Brrr! Some schools close as extreme cold grips US Northeast
BOSTON (AP) — A mass of arctic air swept into the Northeast, bringing bone-chilling sub-zero temperatures and closing schools across the region for the second time in less than a week. Many school districts closed, saying they didn’t want children standing outside for extended periods of time waiting for buses. Worcester, Massachusetts, schools in a tweet said COVID-19 cases among bus drivers would make some buses up to 30 minutes late. In New Hampshire, it was minus 26 degrees atop Mount Washington — known for its weather extremes — with a wind chill of nearly minus 72 as of 8 a.m.
Maine utility proposes settlement with regulator on solar
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A Maine power company says it has proposed a settlement with a state regulator in which it pledges to reduce delays in hooking up solar projects. Central Maine Power said Monday the settlement would allow it to improve deployment of solar power generation across its service area. The Portland Press Herald reports the Maine Renewable Energy Association, the Coalition for Solar Access and the Maine Office of the Public Advocate have signed off on the deal.
BABY UNHARMED-STANDOFF
Baby unharmed during armed standoff in Maine town
WALDO, Maine (AP) — Police in Maine say a two-week-old baby was unharmed during an armed standoff in a small town. State police say a 30-year-old man in Waldo reportedly fired shots in the direction of state troopers when they were investigating a domestic violence complaint on Sunday. Police say the home was also reportedly occupied by a two-week-old baby. Police said the man was arrested for domestic violence assault about three hours later.
AP-US-WINTER-WEATHER
Brrr! Some schools close as extreme cold grips US Northeast
BOSTON (AP) — The U.S. Northeast is girding for extreme cold that was expected to reach a wind chill value of minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit in some northern areas and closed some schools elsewhere. The largest public school district in Massachusetts announced Monday that schools will not open Tuesday because of expected extremely cold temperatures. Low temperatures below zero, not including the wind chill, are also expected in Burlington, Vermont, and Concord, New Hampshire. Forecasters said Providence, Rhode Island, should expect a wind chill value of as low as minus 1 degree Fahrenheit. And New York City also is in for subzero temperatures when wind chill is factored in.
HUSBAND KILLED-MAINE
Woman who killed husband in bathtub dies in prison
BANGOR, Maine (AP) — A woman who was sentenced to 50 years in prison for killing her husband in a bathtub in 2011 has died in prison. The Department of Corrections told the Bangor Daily News that Roxanne Jeskey died at the Maine Correctional Center in Windham on Saturday evening. She was 58 years old. The department’s director of government affairs, Anna Black, said Jeskey was attended by medical staff but did not provide a cause of death. Jeskey was convicted of murder in 2014 for killing Richard “Rick” Jeskey in a bathtub in a Bangor apartment.
GAS PRICES
Gas prices fall again in NH and VT, rise slightly in Maine
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Gas prices are a mixed bag in northern New England, where prices fell over the last week in Vermont and New Hampshire but rose slightly in Maine. GasBuddy, which surveys stations, said Monday the average price in Maine rose a little less than a penny to $3.40 per gallon. Prices in the state remain nearly 3 cents lower than a month ago. The price in Vermont fell 1.6 cents to $3.32 and the price in New Hampshire fell 1.2 cents to $3.25.
ELDER TRANSPORTATION
Maine grants to improve senior transportation in rural areas
SACO, Maine (AP) — A charitable foundation in Maine is giving out a series of grants to help with transportation for older residents of the state. Maine has one of the oldest median ages in the country. The Maine Community Foundation said programs that help older residents with transportation will receive more than $140,000. The foundation said the grants would help with services such as volunteer transportation programs and food delivery. It says the grants will be especially helpful in rural parts of the state.