Good evening. Several major stories shaped the day, from a record winter storm in the Midwest to mounting travel disruptions and international tensions.
A historic blizzard buried parts of the upper Midwest in heavy, wet snow, producing whiteout conditions and dangerous travel. Cities including Green Bay and Wausau reported blizzard conditions; some Wisconsin neighborhoods saw more than two feet of accumulation and Green Bay declared a snow emergency. Wausau experienced its largest storm on record. Strong winds caused near-zero visibility, dozens of crashes and injuries, and made firefighting and road clearing difficult. State troopers and plow crews worked around the clock as highways were closed or treacherous. Forecasters said the system will push east but leave a blast of cold behind, with freeze warnings and sharp temperature contrasts across the country.
Travel chaos extended beyond weather. Tens of thousands of Transportation Security Administration employees have been working without pay during the partial government shutdown, prompting rising sick calls and resignations. More than 360 TSA workers have quit since the shutdown began, officials said, and checkpoints at airports from Atlanta to Austin reported long lines, closed lanes and major delays. Some airports have set up food pantries to help unpaid staff. Consumer guidance from travel experts emphasized enrolling in TSA PreCheck or Clear if eligible, arriving extra early, and having flexible backup plans if you risk missing a flight.
In Dearborn Heights, Michigan, investigators say a man drove a pickup laden with explosives into Temple Israel and its preschool last week and died at the scene. Authorities characterize the attack as targeted at the Jewish community; the FBI continues its investigation. Police also confirmed a 911 call from the suspect’s ex-wife expressing concern just minutes before the incident.
Abroad, the confrontation with Iran entered a third week, with U.S. officials focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz after repeated attacks on tankers and related infrastructure. The administration has pressed allies to provide warships or minesweeping capabilities to escort commercial shipping, but many European governments have so far declined. Pentagon leaders warned of the hazards of escorting vessels through the narrow strait. Officials also said U.S. forces struck numerous Iranian targets, including oil-related infrastructure, to degrade Tehran’s ability to disrupt global shipping. The White House disclosed that the president may delay a planned trip to China to stay closely engaged with the situation.
On the domestic front, the White House announced that chief of staff Susie Wiles has been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer; she said it was found early and that she will begin treatment soon.
Correspondents in the Gulf and the United Arab Emirates reported damage to tankers and energy facilities, including a fuel tank at Dubai’s airport and a large oil-storage site in Fujairah. Gulf officials expressed alarm about disruptions to energy supplies and in some cases called for expanded U.S. protection of shipping lanes.
Human-interest items included a dramatic rescue in Washington’s Cascade Mountains, where a skier helped free another who was trapped headfirst in about four feet of fresh snow, underscoring the danger of deep-snow immersion. In sports, Team USA beat the Dominican Republic and advanced to the World Baseball Classic final; the tournament continues with other matchups, including Venezuela vs. Italy. In Philadelphia animal-control officers rescued a small Shih Tzu mix stuck on a support beam beneath train tracks; the dog, named Dottie, was taken into care by a local shelter.
From the awards world, the short documentary All the Empty Rooms won this year’s Oscar for documentary short film. The film, to which CBS’s Steve Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp contributed, quietly preserved the bedrooms of children killed in school shootings, drawing attention to the personal losses behind the headlines and renewing calls for empathy and action on gun violence.
Practical advice for travelers: enroll in TSA PreCheck if eligible, consider Clear for expedited lanes, monitor airport advisories closely, arrive much earlier than usual during peak periods, and build flexible backup plans in case of delays or missed connections.
That’s tonight’s roundup. We’ll continue reporting and will bring more analysis and conversations with travel experts throughout the broadcast. Good night.