User:Jnmornout/Wikinews Shorts: February 2, 2014

Wikinews Shorts: February 2, 2013
A compilation of brief news reports for Sunday, February 2, 2014.

Super Bowl XLVIII security increases
Security measures for the US Super Bowl XLVIII have intensified this year in order to protect fans and players. Officials are focusing on monitoring the football stadium in New Jersey as well as “Super Bowl Boulevard,” where fans are enjoying the festivities in downtown New York City.

Already this weekend, officials have found traces of white powder in approximately five hotels in New Jersey, which were found to be non-toxic. They also are anticipating the massive amount of travelers between New York and New Jersey on game day, and are planning to closely monitor all of the travelers to ensure their safety.

Sources

Actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman dies of overdose
Oscar-winning US actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman was found dead this morning in a Manhattan apartment, lying on the bathroom floor with a needle still in his arm. Officials believe Hoffman’s heroin overdose to be accidental, however.

Hoffman was currently working on shooting The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 2, on which he played the gamekeeper Plutarch Heavensbee, and his death is not anticipated to affect the release of the final two movies of the series.

Hoffman had been in rehab twice, 2006 and 2012, for substance abuse, though it had been fairly well known by his neighbors and friends that he was continuing to abuse drugs.

Sources

Japanese pitcher Masahiro signs with Yankees
The New York Yankees have finally agreed and signed a seven year, US$155 million deal with Japanese pitching sensation Masahiro Tanaka. This deal places as the second highest contract made to a Major League Baseball (MLB) free agent pitcher. Tanaka has never played for a US MLB team and will have high expectations to fill from the team and fans.

In order to ensure Tanaka could make it to the United States in time for spring training—which begins February 14—the Yankees called upon Senator Chuck Schumer to speed up the process of getting Tanaka a visa.

Sources