Winter storm Blair has wreaked havoc across the Midwest and East Coast this week, causing massive school closures and leaving millions of Americans grappling with dangerous travel conditions. Beginning Friday and expected to last through Monday, the storm has dumped heavy snow and ice across regions like Ohio, Maryland, D.C., and Kansas.
People make their way during a winter snow storm in Washington, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)(AP)
School closures and state of emergencies
With winds gusting up to 45 mph, local authorities have been forced to take action urging residents to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. Several states have declared an emergency while power outages have left thousands of customers in Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana in the dark. From Missouri to Maryland, storm warnings have been issued.
Impacted states
According to Newsweek, all public schools in Washington D.C. have been closed, coinciding with President-elect Donald Trump’s meeting with U.S. Congress.
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Missouri: Heavy snowfall of 10 to 14 inches in parts of central and northeast Missouri has led to school closures, especially in counties like Jackson and Vinton, Newsweek reports. School closures in Boone County and St. Louis County were also announced.
Kansas: Kansas is experiencing blizzard-like conditions. Travels are completely disrupted. As a result, schools across the state, including Shawnee County, Wichita Public Schools, and Lawrence Public Schools, have announced closure.
Indiana: Indiana is suffering a massive power outage, meanwhile emergency has been declared. Several school districts have been affected, with Indianapolis Public Schools, Perry Township Schools, and Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation all closing.
Also read: Major US winter blast shuts down government offices in several states, stirs dangerous travel conditions
Kentucky: Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency, and many school districts have canceled classes. Schools in Jefferson County and districts in Oldham, Bullitt, Shelby, Spencer, and Greater Clark counties have all closed. Fayette County Public Schools and numerous other districts in Kentucky have followed suit.
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Maryland: Heavy snowfall has hit Maryland. Governor Wes Moore declared a state of emergency as the storm began affecting the state.. Schools in Baltimore City, Cecil County, Harford County, Carroll County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County have all closed due to the storm’s impact.
Washington D.C.: In the nation’s capital, Winter Storm Blair has caused all public schools to close, as the city prepares for snow and bitter cold temperatures.
What to know about Winter storm Blair
According to the National Weather Service, the winter storm which has been named Blair could bring “the heaviest snowfall in at least a decade.” According to BBC, AccuWeather forecaster Dan DePodwin said: “This could lead to the coldest January for the US since 2011.”
Also read: Kamala Harris to certify Trump’s win four years after Capitol attack, calls her role a ‘sacred obligation’: Watch
The storm has severely affected the travel sector. Hundreds of flights have been canceled, and many major roads and highways have been declared hazardous due to snow and ice accumulation. Power outages have affected hundreds of thousands of residents in Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana. Additionally, frigid temperatures in southern states have led to freeze warnings in areas like Florida.
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“Whiteout conditions will make travel extremely hazardous, with impassable roads and a high risk of motorists becoming stranded,” the NWS said.
Ohio Supreme Court Justice Joe Deters was formally sworn in Tuesday as he begins the six-year term he was elected to in November.
In remarks during a public investiture ceremony, Deters, who was the longest-tenured prosecutor in Hamilton County history before being appointed to the high court in December 2022, criticized “judicial activism.” He said it’s crucial that judges as well as Supreme Court justices “stay in their lane.”
Deters said a justice’s job is to interpret laws, determine if they’re constitutional and protect the rights of individuals. It does not include, he said, “inserting ourselves and our personal beliefs into the process.”
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“If you don’t care for a law, run for the legislature and change it,” he said. “Don’t ask me, or us, to do that. That is not our job.”
The ceremony was held in the Supreme Court’s grand courtroom in Columbus. It featured remarks from Deters’ close friend, WLW radio host Bill Cunningham, who said he first met Deters in 1985 after Deters lost his first race for political office, for Springfield Township trustee. The winner: John Waksmundksi.
Deters, then in his late-20s, had asked Cunningham if he could appear on the radio show. “I said, ‘Not really,’” Cunningham recalled.
He noted that two decades later, Deters was well-known enough that he won a race for county prosecutor as a write-in candidate. The two speak nearly every day, Cunningham said.
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“A citizen could not have a better judge,” he said, “and a man could not have a better friend than Joe Deters.”
Mike and Fran DeWine, Justice Shanahan in attendance
Justice Megan Shanahan, a former Hamilton County judge who was elected to the Supreme Court in November along with Deters, watched the proceedings with the other justices. Also in attendance were Gov. Mike DeWine, First Lady Fran DeWine and Attorney General Dave Yost.
Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy administered the oath of office.
Deters, 67, served as county prosecutor in two separate tenures − from 1992 to 1998 and 2005 to 2023. He also was elected as Ohio Treasurer in 1998 and 2002.
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In 2023, he became the first Ohio Supreme Court justice in 30 years to join the court without prior experience as a judge.
Among those in attendance were his wife, longtime WCPO news anchor Tanya O’Rourke, and his children. Two of his siblings, brother Dennis Deters and sister Nancy Slayton, spoke at the ceremony. Joe Deters is the oldest of eight children.
A graduate of St. Xavier High School, he holds a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from the University of Cincinnati. In 1982, the same year he received his law degree, he got a job with the prosecutor’s office.
Last week, the Dallas Cowboys parted ways with running back Ezekiel Elliott. The former Ohio State star requested his release so he could pursue an opportunity with a playoff contender as his years in the league are growing shorter. It didn’t take long for Elliott to find a new home.
The former Buckeye will be heading to the West Coast to join the L.A. Chargers. Los Angeles is currently prepping for a Wild Card game with the Houston Texans. Zeke may be past his prime in being a productive runner in the NFL, but his veteran leadership, short-yardage prowess, and excellent pass-blocking ability make him a valuable asset for the Chargers.
Elliott will be joining former teammate Joey Bosa in L.A. Bosa was the No. 3 pick by the Chargers in 2016 followed by Elliott as the No. 4 player drafted. He will also join fellow Buckeye running back J.K. Dobbins who has had a resurgence with Los Angeles after an injury-filled time in Baltimore.
It remains to be seen if Zeke will be able to have an impact on such short notice but he’s always been a guy willing to do the dirty work. That alone may get him some reps.
The Chargers take on the Texans in Houston on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET.
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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Devin Royal had 19 points and Bruce Thornton scored five of his 18 in a second overtime as Ohio State rallied to beat Minnesota 89-88 on Monday night.
Thornton hit a 3-pointer for Ohio State (10-5, 2-2 Big Ten Conference) to begin the second extra period, Aaron Bradshaw followed with a three-point play and Ques Glover capped a 7-0 run with a layup to give the Buckeyes the lead for good.
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Minnesota (8-7, 0-4) had a chance to win in the first overtime, but Mike Mitchell Jr. — a 91% free-throw shooter — missed twice with six seconds left and the Golden Gophers leading 73-71. John Mobley Jr. made two free throws with four seconds remaining to force a second extra period.
Royal stole the ball and dunked with five seconds left in regulation but missed on his chance for a three-point play, forcing overtime tied at 64.
Royal made just 5 of 14 shots from the floor, but he hit nine of his 11 free throws and added seven rebounds. Thornton made two 3-pointers and went 8 for 9 at the foul line. Glover had 13 points off the bench and Mobley scored 12. Micah Parrish added 11 points and seven rebounds.
Parker Fox had 21 points to lead the Golden Gophers. Lu’cye Patterson totaled 20 points, six rebounds and four assists. Mitchell and freshman reserve Isaac Asuma both scored 18 — a season-high for Asuma.
Fox scored 11 to help Minnesota take a 28-27 lead into halftime.
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Minnesota made only 12 of 27 free throws, while Ohio State sank 29 of 33.
Ohio State will host No. 15 Oregon on Thursday. Minnesota travels to play Wisconsin on Friday.
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