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Will the groundhog see his shadow this year? What to know about Groundhog Day 2024

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Will the groundhog see his shadow this year? What to know about Groundhog Day 2024


Are you hoping for a long, cold winter or an early spring? Soon enough, a four-legged friend of ours will emerge from his burrow, dictating exactly that.

Groundhog Day, taking place Friday, Feb. 2, is right around the corner. With much anticipation, residents across the state of Kentucky are patiently waiting, hoping for some warm weather after a cold front rocked the area in January.

When is Groundhog Day?

Groundhog Day is observed in the U.S. and Canada on Feb. 2 every year and falls on a Friday in 2024.

Will the groundhog see his shadow this year?

After a cold front swept through the state during January, Kentucky residents are ready for plenty of warm weather and sunshine, but will their wishes be granted?

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According to Old Farmer’s Almanac Groundhog Day predictions, everyone might just luck out this year with no more wintry weather. Cloudy skies are anticipated on Feb. 2, meaning everyone’s favorite four-legged friend is unlikely to see his shadow, predicting an early spring.

It’s believed if the groundhog sees his shadow, six more weeks of a long winter will occur, while not seeing his shadow means spring is near.

How to watch Groundhog Day: Punxsutawney Phil isn’t the only star of holiday

Why do we celebrate Groundhog Day?

Groundhog Day is a unique tradition dating back to European and ancient times. According to Old Farmer’s Almanac, the day was originally a Celtic festival called Imbolc. The celebration signified the Sun was halfway to the spring equinox, meaning a new season and light were nearby.

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The day is also often referred to as St. Brigid’s Day, referring to the Celtic goddess Brigantia, as well as Ireland’s patron saint, also a Christian saint, Brigid of Kildare.

Christian festival Candlemas is also observed on Feb. 2, named after the lit candles, and larger significance of light over dark.

Historically, a bear or a badger was used to dictate an early spring or a long winter, but when German immigrants traveled to the U.S. in the 1800s, they were difficult to find. However, there were lots of groundhogs, becoming the new face of the tradition.

Ready to kiss winter goodbye? Here’s when the first day of spring is in 2024.

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What’s happening in Kentucky for Groundhog Day 2024?

Second Chances Wildlife Center, a Kentucky nonprofit animal rehabilitation and education center, is hosting their Groundhog Gathering from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 2, according to their website. For $5 per person, attendees can meet Josie Burrow, the center’s groundhog and “licensed educational ambassador”, according to their website.

Other inclusions are a brief educational presentation, groundhog-themed crafts and snacks, and access to the gift shop.

Second Chances Wildlife Center is located at 487 Gentry Lane in Mount Washington and tickets can be purchased through the organization’s website via Eventbrite.



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Kentucky State Police

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Bear Branch, KY (January 24, 2026) – On Friday, January 23, 2026, at approximately 6:58 p.m., Kentucky State Police Post 13, Hazard, was notified of a structure fire on Turkey Foot Road in the Bear Branch community of Leslie County.

Kentucky State Police, along with Leslie County Fire Services and the Leslie County Sheriff’s Office, responded to the scene. After the fire was extinguished, the body of a deceased individual was discovered inside the residence. Detectives were notified and initiated an investigation. Preliminary findings indicate the deceased is believed to be the resident, Rex Smallwood, 68, of Bear Branch. Mr. Smallwood was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Leslie County Coroner’s Office.

At this time, no foul play is suspected. The remains have been transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. This incident remains under investigation by Detective Darrell Hicks.

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Kentucky Gov Clowns Ted Cruz for Getting Duped By European Pic: ‘Sorry For Missing This… Been Busy Leading My State’

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Kentucky Gov Clowns Ted Cruz for Getting Duped By European Pic: ‘Sorry For Missing This… Been Busy Leading My State’


(Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images)

Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) had a laugh at Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-TX) expense over a fake X post accusing the governor of being out of town during the massive winter storm that brought dangerous amounts of snow and ice to many parts of the U.S.

Cruz posted a “thinking” emoji along with a retweet of a post by the Kentucky Freedom Coalition showing Beshear and his wife posing in front of a church in Europe.

The account, that’s also followed by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) posted, “The liberal media went wild when Ted Cruz wasn’t in Texas for the major freeze a few years back. Well, Kentucky is in a declared emergency and @AndyBeshearKYis touring Europe. The media won’t say a word though.”

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Beshear responded, “Sorry for missing this earlier, @tedcruz. Been busy leading my state’s emergency response all day. From Kentucky.”

Washington Post reporter Aaron Blake added some additional context, writing, “This photo of Beshear in Europe is a full week old. He gave a briefing in Kentucky today.”

According to WKYT, Beshear spent last week in Europe “with a delegation from Team Kentucky, attending the World Economic Forum and meeting with company leaders in Finland, Sweden, and Switzerland.”

Cruz famously received massive backlash in 2021 after escaping to sunny Cancun as a brutal winter storm left millions of his constituents “stranded in sub-freezing temperatures without electricity and water,” according to The Hill.

The contrite senator returned to Texas within 24-hours of being spotted on his travels. Cruz eventually apologized, saying, “It was obviously a mistake, and in hindsight, I wouldn’t have done it.”

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This week, as Texas braced once again for an onslaught of weather, a Texas political strategist posted, “Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) was spotted earlier today, January 20, 2026, on a plane heading to Laguna Beach as the state of Texas braces for a rare ice threat and arctic cold front.”

Of the California trip, a Cruz spokesperson told KXAN that the work trip “was scheduled weeks in advance.”

The spokesperson continued, “He will be back in Texas before the storm is projected to hit.”

Cruz posted that he did, in fact, return to Texas the day before the storm hit.

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This isn’t the first time Cruz has been called out for retweeting a fake post. In 2023, Cruz shared an image of what looked like a shark swimming on a flooded highway in Los Angeles.

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Sunday Headlines: Big week ahead for Kentucky Basketball

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Sunday Headlines: Big week ahead for Kentucky Basketball


The Kentucky Wildcats have some momentum, which seems like a crazy thing to say after where this team was to begin conference play.

The Cats have been playing well, and actually are tied for second in the league following a wild day of SEC basketball yesterday.

However, the Cats will face a pair of big tests this week. The Cats go on the road Tuesday to take on Vanderbilt, who ended their three-game losing skid yesterday by demolishing Mississippi State in Starkville by a score of 88-56. The Commodores were once 16-0 and ranked in the top 10 nationally. They average 90 points per game, so Tuesday night’s showdown in Nashville will be a tall task for the Cats.

Then Kentucky travels to Fayetteville for a matchup with John Calipari’s Arkansas Razorbacks next Saturday. The game won’t have quite the same emotion as Calipari’s return to Rupp Arena last year, but it still holds some extra meaning, at least to the fanbase.

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The Hogs have one of the best freshmen in the country in Darius Acuff, who averages nearly 20 points and 6 assists per game. Acuff scored 31 in yesterday’s win at LSU.

In a perfect world, Kentucky wins both of these matchups, but they’ll most likely enter as underdogs in both. If they somehow manage to win both, it would be a major boost for this team and open up conversations about what this team’s ceiling actually is.

If Kentucky could manage to split these two games, I think it would be considered a success considering the level these teams have played at and both being on the road.

How are you feeling heading into this week?

All of us jumped out of our seats when he made that shot!

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Still a really good crowd at Rupp despite the incoming weather.

Maybe we’ll see them back on the bench soon.

That stretch when he came in was a difference-maker.

There was the airball, and he never really got going.

A big milestone for Rick.

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The AFC North will have 3 new coaches next season.

It seems like KAT and the Knicks are heading toward a split.

He’s about to earn a big payday.

One of the wildest things I’ve seen.



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