The Nation : Cold Grips Midwest, East

Frigid arctic air stung the Midwest and Northeast with temperatures as low as 38 below zero, while a fast-moving storm that dumped a foot of snow on the southern Rockies headed across New Mexico for Texas. The bitter cold stalled cars, drove the homeless to shelters in record numbers and spurred interest in get-away vacations to warmer latitudes. The snow and cold have been blamed for at least four deaths nationwide since Monday. Temperatures plunged below zero from Minnesota to northern New England. Wind-chill readings as low as 55 below zero were reported in the northern Plains and 25 to 45 below in northern Maine.