Page 7 - aruba-today-20190209

A7
U.S. NEWS Saturday 9 February 2019

Snow storm wallops Seattle, people rescued in Sierra Nevada

By LISA BAUMANN Crews had to travel by
Associated Press snowmobile to get to the
SEATTLE (AP) — A winter lodge in mountains east of
storm pounded Washing- Fresno. Heavy equipment
ton state Friday, forcing the and crews then cleared
cancellation of 200 flights in more than 20 fallen trees
Seattle as officials worked and 8 miles (13 kilometers)
to get people off the streets of deep snow on the road
and into shelters during the leading to the lodge to
nation’s latest bout with allow guests and staff to
winter weather. leave the property Thurs-
Snow began falling north day night.
of Seattle with some areas Another winter storm was
recording 8 inches (20 cen- on the way to the region.
timeters) of snow before In Yosemite National Park,
it made its way south and as many as 50 housing
enveloped the city. structures near Half Dome
Gov. Jay Inslee declared Village were damaged
a state of emergency, say- by trees toppled during a
ing everyone in the state snowstorm earlier this week,
should focus on staying displacing more than 160
safe. employees who provide Hershel Odle looks out toward the cityscape lost in a whiteout as he fishes from a pier during a
snowstorm Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, in Seattle.
“Forecasters predict this food, lodging and other Associated Press
may be a storm unlike one services for visitors. take a very. long. time,” the temperatures gripped the is the most important thing
we’ve seen in many years,” Elsewhere, more than Washington Department of area. A 59-year-old man we can do right now,” he
he said. 148,000 customers were Transportation said on Twit- died Thursday from expo- said. Forecasters said Port-
In California, more than 120 without electricity in Michi- ter. sure at a Seattle light rail land, Oregon, could get up
visitors and staff members gan following days of freez- Schools and colleges had station. to 4 inches (10 centimeters)
were rescued after being ing rain. The Consumers canceled classes ahead Additional shelter space of snow later in the day,
snowbound in a Sierra Ne- Energy utility said power of the storm expected to opened by city and county with two more snowstorms
vada resort for five days. would be restored by late bring 6 to 8 inches (15 to officials was filling up. The expected to hit the city
Up to 7 feet (2 meters) of Sunday. 20 centimeters) of snow. city was focused on peo- next week.
snow had trapped the In Seattle, officials urged Scores of flights were can- ple who are willing to come Residents in Portland and
guests and staff beginning people to stay off the roads celled or delayed at Seat- inside, Will Lemke, spokes- Seattle, two cities where
Sunday at Montecito Se- as traffic slowed to a stand- tle-Tacoma International man for the Seattle Human rain is more common than
quoia Lodge in Kings Can- still in some places because Airport. Services Department, told snow in the winter, emptied
yon National Park, U.S. For- of the snow. Snowfall from Sunday and the Seattle Times. grocery store shelves and
est Service spokesman Ali- “Doesn’t matter where Monday lingered into the “This is an extreme weather waited in long lines to buy
cia Embrey said. you’re going, expect it to week as below-freezing event, and offering shelter shovels and de-icer.q

Supreme Court blocks Louisiana abortion clinic law

By MARK SHERMAN Chief Justice John Roberts cause the state had made
Associated Press joined the court’s four liber- clear it would allow abor-
WASHINGTON (AP) — A als in putting a hold on the tion providers an additional
divided Supreme Court law, pending a full review 45 days to obtain admitting
stopped Louisiana from en- of the case. President Don- privileges before it started
forcing new regulations on ald Trump’s two Supreme enforcing the law.
abortion clinics in a test of Court appointees, Justices If the doctors succeed,
the conservative court’s Neil Gorsuch and Brett Ka- they can continue per-
views on abortion rights. vanaugh, were among the forming abortions, he said.
The justices said by a 5-4 four conservative members If they fail, they could return
vote late Thursday that of the court who would to court, Kavanaugh said.
they will not allow the state have allowed the law to The law is very similar to a
to put into effect a law that take effect. Kavanaugh Texas measure the justices
requires abortion providers wrote a dissenting opinion struck down three years
to have admitting privileg- In this Feb. 13, 2016, file photo, people stand on the steps of the in which he said the court’s ago. Roberts dissented in
Supreme Court at sunset in Washington.
es at nearby hospitals. Associated Press action was premature be- that case. q