Christie says he sought answers on lane closures

Gov. Chris Christie said he started asking staff members to get more details about traffic jams in the northern New Jersey town of Fort Lee last year soon after they were over and he heard they were a source of contention. He came under a new round of scrutiny last week after the lawyer for a former Christie ally wrote a letter saying "Evidence exists" that Christie knew about major traffic jams caused by closing lanes approaching the bridge in Fort Lee, a plot said to have been undertaken for political retribution. The lawyer for David Wildstein, who was Christie's No. 2 man at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the bridge, did not give any other details about the evidence. Christie said his office was among those handing over documents over time.
Source: SEATTLE TIMES


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Chris Christies traffic problems New Jersey legislature wade through thousands of documents to get to bottom of the George Washington Bridge scandal - INDEPENDENT
Christie to speak at Chicago economic club Feb 11 - SAN FRAN CHRONICLE
Christie Says Unequivocally No Knowledge of Lane Closures - ABC
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie admits may have heard about bridge traffic jams - TELEGRAPH
Christie Bridge accusations a game of gotcha - AL JAZEERA
A Tale of Two Bullies Why Chris Christie Is No Lyndon Johnson - THE ATLANTIC
Governor Christie denies knowing about NJ lane closures on radio show - REUTERS

California university defends response to hazing allegations

SAN FRANCISCO - A California university facing criticism over its handling of hazing accusations involving an African-American student on campus last fall acted within its policies when responding to the incident, a fact-finding report showed on Monday. "The timing left the impression that the university's senior leaders were uncaring," the report said. Shortly after the victim's parents complained, a residential coordinator filed an anonymous report about the harassment to university police. The university came under scrutiny following news reports of the events later in the fall.
Source: REUTERS


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California governor slams GOP water proposal - AL JAZEERA
California wildlife officials seek cougar that mauled homeless man - REUTERS
California weighs giving tax break to space exploration firms - REUTERS
3rd body found in California - CNN
California college to offer nonapproved meningitis vaccine - FOX NEWS
Kelp off California coast to be tested for Fukushima radiation - FOX NEWS
California drought could force key water system to cut deliveries - LOS ANGELES TIMES
California snowpack hits record low - LOS ANGELES TIMES

Super Bowl is 5th-best despite worst blowout since '93

The Seattle Seahawks' dominant performance in Super Bowl XLVIII, defeating the Denver Broncos 43-8, was watched by an average audience of 111.5 million people, more than any television program in U.S. history, the NFL announced Monday. The game surpassed the previous mark of 111.3 million set by a much more closely contested Super Bowl XLVI on NBC. The game is also now the most-watched program ever on FOX, breaking the 111.0 million viewer mark the network set for Super Bowl XLV. Three of the last four Super Bowls set average viewership records. Super Bowl XLVIII posted a 46.4/69, matching the household rating and share for Super Bowl XLVII a year ago, according to fast national figures issued Monday by Nielsen, and both, along with Super Bowl XVIII and XIX tie, as the seventh highest-rated Super Bowls ever. Interest in the game, the first Super Bowl ever played in an outdoor, cold-weather location, and the nation's No. 1 media market, was unprecedented.
Source: CHICAGO TRIBUNE


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Obama defends record in preSuper Bowl interview - PBS NEWSHOUR
China Just Aired a TV Program Seven Times Bigger Than the Super Bowl - THE ATLANTIC
Watch From an Online Gym to the Hits and Misses of Super Bowl - ABC
Wonkblog One quarter of all Super Bowl ads were made by this one company - WASHINGTON POST
Full Episode GMA 21 Get Ready For the Super Bowl Advertisement Blitz - ABC
Lawyers Flaming Sledgehammer Super Bowl Ad Is Mega Metal - ABC
Ted the Boss Reacts After Super Bowl I Quit Ad - ABC
Kate Upton and Justin Verlander Reunite for Super Bowl Weekend - ABC

Super Bowl champions subdued as they arrive at Sea-Tac

The Super Bowl champions' Delta plane arrived around 6 p.m. Monday to a crowd of at least 60 family members, friends and airport employees waiting on the airport ramp. First off the plane was Coach Pete Carroll, who arrived to cheers from a crowd that had been waiting for more than an hour. The team has been scheduled to arrive at Sea-Tacoma International Airport earlier in the day, but the plane made a detour in Minneapolis for a crew change and de-icing. Later, despite the urging of Renton Police that fans stay away, dozens were gathered near the intersection of Lake Washington Boulevard North and Seahawks Way to greet the team.
Source: SEATTLE TIMES


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Obama defends record in preSuper Bowl interview - PBS NEWSHOUR
In Transit Blog New York Hotels Have Rooms for Super Bowl Weekend - NEW YORK TIMES
China Just Aired a TV Program Seven Times Bigger Than the Super Bowl - THE ATLANTIC
Watch From an Online Gym to the Hits and Misses of Super Bowl - ABC
Wonkblog One quarter of all Super Bowl ads were made by this one company - WASHINGTON POST
Full Episode GMA 21 Get Ready For the Super Bowl Advertisement Blitz - ABC
Lawyers Flaming Sledgehammer Super Bowl Ad Is Mega Metal - ABC
Ted the Boss Reacts After Super Bowl I Quit Ad - ABC

Seahawks-Broncos Super Bowl TV Ratings Top 111 Million

"Downton Abbey," the British period drama, went once more into the breach Sunday night, unafraid, as so many other competitors were, to take on the Super Bowl with an original episode. The show was rewarded with a slightly bigger audience than it drew last year, 6.8 million viewers, up from 6.6 million. The numbers are down from the 8.2 million who watched the previous episode of "Downton," undoubtedly because some viewers drifted to the game. The powers of PBS did try to kick up a little extra interest this year with a social media campaign on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, referring to "Downton" as the "Drama Bowl.".
Source: GOOGLE NEWS


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12 Photos That Capture The Euphoria Of Celebrating The Seahawks Super Bowl Win - HUFFINGTON
Obama defends record in preSuper Bowl interview - PBS NEWSHOUR
In Transit Blog New York Hotels Have Rooms for Super Bowl Weekend - NEW YORK TIMES
China Just Aired a TV Program Seven Times Bigger Than the Super Bowl - THE ATLANTIC
Watch From an Online Gym to the Hits and Misses of Super Bowl - ABC
Wonkblog One quarter of all Super Bowl ads were made by this one company - WASHINGTON POST
Full Episode GMA 21 Get Ready For the Super Bowl Advertisement Blitz - ABC
Facebook Wants to Be a Super Bowl News Hub - ABC

Texas mattress merchant lost $7 million Super Bowl bet with customers

Jim McIngvale, known as "Mattress Mack," ran a 10-day promotion at his two Gallery Furniture stores promising customers their money back if the Seahawks beat the Denver Broncos in the National Football League championship. McIngvale said about 1,000 people participated, buying an average of $7,000 worth of furniture. McIngvale is well known in the Houston area for attention-grabbing commercials over the past three decades. McIngvale has given talks to generations of Houston-area youth about his experience with addiction.
Source: REUTERS


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Obama defends record in preSuper Bowl interview - PBS NEWSHOUR
In Transit Blog New York Hotels Have Rooms for Super Bowl Weekend - NEW YORK TIMES
China Just Aired a TV Program Seven Times Bigger Than the Super Bowl - THE ATLANTIC
Watch From an Online Gym to the Hits and Misses of Super Bowl - ABC
Wonkblog One quarter of all Super Bowl ads were made by this one company - WASHINGTON POST
Full Episode GMA 21 Get Ready For the Super Bowl Advertisement Blitz - ABC
Lawyers Flaming Sledgehammer Super Bowl Ad Is Mega Metal - ABC
Ted the Boss Reacts After Super Bowl I Quit Ad - ABC

Bruno Mars and Radio Shack bail out a lame Super Bowl

Just one-sided, coma-inducing football, interrupted by mostly one-dimensional, coma-inducing commercials. It's a perfect, spot-on piece of commercial creativity, and I've now watched it on YouTube at least a half-dozen times. So how does the company fight back? By running another ad with the same couple, and this time they're expecting a baby. Loser: Anyone who purchased expensive ad time in the fourth quarter of one of the biggest blowouts in Super Bowl history.
Source: CNN


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Obama defends record in preSuper Bowl interview - PBS NEWSHOUR
The 7 Best Super Bowl Hotels in New York City - ABC
In Transit Blog New York Hotels Have Rooms for Super Bowl Weekend - NEW YORK TIMES
China Just Aired a TV Program Seven Times Bigger Than the Super Bowl - THE ATLANTIC
Watch From an Online Gym to the Hits and Misses of Super Bowl - ABC
Wonkblog One quarter of all Super Bowl ads were made by this one company - WASHINGTON POST
Full Episode GMA 21 Get Ready For the Super Bowl Advertisement Blitz - ABC
Facebook Wants to Be a Super Bowl News Hub - ABC