MIDDAY REPORT: Pens roll to Cup finals; new grad takes home $55,000; student writer honored

PITTSBURGH Penguins fans are living large today after their team thrashed the Carolina Hurricanes.

It's a return trip to the Stanley Cup finals for the Pens and Sidney Crosby, and you get the feeling this is their year after this series sweep.

"We didn't touch (the trophy) last year, and things didn't go the way we wanted," Crosby said. "I thought we'd change it up this year."

Next up will be Detroit or Chicago, with play continuing in that series. Until then Pens fans can celebrate, and the Carolina win leads the midday report on another damp day in Happy Valley.

Thanks for joining us.

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CONGRATULATIONS are in order for Tom Sabbatelli, recent Penn State graduate and "Wheel of Fortune" champion.

He won $54,900 in cash and prizes on a show featuring college students that was taped in February.

"They were going crazy,” Sabbatelli said of his family and friends, gathered at a Long Island, N.Y., restaurant watching the show aired on Memorial Day. “Any time I solved the puzzle or anything good happened, they were definitely cheering.”

Be sure to read Chris Rosenblum's story today.

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CONGRATULATIONS also are in order for Pauline Holdsworth, State High senior, who won the Portfolio Gold Award, the highest honor given by the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers through its Scholastic Art and Writing Awards program.

She's one of 12 students nationally and joins a great group. Read Ed Mahon's story for details.

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WANT to save money while grocery shopping? Be sure to print coupons when you visit us online. Linked here is the special page.

Also linked here is the full reporting, photos and video from Mexico by Penn State international reporting students. Four stories ran in the CDT and the full report is online.

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IN sports, meet the athletes of the week, as picked by our sports staff, and meet the winners of the Snyder award in Philipsburg-Osceola.

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IT'S another wet day in Happy Valley. Remember your umbrella.

Have a great Wednesday regardless, everyone.

Look for the midday report from the newsroom each weekday. Send suggestions to bheisse@centredaily.com.