A powerful bomb cyclone slammed the Eastern Seaboard, producing blizzard-like conditions across the Carolinas and parts of the mid-Atlantic. Heavy snowfall and gale-force winds reduced visibility, snarled travel and shut roads. Airlines canceled more than 2,200 flights. At least two major vehicle accidents were reported near Charlotte: an 18-wheeler collided with a train, and a freight truck cab was crushed at a crossing. Temperatures plunged, creating dangerous wind chills reported as low as 20 degrees below zero in some areas and prompting cold-weather alerts affecting more than 200 million people. Virginia Beach and Norfolk recorded fast-falling snow and strong gusts; a Carnival cruise out of Norfolk shortened its voyage. Even Florida communities such as Tallahassee and Tampa experienced unusually frigid conditions. Crews across the Northeast worked to clear snow and ice, and the D.C. National Guard assisted with hazardous buildup removal at schools. National Guard units stood ready in multiple states to support local response efforts.
In Minneapolis, a string of immigration enforcement actions and new ICE policies sparked protests and heightened fear in migrant communities. Demonstrations targeted retail locations and other sites, with activists pushing for limits on ICE operations on private property. The nine-week enforcement sweep has driven many undocumented residents into hiding, according to advocates, while nonprofits report growing numbers of eviction notices and mounting rent arrears among migrants who cannot work. A federal judge ordered the release of a five-year-old boy and his father from ICE custody after their case drew international attention.
Washington faced a potential partial government shutdown after Congress failed to pass funding for some agencies before a Friday night deadline. The Senate approved measures to keep most departments operating, but Homeland Security funding remained unresolved amid contentious debate over immigration enforcement and ICE reform. Democrats sought changes including tighter warrant requirements for home entries, broader use of body cameras and restrictions on roving ICE patrols, while some Republicans tied DHS funding to other border and immigration priorities. Without final action in the House, parts of the government stayed at risk of being unfunded until lawmakers return.
Abroad, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed at least 30 people in what health officials called one of the deadliest days in months; Israel said the strikes aimed at Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets tied to ceasefire violations. Tensions in the Persian Gulf escalated as U.S. forces repositioned in the region and Iran announced live-fire drills in the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran continues to grapple with large-scale domestic protests and a forceful crackdown by authorities. U.S. officials warned of consequences if Iranian forces threatened American interests or failed to engage constructively on nuclear-related concerns.
Off the Massachusetts coast, the U.S. Coast Guard recovered debris and called off the search for the fishing vessel Lilly Jean after a distress call; a body was found. The boat’s captain and crew had appeared on the History Channel series Nor’easter Men.
In spaceflight news, Blue Origin said it will pause New Shepard tourist flights for at least two years to concentrate resources on NASA’s Artemis lunar program. NASA delayed the Artemis II crewed circumlunar test flight because of extreme cold conditions. The mission, a roughly 10-day flight launching from Kennedy Space Center, will carry commander Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch (who would be the first woman to view the moon up close), Victor Glover (poised to be the first Black astronaut on a moon mission) and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen (the first non-U.S. crew member on a moon-bound flight). Artemis II is intended to mirror Apollo 8’s test of lunar-orbit operations and pave the way for future lunar landings.
A long-lost live 1967 recording of Sly and the Family Stone from the Winchester Cathedral club in Daly City has been restored and released. Archivist Alec Palao led the tape restoration; the resulting album, The First Family — Live at the Winchester Cathedral, 1967, earned a Grammy nomination for Best Album Notes and has been praised for capturing the band’s early vitality.
Other headlines: actor Demond Wilson, best known as Lamont on the 1970s sitcom Sanford and Son, died at 79 from complications of prostate cancer. At the Australian Open, Elena Rybakina upset world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to claim the title. In Big Bear, California, viewers were heartbroken after ravens invaded the nest of beloved eagles Jackie and Shadow and damaged two newly laid eggs; the pair had previously raised chicks that drew millions of online viewers.
CBS Weekend News continued coverage of these stories and related developments, reporting on the wide-ranging impacts of the historic winter storm, the political fallout over immigration policy, rising international tensions and the latest steps in lunar exploration.