Snow cancels flights, snarls traffic in Chicago (AP)

CHICAGO – Chicago officials worked Friday to prevent a repeat of last year's "snowmageddon," when a blizzard left hundreds of drivers stranded along one of the city's main thoroughfares for up to 12 hours overnight.

With the city getting socked by its first major snowstorm of the winter and drifts forming, officials detoured buses off icy Lake Shore Drive, the iconic road running along Lake Michigan. Bus service was partially restored by the end of rush hour except for the southern portion of the road.

Last year's storm, which dumped more than 20 inches of snow, brought Chicago to a standstill and caused serious embarrassment to a city known for its ability to keep working in some of the most severe winter weather. Transit spokesman Brian Steele said icy ramps and drifting snow led to the decision to move buses away from the lakefront Friday and onto roads where there was less wind and slower traffic.

No significant problems had developed yet, he said, adding, "The decision was made solely as a precaution."

More than 700 flights were cancelled at Chicago's airports, the bulk of them at O'Hare International Airport, the Chicago Department of Aviation said.

While the snow started in the morning, the worst of the storm hit just at rush hour. Eight inches of snow were expected by nightfall, and the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning lasting until late Friday.

Chicago deployed its full fleet of 278 plows to push through the snow on main streets and Lake Shore Drive, but they had to inch along with commuters headed home in heavy traffic.

"The biggest challenge for us right now is congestion. We're caught in it just like everyone else," said Guy Tridgell, a spokesman with the Illinois Department of Transportation.

During last year's February blizzard, the city's third-worst storm on record, authorities had to remove 525 vehicles that got stuck on Lake Shore Drive, which was closed for 33 hours. City officials began work in November to create two turnaround points on the road to make it easier for cars to avoid getting stuck.

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Mass. town hit by tornado cancels July 4th event (AP)

MONSON, Mass. – An Independence Day tradition has been cancelled in a Massachusetts town devastated by a tornado last month.

Summerfest chairman Steve Slozak says there was a lot of sadness when he announced the event couldn't happen this year in Monson. But he told The Boston Globe for Saturday editions that while people were hoping Summerfest would pull the community together, the tornado has already done that.

Summerfest began in 1979 and can draw nearly double the town's population of 8,500. It features events such as a frog-jumping competition, a soap box derby and a parade.

Slozak says several organizing committee workers lost their homes to the tornado and traffic patterns were a mess. He says it didn't seem right to ask the overworked police and fire departments to set up for the event.

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Tornado cancels racing at Churchill Downs track (Reuters)

LOUISVILLE, Ky (Reuters) – Racing and training were canceled on Thursday at Churchill Downs, a day after a tornado hit the thoroughbred racetrack famed as home of the Kentucky Derby, according to a statement from the track.

National Weather Service meteorologist Robert Szappanos in Louisville confirmed that a tornado had touched down at the site Wednesday evening.

There were no reported injuries to workers or horses, according to the statement, posted on the track's web site.

Nine barns suffered "significant damage" as a result of the storm, along with a number of stable area structures, including some living accommodations for workers, according to the statement.

Churchill Downs officials are assessing damage to the stable area and have arranged for the possible relocation of about 150 horses to the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center near the racetrack.

Churchill Downs also is coordinating with the American Red Cross and emergency management officials to provide shelter for about 100 workers whose living spaces were damaged.

Churchill Downs is most famous for hosting the annual Kentucky Derby, the first leg in U.S. thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown of events, which also includes the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes.

Known as the "most exciting two minutes in sports," the Kentucky Derby is run on the first Saturday of every May, with a field of 3-year-old thoroughbreds racing around a one-and-a-quarter-mile track.

(Reporting by Steve Robrahn; Writing by Mary Wisniewski; Editing by Jerry Norton)

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