Good Morning. Here are some of the top stories from around the region.
WEATHER
There is 40 degrees in our future. Before that comes to be, though, you have to deal with ice. Expect a slow go this morning as side roads and sidewalks are covered with ice.
CLICK HERE to check your local forecast.
NEWS
Freezing rain coats region, but relief is on the way
A light drizzle in the Delaware Valley caused severely slippery conditions Monday as nearly two weeks of below-freezing temperatures covered the region with a dangerous coat of ice, causing area schools, businesses and local government to shut down early
Police will be looking for DUI drivers during Eagles game
The Eastern Delaware County DUI Task Force will be conducting a “rolling patrol” Saturday to help ensure that those enjoying the Philadelphia Eagles playoff game do so responsibly. “As with any celebration, alcoholic beverages will often be present, as well as the risks associated with persons who choose to drink and drive,” according to a release from the Upper Darby Police Department. “The DUI Task Force is focused 100 percent on the safety of our citizens who use the roadways in our community. With that in mind, we want to encourage anyone who might be involved in playoff festivities to have a safety plan that includes responsible consumption and a designated driver.”
Propane truck flips over on storm-slickened road
A propane truck carrying 2,000 pounds of the liquid gas, slid and flipped on a slick Kennett Pike (Route 52) about 2:30 p.m. Monday afternoon. Chester County HazMat and Longwood Fire Company responded to the single-vehicle accident to control leaking propane.
Report: Sunoco Pipeline will be a boon to region’s economy
Critics and supporters of the Mariner East 2 pipeline plan have jousted for more than a year over the merits of the much ballyhooed economic benefits of the project. On Monday the argument of pipeline proponents got a huge boost when a private firm estimated the Sunoco project will add as much as $9 billion to the region’s economy and add hundreds of construction and permanent jobs.
Execution notice signed for Upper Merion baby killer
An Upper Merion man sentenced to death for killing a baby and her grandmother during a bungled kidnapping in 2012 has an execution date in February, but will likely get a reprieve because a death penalty moratorium previously was put in place by Gov. Tom Wolf. On Monday, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel signed a “Notice of Execution” setting Friday, Feb. 23, for the execution of Raghunandan Yandamuri.
Lansdale beer garden organizers donate $5,000 for freight station preservation
An annual event that has drawn big crowds to Lansdale for two years has now made a big contribution to preserving part of the town’s history. Organizers of the Lansdale Beer Garden presented a check for just over $5,000 to local nonprofit Discover Lansdale, putting the proceeds from two summers of drawing visitors to town toward preserving the borough’s freight station.
SPORTS
Walk-off: Alabama beats Georgia in OT for national title
To add another championship to the greatest dynasty college football has ever seen, Alabama turned to its quarterback of the future, and Tua Tagovailoa proved that his time is now. The freshman quarterback, who had played mostly mop-up duty this season, came off the bench to spark a comeback and threw a 41-yard touchdown to DeVonta Smith that gave No. 4 Alabama a 26-23 overtime victory against No. 3 Georgia on Monday night for the College Football Playoff national championship.
Oddsmakers’ opinions don’t mean much to underdog Eagles
The Eagles are embracing the underdog role as casually as a No. 1 seed can. They don’t view the sixth-seeded Atlanta Falcons, who they oppose in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field, as three points better.
Jack McCaffery: Benefits of Sixers’ London trip are foggy at best
The 76ers were booked for a Monday evening charter flight to England, where for the next week their every move will be scripted. Except one. For that, Brett Brown doesn’t know whether to be excited by a fun opportunity or to bristle against a potential problem.
ENTERTAINMENT
Oprah Winfrey’s Golden Globes speech sparks talk of 2020 campaign
Oprah Winfrey’s impassioned call for “a brighter morning even in our darkest nights” at the Golden Globes has Democratic Party activists buzzing about the media superstar and the 2020 presidential race — even if it’s only a fantasy. Even so, for Democrats in early voting states, and perhaps for a public that largely disapproves of President Donald Trump’s job performance, the notion of a popular media figure as a presidential candidate is not as strange as it once seemed, given the New York real estate mogul and reality TV star now in the White House.
EVENTS: Winter festivals in Reading, Hatfield, Lambertville and more, beckon you to venture out
Shake off cabin fever and keep seasonal affective disorder at bay. Bundle up and discover the beauty of winter with any of these upcoming events across the region.
