Good evening. A historic storm and multiple national stories dominated the day.
A massive blizzard hammered the upper Midwest, dumping feet of heavy, wet snow and producing blizzard conditions in places like Green Bay and Wausau. Wind gusts created whiteouts and dangerous travel. Green Bay declared a snow emergency after reports of more than two feet of accumulation in parts of Wisconsin; Wausau saw its largest storm on record. State troopers and plows worked around the clock as dozens of crashes and injuries were reported, firefighters battled fires in difficult conditions, and highways were shut or treacherous. Meteorologists warned that the system would push east but leave behind a surge of cold, with freeze warnings well into the region and stark temperature contrasts across the country.
Travel headaches multiplied beyond the weather. Tens of thousands of Transportation Security Administration employees have gone without pay during the ongoing partial government shutdown. Sick calls and resignations surged as officers struggled to manage without paychecks; more than 360 TSA workers have quit since the shutdown began. Airports from Atlanta to Austin reported long lines, closed checkpoints and travelers advised to arrive hours earlier than usual. Former TSA officers described the emotional strain of working without pay, and some airports have opened food pantries to help employees. Consumer advice focused on enrolling in TSA PreCheck or Clear when possible, arriving extra early, and having flexible backup plans if you miss a flight.
In Dearborn Heights, Michigan, new reporting detailed last week’s attack at Temple Israel and its preschool: a man allegedly drove an explosives-laden pickup into the building and died at the scene. Authorities said the attack was targeted at the Jewish community. The FBI continued its investigation; police confirmed a 911 call from the suspect’s ex-wife expressing concern just minutes before the attack.
Overseas, the conflict with Iran continued into its third week, and one of the U.S. administration’s top priorities remains reopening the Strait of Hormuz after repeated Iranian attacks on tankers and related infrastructure. President Trump pressed allies to contribute warships or minesweeping vessels to escort tankers; so far many European countries have demurred. Top Pentagon leaders warned of the danger of escorting vessels through the narrow strait, and the administration said it had struck many Iranian targets, including oil infrastructure, to weaken Tehran’s ability to disrupt global shipping. The White House also disclosed that the president might delay a planned visit to China to remain focused on overseeing the situation.
Domestically, President Trump announced that his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, has been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer; she said it was caught early and that she would begin treatment soon.
Senior correspondents reported from the Gulf and the United Arab Emirates on regional impacts: attacks damaged tankers and infrastructure, including a fuel tank at Dubai’s airport and a large oil-storage facility in Fujairah. Gulf states expressed alarm at disruptions to the global energy supply, and some officials said they expected — and in some cases sought — greater U.S. protection of shipping lanes.
In human-interest and other news: a skier on Washington’s Cascade Mountains helped save another skier trapped headfirst in four feet of fresh snow, a reminder of the danger of fresh-snow immersion. Team USA advanced to the World Baseball Classic final after a win over the Dominican Republic; the tournament continues with Venezuela vs. Italy and other matchups. In Philadelphia, animal-control officers rescued a small Shih Tzu mix stuck on a support beam beneath train tracks; the dog was named Dottie and was being cared for by a shelter.
From the awards world, a film to which CBS’s Steve Hartman contributed won the Oscar for documentary short film. The project, All the Empty Rooms, documented the bedrooms of children killed in school shootings, preserving the intimate traces of their lives. Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp spent years respectfully recording those rooms; the film’s acceptance highlighted calls for restored empathy and attention to gun violence.
Finally, practical travel tips for the public amid staffing and weather issues: enroll in TSA PreCheck if eligible, consider Clear for expedited lanes, monitor airport advisories but be prepared for quickly changing conditions, and plan extra time for security lines — especially during peak travel periods.
That’s the evening’s roundup. We’ll have more reporting and analysis throughout the broadcast and a conversation with travel experts about what flyers can do now. Good night.