sexual-assault charges. His attorneys hope to persuade the judge to dismiss the case. The charges stem from a 2004 incident for which the district attorney said he had too little evidence to prosecute. Cosby’s accuser, ex-Temple University employee Andrea Constand, filed a civil suit against him, settling for undisclosed terms in 2006. After parts of Cosby’s deposition in that case were released last year, the new Montgomery County district attorney decided to file charges just weeks before the statute of limitations expired. Since then, five-dozen women have come forward with allegations that Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted them in incidents going back as far as the 1960s. Cosby’s attorneys claim he was promised he would not be prosecuted based on his deposition in the Constand case.

Euro deal. British Prime Minister David Cameron said today he is encouraged by European Union efforts to meet his country’s demands to remain part of the 28-nation conglomerate. But British critics of the EU say the proposals don’t go far enough. In a tentative deal that must be approved by EU members at a summit later this month, Britain would be able to block unwanted EU laws and would gain the ability to delay some social-service benefits to incoming migrants. The agreement also offers recognition for the “exceptional situation” Britain faces as the last stop on the migrant road for many fleeing violence in the Middle East—a main motivator for the agreement. Britons could go to the polls as early as June for a referendum that would extract the country from a union that never gained the level of support there it enjoyed in mainland Europe.

Teen killers? Seattle police have arrested three teenagers—ages 13, 16, and 17—for their alleged involvement in a Jan. 26 shooting at a homeless encampment that left two people dead and three others injured. Investigators have not given a motive for the shooting but said they have reason to believe it was “very targeted.” Prosecutors have yet to release the official charges filed against the teens. Seattle’s homeless encampment, known as “The Jungle,” has posed a perennial problem for local officials. It was scheduled for a cleanup a day before the shooting, which took place as Mayor Ed Murray gave a televised speech to defend the city’s approach to homelessness. After the shooting, Murray said the encampment had been “unmanageable and out of control” for 20 years. Three months ago, the city and county declared a state of emergency to deal with the problem.

Fill’r up! For the first time this decade, the average price of gasoline is less than $1.80 per gallon. U.S. motorists enjoyed the lowest gas prices for the month of January since 2009, according to AAA, which notes the national average for a gallon of gas is about 25 cents less than a year ago. That translates to almost $80 million a day in savings. The drop is due in part to crude oil supply outpacing demand. Market analysts expect that with sanctions lifted against Iran, even more oil will flood the market, so retail averages should remain relatively low this year. But AAA warns prices could begin to rise slightly later this month.

WORLD Radio’s Paul Butler contributed to this report.