Federal agencies will be closed today in DC. The decision affects some 230,000 government employees who work inside the Washington Beltway. It costs the government roughly $100 million to close for the day.
Power crews work to restore outages in the area. The most homes without power are in Spotsylvania. Rappahannock Electric Cooperative spokeswoman Ann Lewis says they have doubled their crews to work on the situation. Lewis says most people should be back on line by Wednesday or early Thursday. A shelter remains open at Thornburg Middle School.
The main roads still have some snow and ice but are passable. Plows have been on many neighborhood streets but many remain ice covered and only one lane is available. State Transportation Secretary Sean Connaughton says VDOT's goal of having roads clear 48 hours after a storm will not be met this time. Connaughton says the goal now is to get to all secondary roads by tomorrow. But he says a storm tomorrow night and Wednesday would cause plows to leave neighborhoods and return to the Interstate. In Fredericksburg, Public Works Director Doug Fawcett says most city streets are passable.
Governor McDonnell says the National Guard has been deployed to Northern Virginia to help with clean-up. McDonnell says heavy vehicles have been moved to Fairfax.
The Norfolk Division of the FBI is warning the public about potential fraud involving relief efforts for Haitian earthquake victims. The FBI advises residents to verify individuals and nonprofits claiming to help victims before making donations....
Frontier Airlines is planning to offer nonstop jet service between the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport and Denver International Airport. Starting May 3, the airline will offer four flights a week between the two cities....
Tuesday 2/9 - 8:09 a.m.
Tim Tobin/Debra Pouliot
Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center
