Northeast U.S. digging out
after another big snowstorm


Residents of the northeastern United States on Wednesday dug out from a deadly winter storm that dumped more than 15 inches (38 cm) of snow in some places, with frigid temperatures forcing school closings and extensive flight delays and cancellations.

(Some flights to Costa Rica were canceled Wednesday, but reports from both of the country's international airports say that no cancellations have been reported by 2 a.m. today)
 
At least two deaths were blamed on the weather, which made roads treacherous. Near Emmitsburg, Maryland, a driver lost control and slammed into a tractor-trailer, state police reported. In Versailles, Kentucky, a woman's car hit a tree after skidding on an icy highway, local police said.
 
“It's brutal out here,” said Ian Chapin, 28, an appliance repairman braving stiff winds as he pumped fuel into his work vehicle at a gas station outside Philadelphia.
 
The deep chill and heavy snow on Wednesday closed schools in Philadelphia and many suburbs throughout New Jersey, Rhode Island and other states.
 
New York City pushed toward normalcy, opening its schools, but the snowstorm that dropped 11 inches (27 cm) of powder in Central Park touched off some complaints about unequal treatment by new Mayor Bill de Blasio.
 
In the toniest part of the city, Manhattan's Upper East Side, some residents claimed that their unplowed streets were being ignored as part of the mayor's oft-repeated campaign theme to address issues of inequality.
 
De Blasio conceded in a statement that, after visiting the neighborhood and talking to residents, “more could have been done to serve the Upper East Side.”
 
Storms have famously complicated the lives of New York mayors. In 1969, a huge storm created a political crisis for Mayor John Lindsay, who was faulted for the city's slow response. In 2010, Mayor Michael Bloomberg came under fire for his handling of a blizzard that halted some subway service for days.
 
The single-digit temperatures gripping huge swaths of the nation will prove relentless, according to Accuweather.com Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
 
“A total of three waves of Arctic air will blast across the Midwest and Northeast into next week,” he said.
 
Temperatures are likely to stay below freezing in such cities as Minneapolis, Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit and Cleveland through the end of the month, with highs most days only in the teens, he said.
 
“In Boston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York City and Indianapolis, temperatures may only surpass the freezing mark on one or two days through Jan. 31,” Sosnowski added.
 
U.S. airports reported nearly 4,400 flight delays or cancellations on Wednesday, with New York's LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International the hardest-hit, according to FlightAware.com.
 
The heaviest snowfall was recorded in the Boston suburb of Norwell, Massachusetts, with 18.3 inches (46.4 cm) and Manalapan, New Jersey, near the Atlantic coast, which measured 15.8 inches (40.1 cm), according to the National Weather Service.

Shoppers added millions
to their credit card debt


Costa Ricans put more than 10 billion colons additional on their credit cards over Christmas. That's about $21.5 million or about 1.46 percent of what they already owed, said the economics ministry.

The total credit card debt for the country is 751.2 billion colons or about $1.5 billion. Other studies by the same ministry showed that the debt gathers interest at a rate as much as 54 percent.

The Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Comercio routinely does studies of the outstanding debt. The comparison released Wednesday was to the amount that was owed Oct. 31. The data comes from the 29 companies that issue credit cards.

The ministry in this report did not address the amount of money that was in default for non-payment.

Two home invasion suspects
caught after Moravia robbery


A pair of suspected home invaders in Moravia were caught by the Fuerza Pública while fleeing from a burglarized house early Wednesday morning.

The two detainees are known criminals in the area, according to Moravia regional chief Carlos León Retana, and one was arrested just two days before for illegal possession of weapons. “It seems the men entered a house armed and in a violent manner, where they gagged and intimidated the homeowner to rob him of his cell phones, watches, and jewelry,” Retana said.

After responding to a call from the homeowner, officers found the suspects less than a mile from the house. Police confiscated two .380 caliber guns from the men and were also able to recover all the stolen materials, they said.

Retana said this illustrates an important lesson for any future victims of assault or theft: They should alert police as soon as they can to allow officers to immediately respond with any necessary action.

Arbitration panel is sought
in dispute with El Salvador


Costa Rica is seeking the creation of an arbitration panel under the rules of the Free Trade Treaty with Central America and the United States.

The issue is the continuing refusal of the country of El Salvador to apply duty preferences to Costa Rican imports, said the Ministerio de Comercio Exterior.

Commerce officials have been in talks with their counterparts in El Salvador, and the arbitration panel is the next step in the complex process that will end with a ruling by the free trade commission set up under the treaty,

Curridabat man wounded
stopping theft from vehicle


A man in Pinares de Curridabat tried to stop men from breaking into a parked car there and received a gunshot wound for his efforts.

The Judicial Investigating Organization identified the victim by the last name of Duarte. The man was admitted Tuesday night to Hospital Calderón Guardia. He suffered a bullet wound in the stomach.

Agents said that the man reported that when he confronted the thieves, one pulled a gun and fired. Then they fled.