Новости за 28.12.2015

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Meteorologists say a weather front is bringing high winds and warmer temperatures to much of Alaska, with extreme conditions prompting the closure of a state-operated tunnel. Duell says the Delta Junction area also is hard-hit, with sustained winds blowing at 45 mph and gusting to 62 mph.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Icy conditions sent some vehicles careening into each other and off of highways in northwestern Indiana while high water from recent heavy rains closed roads to traffic across the southern two-thirds of the state, authorities said Monday. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for Lake and Porter counties with up to a quarter of an inch of ice possible. "In many ways this is one of the first winter weather events of the year and that can be challenging because... Читать дальше...

The University of Washington will “gladly step aside” if a bona-fide offer for KPLU-FM radio is made and accepted by Pacific Lutheran University, the chair of the UW Board of Regents told U.S. Rep. Denny Heck, D-Wash., in a Dec. 22 letter. “As you may have heard, we have recently revised our agreement with Pacific Lutheran University based on the community’s strong interest in having an independent community-based group purchase the station,” wrote board chair Bill Ayer. Rep. Denny Heck, D-Wash. advocates for KPLU-FM. Читать дальше...

Sleet and freezing rain are forecast Monday evening from the Poconos in the northeast to the westernmost edge of the state. Drivers and walkers are urged to use extra caution for slick spots on roadways and sidewalks.

NEOSHO, Mo. (AP) — A stretch of train tracks has washed away and caused at least nine cars to topple onto their sides in southwest Missouri. Burlington Northern Santa Fe spokesman Andy Williams says the tracks washed away Sunday morning after crews stopped the train because of flooding along the line. He says teams arrived at the scene Monday to access the damage. Williams says the train was headed eastbound from California. The derailed cars were transporting about 30 containers. No hazardous materials were involved.

(AP) — The general manager of the 24-mile-long bridge between Metairie and Lake Pontchartrain's north shore says better guard rails are in the works. Carlton Dufrechou (DOO-fresh-oo) says they'll probably cost about $70 million, and higher tolls may be needed to help pay the bill — though he'd rather avoid that.

A steepening slide in crude oil prices weighed on U.S. stocks Monday, sending major indexes lower in afternoon trading. The price of U.S. crude slumped more than 3 percent amid speculation that oil supplies will rise further once Iran's economic sanctions are removed. Investors worry that falling oil prices could be a signal of further economic weakness ahead, said Paul Christopher, head global market strategist at Wells Fargo Investment Institute. Freeport-McMoRan fell 7.7 percent following news that James R. Читать дальше...

Utah is among a number of states that have moved to cut funding to the organization following the release of secretly recorded videos by an anti-abortion group showing Planned Parenthood officials in other states discussing fetal tissue from abortions. In most other states, judges have ruled so far in Planned Parenthood's favor, allowing the funds to keep flowing while the court cases continue. The group's attorneys have argued that stopping the money for STD and sex education programs would leave thousands of people at risk.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — More people were pulled over for texting, emailing or checking Facebook on their cellphones behind the wheel on Utah's highways in a six-month snapshot of 2015, marking a second year of growth in stops since the law was tightened, according to new data released by the Utah Highway Patrol. The number of people nabbed under the rule quadrupled in 2014, the first year that the state's texting-while-driving law was expanded to prohibit any kind of phone manipulation behind the wheel except for talking or getting directions. Читать дальше...

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP) — Despite an extension that will allow Idaho residents to fly commercially and enter federal facilities in 2016, lawmakers are being asked to handle compliance issues with Idaho driver's licenses and the REAL ID Act. The act modified laws regarding security, authentication, and issuing standards for state driver's licenses and identification cards, as well as various immigration issues pertaining to terrorism. [...] the state law was amended this year to allow the Idaho... Читать дальше...

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Gas prices have fallen again in Rhode Island, this time to an average $2.01 for a gallon of regular unleaded. AAA Northeast says its weekly survey on Monday found the average fell 4 cents per gallon from last week. Last year at this time, the price was 25 percent higher at $2.52 per gallon, or 51 cents more than today. The national average is $1.99 per gallon.

NEW YORK (AP) — James R. Moffett, the executive chairman and co-founder of the mining company Freeport-McMoRan, is stepping down as plunging commodity prices lead to mass layoffs across the entire industry. Gerald J. Ford, the company's lead independent director, will become non-executive chairman and Richard C. Adkerson continues as president and CEO. In August the Phoenix-based company announced plans to lower spending, cut production and cut about 10 percent of its workforce in the wake of declining copper prices.

The city of Roswell is urging motorists to stay off its roads as National Guard and emergency responders are reporting vehicles stuck on ice-packed streets. Authorities say travel inside the city limits is strongly discouraged and the city doesn't have enough resources to rescue stranded motorists. Clovis Capt. Roman Romero says Clovis officials will begin Monday to remove abandoned vehicles stranded from Sunday's snow storm as authorities work to clean streets. Chaves County Sheriff Britt Snyder... Читать дальше...

GARLAND, Texas (AP) — Residents surveyed the destruction from deadly tornadoes in North Texas as the same storm system brought winter woes to the Midwest on Monday, amplified flooding that's blamed for more than a dozen deaths and prompted hundreds of flight cancellations. A range of precipitation was forecast Monday for the country's midsection, including heavy snow, ice and blustery winds in parts of 11 states and heavy rain in already-waterlogged parts of Missouri and Arkansas. Texas Gov. Greg... Читать дальше...

Texas officials say Interstate 40, the main east-west highway across the Panhandle, has reopened. Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Cindy Barkley says the interstate reopened Monday morning. The Texas Department of Transportation says, though, that many roads across West Texas and the Panhandle remain closed with snow-packed and icy conditions. Texas officials say traffic on part of Interstate 10 in the western part of the state is slowly moving again after coming to a standstill due to icy conditions and multiple accidents. Читать дальше...

Amazon says it shipped a record number of items worldwide for the holidays, with Christmas Eve the biggest day ever for deliveries using the company's Prime Now service. The company's Amazon Prime service, a loyalty program that includes unlimited free two-day shipping, gained 3 million new members in the third week of December alone.

The Missouri State Department of Transportation says the closures include eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 in St. Charles County. The National Weather Service says a wintry system could bring light snow to Missouri by midweek, but rain is expected to subside after Monday.

NEW YORK (AP) — Organic beverage maker Honest Tea says a Donald Trump quote is being removed from its bottle caps, but not because it has any problems with the leading Republican presidential candidate. When Honest Tea was acquired by Coca-Cola in 2011, Goldman said the world's biggest beverage maker advised Honest Tea that there was less risk of offending people with quotes from people who have been dead for a while.

NEW YORK (AP) — The Transportation Security Administration is increasing random checks of airport and airline employees who hold badges that enable them to bypass security checkpoints. TSA spokesman Bruce Anderson wouldn't say how frequent the additional checks would become, but pointed to a Nov. 30 statement by Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh C. Johnson saying that since April, the department has "enhanced the continuous, random screening of airport/airline personnel in secure areas and encouraged... Читать дальше...

BOSTON (AP) — The average price of a gallon of gasoline in Massachusetts has dropped below $2 for the first time in almost seven years. AAA Northeast said Monday that self-serve, regular dropped 2 cents per gallon in the past week to an average of $1.98, its lowest level since April 2009. The current price is a dime lower than a month ago, 48 cents lower than a year ago, and a penny below the national average. AAA found self-serve, regular selling for as low as $1.83 and as high as $2.39 per gallon.

Maine gas prices fall as national average stays flat PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The average retail gasoline price in Maine has fallen 3.1 cents per gallon in the past week, according to the website GasBuddy.com.

Before his death was shown around the world and he became a symbol of the ongoing debate over police shootings of unarmed African-Americans, Walter Scott was just a 50-year-old forklift driver at a warehouse and a father behind on his child support payments. The man who steered the city through Hurricane Hugo in 1989 found his toughest moments on a hot, sticky summer night when what he called "pure, pure concentrated evil" came to a church in his 345-year-old city. In the days following, Riley again became the face of the historic city... Читать дальше...

The Bristol Herald Courier (http://bit.ly/1ZwS2fH ) reports that the project to rebuild the interchange at exit 14 on Interstate 81 is scheduled to start in January and conclude in the fall of 2018. The project includes replacing the two interstate bridges over state Route 647, separating the northbound exit and entrance ramps and widening Old Jonesboro Road.