The Nation

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Autonomous driving company Waymo has filed a complaint against the California Department of Motor Vehicles after a public records request was made for how it handles autonomous vehicle emergencies, including collisions. Waymo brings this action to prevent the disclosure by the DMV of what it says is sensitive trade secret information and records on its operations in response to public records requests made under the California Public Records Act. Waymo claims the information, which was redacted, would put it at a competitive disadvantage. The request was made by an unidentified third party. Information that is sought includes circumstances in which a vehicle’s autonomous system would switch to control to a trained driver, how vehicles assess disengagement incidents and how it assesses collision incidents. Waymo said the DMV notified it of the records release request on Oct. 18, 2021. Waymo said it provided a redacted version of the requested materials to protect its proprietary and trade secret information. The DMV notified Waymo that certain redactions had been challenged by the third-party requester. Waymo holds that the third party is seeking to have the trade secret information that was redacted. On Jan. 3, the DMV advised Waymo that it intended to release the redacted information unless Waymo sought an injunction to prohibit it. On Jan. 20, Waymo informed the DMV that it was willing to withdraw some of the challenged redactions. The complaint states in the filing that allowing the release of trade secret information “will have a chilling effect across the industry. Potential market participants interested in deploying autonomous vehicles in California will be dissuaded from investing valuable time and resources developing this technology if there is a demonstrated track record of their trade secrets being released.” Waymo is owned by Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google. The complaint filed by Waymo is available online.

PITTSBURGH — Federal investigators have vowed to put a collapsed bridge in a Pittsburgh park “under a microscope” as they examine evidence, including video from a municipal bus that plummeted along the span, prompting rescuers to rappel down a ravine and form a human chain to reach a few occupants. Meanwhile, the mayor of Pittsburgh has announced plans to sign a declaration of disaster emergency for the city. Mayor Ed Gainey said the declaration would increase availability of federal funds and speed cleanup and reconstruction of the Frick Park bridge, improving coordination between the state transportation department and the city. Gainey said the declaration would be in effect for the next few days but called on council members to extend it. He also he said the city planned to be a party to the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation into the collapse. Five vehicles were on the bridge along with the bus at the time of Friday’s predawn collapse in Frick Park. City officials said 10 people, including some first responders, were evaluated and treated for minor injuries, and three people were taken to local hospitals with injuries that were not life-threatening. The collapse ruptured gas lines that ran along the bridge, causing a large gas leak and the subsequent evacuation of several families from their homes. Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, said Saturday evening that investigators over the coming weeks would “put this bridge under a microscope,” looking at its “entire history” from design and construction, to maintenance and repair and all work up until the day of the collapse. A crash reconstructionist on Saturday used a drone to map the scene and investigators made an initial inspection of the structure and the legs under the deck of the bridge, looking for signs of corrosion and fatigue cracking and also wanting to see how the structure came to rest. Investigators were also trying to identify areas for closer inspection and may want to take pieces back for laboratory analysis, she said. Dennis Collins, investigator in charge, said structural engineers will be looking at every component of the bridge in methodical fashion, from supports to truss work to joints to the road structure itself. Investigators have been told that the bus has nine cameras that were facing numerous directions. “We don’t know the quality of that video or what is available at this time but we’ll want to look at that,” Homendy said. Investigators would look at inspection frequency and quality, federal and state procedures, and also at loads on the bridge and how those loads have changed over the half-century life of the span. In addition, the impact of weather and road treatments would be examined. “When I look at the bus, and the position of the bus and the position of the vehicles, I’m really thankful that no one lost their lives,” Homendy said. “And then when you’re next to the structure, and you’re underneath the structure, I mean, the damage is massive, massive.” she said, adding that the sight “certainly takes your breath away when you’re there.” Homendy, however, also cautioned people to stay away from the park, which remains closed, citing the danger from the structure as well as from vehicles at the scene. The collapse came hours before President Joe Biden arrived in the city to promote his $1 trillion infrastructure law, which has earmarked about $1.6 billion for Pennsylvania bridge maintenance. As Biden toured the scene Friday, an officer told him a person who was running by helped first responders get people out of cars. He called it a miracle. The bridge is an important artery that leads to the Squirrel Hill and Oakland neighborhoods and is a popular route toward downtown Pittsburgh. Ralph Sicuro, president of Pittsburgh Firefighters Local 1, told KDKA-TV  that at least three stations must come up with different response routes in the absence of the main artery they would normally use. Gov. Tom Wolf signed a proclamation of disaster emergency aimed at speeding reconstruction of the bridge. Homendy said a preliminary report in 10 days would include only factual investigation; a final report could take 12 to 18 months. Removing the bus and cars and parts of the structure would have to wait until diesel and cameras are removed from the bus, she said. Moving the bus safely is “quite an operation” that would take time, and during that process inspectors might want to examine areas newly revealed, she said.

JOLIET, Ill. – Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) were joined by local officials on Jan. 28 to announce the next phase of construction on the new Houbolt Road bridge and interchange, a critical piece of the governor’s $1.2 billion commitment to improve and modernize Interstate 80 through the bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program. The entire project, funded by an estimated $200 million in public and private funding, is expected to create hundreds of construction and permanent jobs while improving safety and intermodal activity throughout the region. “The next phase of I-80’s modernization begins today at Houbolt Road, giving new life to one the interstate’s most critical interchanges and a key access point for Joliet,” Pritzker said. “Our state investment of $32 million right here in Joliet will help widen Houbolt Road and reconfigure its interchange into a high-capacity, diverging-diamond design. These improvements are making it safer and more efficient for truck drivers, but also for the tens of thousands of commuters and families who drive this interstate as they navigate their daily lives.” Under a public-private partnership between IDOT, the City of Joliet and CenterPoint Properties, the city is overseeing the $33.5 million project to widen Houbolt Road and reconfigure its interchange with I-80 to a high-capacity, diverging-diamond design. The state is providing $32 million in capital funding for the project. The state and city investments have also leveraged a CenterPoint investment of up to $170 million to build a new tolled bridge on Houbolt Road over the Des Plaines River. Already under construction, the new bridge will connect I-80 and CenterPoint’s intermodal facilities. Advance work on Houbolt Road is anticipated to begin with the relocation of utilities this winter, weather permitting, with construction starting soon afterward. The project is expected to be completed by 2023. “Under Gov. Pritzker, IDOT is leveraging public resources to advance projects across all modes throughout the state in new and exciting ways,” Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman said. “The Houbolt Road improvements are going to bring much-needed relief to I-80 while delivering a crucial piece of the governor’s larger vision to remake one of the country’s major interstate corridors.” Improving access to CenterPoint’s intermodal facilities via Houbolt Road is expected to reduce congestion on I-80 and significantly reduce traffic near the entrances to Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery and Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie along with Illinois 53. Another element of the project will extend the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s Rock Run Greenway Trail from north of I-80 to the Lower Rock Run Preserve and the I&M Canal Trail. “I’m happy to see the progress being made on the construction of the Houbolt Road Bridge. We know, moving forward, the critical role this will play as development continues around the two intermodal ports in our region,” Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk said. “The public-private partnership we have forged is a model for major capital improvements moving forward.” Passed in 2019, Rebuild Illinois is investing $33.2 billion into the state’s aging transportation system, creating jobs and promoting economic growth. Rebuild Illinois is not only the largest capital program in state history but also the first one that touches all modes of Illinois transportation: roads and bridges, transit, waterways, freight and passenger rail, aviation, and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations.

ST. FRANCIS COUNTY, Ark. — Old Dominion Freight Line Inc. is petitioning an Arkansas circuit judge for a new trial or a reduced jury award that went to six first responders who worked a fatal 2018 accident involving one of its rigs. In court filings, the company’s attorneys called the $75 million award excessive after judgments of between $5 million and $25 million went to six first responders who were overcome by hazardous fumes after a pickup crashed head-on into an Old Dominion 18-wheeler that was hauling formic acid, according to an Arkansas Business report. The acid is used in dyeing and finishing textiles and paper, as well as to treat leather and other chemicals. If it is set ablaze, the fumes can be deadly. The big rig’s trailer, which caught fire after the wreck, had no placards on it indicating that it contained the hazardous material, according to court documents. In addition, neither the driver nor a company representative immediately told police that there were hazardous materials in the trailer, according to the original lawsuit. The crash happened on U.S. Highway 70 near the St. Francis and Crittenden County lines in rural Arkansas, leaving the rig on its side. Soon after arriving on scene, responders working the wreck noticed a strange odor and were overcome by fumes that were burning their nasal passages and throat, according to court documents. Old Dominion attorney Zachary Hill called the ruling against the trucking company “shocking to the conscience” in his Dec. 22 motion. Hill also represents Aaron Marvell Foster, the driver of the rig that was involved in the accident. Hill told Arkansas Business that he customarily does not comment on ongoing litigation; however, court filings lay out plans to file an appeal if his motion for a new trial fails. The plaintiffs have remained at their jobs but have taken adjusted roles and assignments because of the injuries, Arkansas Business reported.

OTTAWA, Ontario — Thousands of protesters gathered in Canada’s capital on Saturday to protest vaccine mandates, masks and lockdowns. The sounds of honking horns echoed around Ottawa’s downtown core. A convoy of trucks and cars parked in around Parliament Hill with some parking on the grounds of the National War Memorial before police asked them to move. “Parking on this sacred ground that includes the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was a sign of complete disrespect,” Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson tweeted. Some compared COVID restrictions to fascism and made use of Nazi symbols on upside down Canadian flags. One truck carried a Confederate flag while many carried expletive-laden signs targeting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The statue of the late Terry Fox, a national hero who lost a leg to bone cancer as a youngster, then set off in 1980 on a fundraising trek across Canada, was draped with a upside down Canadian flag with a sign that said “mandate freedom.” David Santos said he came from Montreal because he believes the vaccine mandates are not health-related but what he calls a “control thing” by governments. The convoy of truckers and others prompted police to prepare for the possibility of violence and warn residents to avoid downtown. A top Parliament security official advised lawmakers to lock their doors amid reports their private homes may be targeted. Trudeau has said Canadians are not represented by this “very troubling, small but very vocal minority of Canadians who are lashing out at science, at government, at society, at mandates and public health advice.″ The prime minister’s itinerary for the day usually says he is in Ottawa if he’s at home, but on Saturday it said “National Capital Region” amid a report he’s been moved to an undisclosed location. Some are, in part, protesting a new rule that took effect Jan. 15 requiring truckers entering Canada be fully immunized against the coronavirus. The United States has imposed the same requirement on truckers entering that country. The Canadian Trucking Alliance said a great number of the protesters have no connection to the trucking industry, adding they have a separate agenda to push. The alliance said in a statement that the industry must adapt and comply with this mandate, noting the vast majority of drivers have done so. The organizers of the protest have called for the forceful elimination of all COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates and others called for the removal of Trudeau. Some opposition Conservative lawmakers served coffee to the protesters and the party leader met with some truckers. The protest has also attracted support from Donald Trump Jr. and some Fox News personalities. “Today the threat against democracy isn’t only happening in America,” former U.S. Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman tweeted. Heyman earlier said the confederate flag and what it represents is offensive to most Americans and should be to Canadians as well. The Parliamentary Protective Service expects as many as 10,000 protesters as part of a weekend-long rally. “I’m locked into my own country right now,” said Tom Pappin, an unvaccinated man who came from just outside Ottawa. “I can’t go on a holiday. I can’t go to a restaurant, I can’t go bowling. I can’t go to a movie. You know, these are things that it’s just gotten out of control.” The 52-year-old said attendees are likely to stay parked by Parliament until vaccine mandates are lifted. Phil Haggart was among the group to counter-protest the convoy’s message, saying he wanted to show that there were voices in favor of public health measures to slow the spread of the virus. “Masks are important, vaccines are important, and mandates are important only because we need them to stay alive and not fill our hospitals up,” he said as protesters rang cow bells close by.

BOSTON — A storm with wind gusts near hurricane force lashed the Northeast on Saturday, dropping heavy snow, causing coastal flooding and threatening widespread power outages while forecasters warned conditions would worsen and then be followed by bitter cold. The nor’easter thrashed parts of 10 states and some major population centers, including Philadelphia, New York and Boston. By midday, more than 18 inches (45 centimeters) of snow had fallen on parts of New Jersey’s shore and eastern Long Island. Areas closest to the Atlantic coast bore the brunt. Boston, in the nor’easter’s crosshairs, could get more than 2 feet (61 centimeters) of snow. Winds gusted at 70 mph (113 kph) or higher at several spots in Massachusetts, including Nantucket Island and Provincetown, at the tip of Cape Cod. Most flights into and out of the airports serving New York, Boston and Philadelphia were canceled Saturday, according to FlightAware. More than 4,500 flights were canceled across the U.S. Amtrak canceled all its high-speed Acela trains between Boston and Washington and canceled or limited other service. Across the region, residents hunkered down to avoid whiteout conditions and stinging snow hurled by fierce winds. Business closed or opened late. In suburban Boston, a bundled-up Nicky Brown, 34, stood at the doors of Gordon’s liquor store in Waltham, waiting for it to open. “My boyfriend is out driving a plow, and I had a bunch of cleaning to do at home, and I want a drink while I’m doing it,” she said, as she called the store to find out if it planned to open at all. “It’s a good day to stay inside and clean.” Video on social media showed wind and waves battering North Weymouth, south of Boston, flooding streets with a slurry of frigid water. Other video showed a street underwater on Nantucket and waves crashing against the windows of a building in Plymouth. In the seaside town of Newburyport, near the New Hampshire border, officials encouraged residents along the shore to move to higher ground. Over 100,000 homes and businesses lost power in Massachusetts, with failures mounting. No other states reported widespread outages. The storm had two saving graces: Dry snow less capable of snapping trees and tearing down power lines, and its timing on a weekend, when schools were closed and few people were commuting. Parts of 10 states were under blizzard warnings: Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, along with much of the Delmarva Peninsula in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. Officials in all those states warned people to stay off the roads. Rhode Island, all of which was under a blizzard warning, banned all nonemergency road travel. In West Hartford, Connecticut, a tractor-trailer jackknifed on Interstate 84, closing several lanes. Massachusetts banned heavy trucks from interstate highways. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul advised people to stay home as the storm lingered longer than expected, and she warned of below-zero windchills after it passes. The state had declared a state of emergency Friday evening. “This is a very serious storm, very serious. We’ve been preparing for this. This could be life-threatening,” Hochul said. “It’s high winds, heavy snow, blizzard conditions — all the elements of a classic nor’easter.” Police on Long Island said they had to help motorists stuck in the snow. New York City expected up to a foot (30 centimeters) of snow by midafternoon. In Philadelphia, where 6 inches (15 centimeters) fell by early Saturday, few drivers ventured onto streets covered in knee-high drifts. Delaware allowed only essential personnel to drive in two of its three counties. Virginia, where a blizzard this month stranded hundreds of motorists for hours on Interstate 95, did not hesitate to get resources at the ready. Ocean City, Maryland, recorded at least a foot (30 centimeters) of snow. Maryland State Police tweeted that troopers had received more than 670 calls for service and responded to over 90 crashes by midmorning. Hardy New Englanders took the storm in stride. Dave McGillivray, race director for the Boston Marathon, jokingly invited the public to his suburban Boston home on Saturday for a free snow-shoveling clinic. “I will provide the driveway and multiple walkways to ensure your training is conducted in the most lifelike situation,” he said. Washington and Baltimore got some snow but were largely spared. The worst of the nor’easter was expected to blow by Sunday morning into Canada, where several provinces were under warnings.

BOSTON — Last-minute shoppers cleared grocery shelves and raided snowblower dealers Friday along the East Coast ahead of a storm that could drop 2 feet or more of fast-falling snow on some of the nation’s biggest metro areas, including Philadelphia, New York and Boston. Officials from Virginia to Massachusetts declared states of emergency, imposed parking bans and warned of hazardous travel in advance of wet, heavy snow that could fall as fast as 5 inches per hour. Parts of 10 states were under blizzard warnings. The storm threatened whiteout conditions, high winds and coastal flooding, followed by intense cold that could leave many people shivering amid power outages. Airlines canceled thousands of flights in advance. Merrick McCormack was among hundreds who packed a Shaw’s Supermarket in Warwick, Rhode Island, with the entire state under a blizzard warning and officials mobilizing more than 500 snowplows. “I don’t fuss with storms. I know in a couple of days, we’re going to be free and clear. No need to panic,” the 51-year-old Cranston resident said, flashing some New England stoicism as he unloaded his groceries. Regional supermarket giant Stop & Shop pleaded with customers to practice restraint, warning that staffing and supply woes caused by the coronavirus pandemic will mean barer shelves and longer checkout lines. “We ask shoppers to buy what they need and save some for their neighbors,” the grocery chain said in a statement. The Boston area, which was under a blizzard warning, could get buried under 18 to 24 inches (45 to 61 centimeters) of snow, with some isolated spots of eastern Massachusetts seeing as much as 30 inches (76), according to the National Weather Service. Coastal New Jersey was forecast to get as much as 18 inches (46 centimeters) of snow and eastern Long Island up to 17 inches (43). Philadelphia, New York City, and parts of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia could get 10 (25) or more. Washington was forecast to be spared the worst of the snowfall, with only 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 8 centimeters). Airlines canceled about 1,300 U.S. flights Friday and more than 3,100 on Saturday. More than 90% of Saturday schedules at Boston’s Logan Airport and New York’s LaGuardia were scrubbed, according to FlightAware. Delta Air Lines said it would suspend flights at the three major New York City-area airports and at Logan on Saturday, with the hope of resuming service Sunday afternoon. Amtrak canceled or limited weekend train service along its busy corridor from Washington to Boston. Snow began falling Friday evening in parts of Appalachia and was sweeping northward from there and the Carolinas. The system was expected to intensify into a nor’easter — a coastal storm that churns up the East Coast — and blow into New England early Saturday with wind gusts as high as 70 mph (113 kph). The refrain from New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and other state executives was: “Just stay off the roads.” Massachusetts banned heavy trucks from interstate highways for most of Saturday, and the Boston area’s transit agency said many buses would run only on snow routes. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan mobilized the National Guard. In Virginia, where a blizzard this month stranded hundreds of motorists for hours on Interstate 95, Gov. Glenn Youngkin said officials had begun positioning resources in anticipation of toppled trees, power outages and tidal flooding. About 1,800 snowplows were ready in New York City, Sanitation Commissioner Edward Grayson said, while in New England, some officials fretted about a shortage of drivers. Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Joseph Giulietti said Friday his staffing is down about 30% this weekend because of COVID-19 and other issues. The state expects to have more than 600 plow and sanding trucks out in addition to contractors, but with snow expected to fall so fast, it might not be enough, he said. “It depends on the length of the storm,” Giulietti said. “Because these people have to keep circling and going back out on the routes.” The worst of the storm was expected to blow by Sunday morning into Canada, where several provinces were under storm warnings. Shoppers — some of them looking forward to hibernating — crammed grocery stores for bread, eggs, milk and other staples. Marc Rudkowski — a 28-year-old machine learning engineer — stocked up at the Star Market in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on French bread and wine, as well as balloons and toys for his dog, who turned 1 on Friday. “He’s going to love it. He’s a snow dog,” Rudkowski said. In Maine, which was also under a blizzard warning, Rick Tucker kept busy — and cheerful — as customers bought generators, snowblowers, shovels, ice melt and lanterns at Maine Hardware in Portland. “It sounds like it’s going to be a big one,” said Tucker, the store president. “We haven’t had one of those for a while. It’s going to be fun.” ___ Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Deepti Hajela in New York; Brian Witte in Annapolis, Maryland; Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia; Wayne Parry in Point Pleasant, New Jersey; Pat Eaton-Robb in Hartford, Connecticut; Steve LeBlanc in Cambridge, Massachusetts; William J. Kole in Warwick, Rhode Island; David Klepper in Providence, Rhode Island; David Sharp in Portland, Maine; and airlines writer David Koenig.

PITTSBURGH — President Joe Biden visited the collapsed bridge in Pittsburgh on Friday, striking evidence of a need for his $1 trillion infrastructure initiative. The bridge fell just hours before Biden’s previously scheduled trip to the city to showcase his program, temporarily stranding vehicles and people but causing no fatalities. Biden spoke to first responders and surveyed the empty space the bridge spanned before falling to pieces. Biden had spoken by phone with Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey about the early morning bridge collapse before taking off for Pennsylvania and offered federal support for the cleanup efforts, White House principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters en route to Pittsburgh. “Our team remains in touch with state and local officials on the ground on updates and any additional assistance we can provide,” she said. The bridge collapse — which caused no fatalities but prompted rescuers to form a human chain to retrieve people from a precariously perched bus — offered Biden a striking example of what he has declared an urgent need for investments in the country’s infrastructure. The steel span was built in 1970, and a 2019 inspection revealed the deck and superstructure to be in poor condition, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Bridge Inventory. The infrastructure law signed by Biden has earmarked about $1.6 billion for Pennsylvania bridge maintenance, with tens of billions more for public transit, highway maintenance and broadband internet expansion in the state. Friday’s trip was an opening step in a broader campaign to promote White House achievements in key states before the midterm elections. It brought Biden, a Pennsylvania native, home to one of the top-targeted states this cycle. The Pennsylvania battle to replace Republican Sen. Pat Toomey, who is not seeking reelection, is expected to be one of the most competitive Senate races this year. But two of the three leading Democrats on Pennsylvania’s statewide ballot this spring who were invited to appear with Biden were not attending, their campaigns confirmed on the eve of the president’s visit. Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, a leading Senate candidate, and state Attorney General Josh Shapiro, the likely Democratic nominee in the race for governor, will be absent because of scheduling conflicts, according to their spokespeople. Another top Senate candidate, Rep. Conor Lamb,  a longtime Biden supporter based in Pittsburgh, will attend, his office confirmed. All three had been invited to participate in a photo line with the president. The high-profile absences come as Democrats in other states have begun taking modest steps to distance themselves from the first-term president, whose approval ratings have fallen sharply in recent months. And while Fetterman and Shapiro indicated that politics had no bearing on their schedules, their decisions to avoid Biden, particularly in his home state, could fuel further questions among anxious Democratic candidates elsewhere as they decide whether to embrace the struggling president. Shapiro made three appearances with Biden last summer and fall when the president’s numbers were better. But the gubernatorial hopeful has a scheduling conflict this time, Simons said, without detailing the conflict. “Like every American should, Josh wants our president to be successful and we’ll continue welcoming President Biden to his home state of Pennsylvania,” Simons said. Fetterman, the outspoken lieutenant governor whose campaign headquarters is based in Pittsburgh, said he’ll miss Biden’s visit in that city to attend the Democratic state committee, which begins Friday evening 200 miles to the east in Harrisburg. Leading Pennsylvania Democrats who are not on the ballot this year did not have the same scheduling conflicts. Those who will appear with Biden on Friday include Gov. Tom Wolf, who is term-limited, and Sen. Bob Casey, whose current term runs through 2024. It’s been a different calculation for vulnerable Democrats who will face voters in 2022. Earlier in the month, Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams, a leading candidate for governor in another swing state, skipped a chance to appear with the president in the state, citing an unspecified scheduling conflict. And in the weeks since, several other notable Democrats have seemed to distance themselves from Biden as well. Last week, Texas Democrat Beto O’Rourke said he didn’t need the Democratic president’s assistance in his campaign for governor. And this week, Rep. Steny Hoyer, the No. 3 House Democrat, refused to say whether vulnerable Democrats on the ballot this fall should embrace the label “Biden Democrat.” “I want every Democrat to run as Democrats who deliver,” Hoyer told Politico when asked directly about “Biden Democrats.” The White House announced Biden’s trip on Monday after the president said last week he would look to get out of Washington more in the second year of his presidency. Biden, who has seen his poll numbers sink in the midst of an unrelenting pandemic and high inflation, said it was important that he “go out and talk to the public” about what he’s accomplished and about why Congress needs to get behind the rest of his domestic agenda. While in Pittsburgh, Biden will focus on the economy, according to White House press secretary Jen Psaki. “He’ll be talking about how far we’ve come in getting our economy moving again, making more right here in America, and ensuring all workers benefit,” Psaki told reporters at the White House on Thursday.

BOSTON  — A powerful winter storm that’s expected to produce blizzard conditions Friday and Saturday is prompting people in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S. to prepare for snow, wind and colder temperatures. Heavy snow and strong winds were forecasted to begin in parts of the Carolinas and Appalachia on Friday evening, according to the National Weather Service. The system will then intensify as a nor’easter off the East Coast and bring similar conditions farther north on Saturday. Localized snowfall totals of up to 20 inches were possible, the weather service said. Officials also said wind-blown snow could make travel “nearly impossible.” Colder forecast temperatures after the storm mean dangerous wind chills are possible Saturday night. New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti issued a commercial vehicle travel restriction on multiple Interstate highways in New Jersey starting at 5 p.m. Friday. In addition, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy issued a State of Emergency for the entire state beginning at 5 p.m. Friday. The commercial vehicle travel restriction will begin at 5 p.m. Friday and will be in place until further notice for the following highways in both directions: I-76, entire length from the Walt Whitman Bridge (Pennsylvania border) to Route 42 I-78, entire length from the Pennsylvania border to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike) I-80, entire length from the Pennsylvania border to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike) I-195, entire length from I-295 to NJ Route 138 I-280, entire length from I-80 to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike) I-287, entire length from NJ Route 440 to the New York State border I-295, entire length from the Delaware Memorial Bridge to the Scudders Falls Bridge (Pennsylvania  border) I-676, from the Ben Franklin Bridge (Pennsylvania border) to I-76 NJ Route 440, from the Outerbridge Crossing to I-287 The commercial vehicle travel restriction applies to: All tractor trailers (exceptions as listed in the Administrative Order) Empty straight CDL-weighted trucks Passenger vehicles pulling trailers Recreational vehicles Motorcycles This restriction DOES NOT apply to: The New Jersey Turnpike The Garden State Parkway The Atlantic City Expressway Trucks that are already in New Jersey when the travel restrictions go into place are encouraged to pull off in truck stops to wait out the storm. Officials are advising truckers not to park on shoulders. CONNECTICUT RESTRICTIONS Gov. Ned Lamont said during a news conference on Friday that a tractor-trailer highway ban will go into effect at 6 a.m. Saturday. The governor asked for everyone to use common sense and stay home and off the roads. DELAWARE RESTRICTIONS The state of Delaware has issued a Level 2 driving restriction for Kent and Sussex counties and a Level 1 Driving Warning for New Castle County beginning at 10 p.m. Friday. The Level 2 Driving Restriction (Kent and Sussex counties) means that no person may operate a motor vehicle on Delaware roadways, except for persons designated as “essential personnel.” Travel on roadways is restricted to certain state employees, emergency workers, first responders, health care workers, utility workers, snow removal operators, private sector food and fuel deliveries and individuals already approved through the state’s Emergency Driving Waiver program. The Level 1 Driving Warning (New Castle County) means drivers should avoid traveling on roadways, unless there is a significant safety, health or business reason to do so. MASSACHUSETTS RESTRICTIONS Tractor-trailers will be restricted from all state roads from 6 a.m. Saturday to 12 a.m. Sunday. NEW YORK RESTRICTIONS As of 8 p.m. Friday, a 45 mile-per-hour advisory speed limit will be implemented, and trucks will be restricted to the right lane only on the Long Island Expressway. Starting at 12:01 a.m. through 6 p.m. Saturday, all empty tractor-trailers and tandem trailers will be prohibited due to anticipated high winds. Avoid unnecessary travel. Facilities: Marine Parkway Bridge Cross Bay Bridge Verrazano Narrows Bridge Robert F Kennedy Bridge Bronx Whitestone Bridge Throgs Neck Bridge PENNSYLVANIA RESTRICTIONS The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission are planning to implement temporary vehicle restrictions Friday on interstates across east-central and southeast Pennsylvania. Beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, Tier 4 vehicle restrictions will be in place on the following interstates: I-80 from I-380 to the New Jersey state line I-78 from I-476 to the New Jersey state line On roadways with Level 4 restrictions in place, no commercial vehicles are permitted. Additionally, all school buses, commercial buses, motor coaches, motorcycles, RVs/motorhomes and passenger vehicles (cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, etc.) towing trailers are not permitted on affected roadways while restrictions are in place. Beginning at 5 p.m., Tier 3 vehicle restrictions will be in place on the following interstate: I-295 from I-95 to the New Jersey state line Beginning at 8 p.m., Tier 3 vehicle restrictions will be in place on the following interstates: I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway) from the New Jersey state line to PA Turnpike I-95 from the Delaware state line to New Jersey state line I-276 full length I-476 from I-95 to I-78 I-676 full length Additionally, all school buses, commercial buses, motor coaches, motorcycles, RVs/motorhomes and passenger vehicles (cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, etc.) towing trailers are not permitted on affected roadways while restrictions are in place. RHODE ISLAND RESTRICTIONS Tractor-trailers will be restricted from all roads beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday through 12 a.m. Sunday. For travel conditions in Connecticut, click here. For travel conditions in Delaware, click here. For travel conditions in Rhode Island, click here. For travel conditions in New York, click here. For travel conditions in Massachusetts, click here. For travel conditions in New Jersey, click here. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

SOLANO COUNTY, Calif. — A tractor-trailer fire closed down two lanes on the westbound side of Interstate 80 in Solano County on Thursday. The fire started at approximately 10 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol. The driver was able to pull onto the highway’s right shoulder as the tractor became fully engulfed. The blaze caused the number three and four lanes to be closed on I-80, causing several delays.

SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif. — A Mazda passenger car careened into the top of a semi cab Thursday night near Los Angeles after its driver left the roadway, sped through a dry river bed, then launched out of it. Police said they had been chasing the Mazda but backed off after deemed it too dangerous to continue. The driver of the Mazda was not at the scene when police arrived. The truck driver, who was reportedly asleep in the tractor’s bunk, received non-life-threatening injuries.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois State Police (ISP) has unveiled an interactive Statewide Expressway Shooting (SES) dashboard that contains current and historical data about reported expressway shooting incidents on all expressways in Illinois. The ISP created the dashboard to provide not only data but also the context to expressway shootings reported in Illinois. The  interactive dashboard shows that of 307 shootings last year, more happened on Fridays than any other day of the week. A monthly breakdown shows the most shootings occurred in July (41), followed by 36 in November and 32 in December. A breakdown by expressway finds 80 shootings on the Dan Ryan, followed by 50 on the Eisenhower and 44 on the Bishop Ford last year. One of the main goals of the SES dashboard is to be timely and transparent by displaying the latest reported expressway shooting information. The dashboard will display specific data relating to each reported expressway shooting located in the state. The SES dashboard shows the number of reported expressway shootings from 2019 to the present. The current year-to-date number of reported expressway shootings is also compared to the previous year-to-date number of reported expressway shootings. The SES dashboard will also include information concerning the location, date and time, specific Illinois Highway System and whether there was a reported injury or death. “We want to provide this information to the general public, community stakeholders, our traffic safety partners, other first responders and our law enforcement partners to assure them that we are committed to our mission of ensuring public safety on our expressway systems,” ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly said. “Knowing when and where these violent crimes are being committed, provides us with another tool to combating these violent and senseless crimes.” There are three drop-down menus located on the top right corner of the interactive SES dashboard indicating the year, the specific roadway of occurrence, and the day of the week. Once selected, they will display the results for a specific inquiry on the main map. Next, there are three tabs located on the bottom left-hand corner of the SES dashboard, which depending on which one is selected, will display a pie chart with the day of the week, death or injuries percentage of the total number of reported expressway shootings for the time frame selected. Lastly, the two tabs located near the bottom center area of the SES dashboard will display a bar graph indicating either the reported expressway shootings by roadway or the reported expressway shootings by month and year.