WASHINGTON  Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick brought his anti-dogfighting message to Congress on Tuesday, backing legislation that would penalize those who knowingly attend animal fights and allow minors to attend.

Dogs Deserve Better, a Pennsylvania-based animal-rights group, will put a down payment Friday on Michael Vick's former house in Surry County, a spokeswoman for the group said Tuesday. The group plans to pay $176,507 as the down payment but needs much more to finish paying for the house and to make improvements, founder Tamira Thayne said. The asking price for the house is $595,000.

SAN FRANCISCO  Michael Vick and the Humane Society said on Monday that an application built to run on Google Inc.'s Android software glorifies dogfighting.

The cellphone app is called "Dog Wars" and lets players feed, water, train and fight their virtual dogs against others.

Michael Vick’s old high school jersey won’t be put back up on display at Warwick High School, according to a schools spokeswoman. 

NORFOLK A Pennsylvania-based animal-rights group has failed to raise enough money to buy NFL star Michael Vick's former Surry County house and dogfighting compound and turn it into a rehabilitation center for chained and penned dogs.

NORFOLK Michael Vick will be honored during the Southeastern Virginia Arts Association's first Black-Tie Honors Gala next month. Voted The Associated Press 2010 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, Vick is a quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles. He served most of a 23-month prison sentence for his role in a dogfighting operation.

CHICAGO  Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick will not be appearing on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" after all.

A show spokesman said Wednesday representatives of the NFL star called late Tuesday to cancel his appearance for personal reasons. The daytime talk show host's interview with Vick was set to air Thursday, Feb. 24.

CHICAGO

The NFL star whose name became synonymous with dogfighting is scheduled to be a guest on the "The Oprah Winfrey Show."

The daytime talk show host's interview with Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick is set to air Thursday.

SURRY COUNTY Back when Michael Vick owned the place on Moonlight Road, he called it Bad Newz Kennels. Now, an organization against the chaining and penning of dogs wants to call the 15-acre estate the Good Newz Rehab Center. Vick, who grew up in Newport News and is now quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles, sold the property after he was indicted for dog fighting.

DALLAS

A minor ruckus has arisen over a top Dallas official's presentation of a "key to the city" to Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick.

Vick won The Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year award this past season, his second in the NFL since serving 18 months in prison for dogfighting.