Pa. Lottery retiring 'Gus the groundhog'

HARRISBURG - Tuesday just wasn't the groundhog's day.

Gus the groundhog, the furry fictional pitchman for the Pennsylvania Lottery, is headed for the unemployment line. Lottery officials say they are retiring the character described as "the second-most-famous groundhog in Pennsylvania."

Executive director Todd Rucci said at a legislative hearing Tuesday that the television campaign featuring Gus ended this month, although he will still appear on the lottery website for the time being. Gus was created in 2004 to help introduce new instant ticket games. - AP