News Column  Dangerous temperatures push across U.S.  January 7,
2014   MINNEAPOLIS - The coldest, most dangerous blast of polar
air in decades gripped the Midwest and pushed toward the East
and South on Monday, closing schools and day care centers,
grounding flights and forcing people to pull their hoods and
scarves tight to protect exposed skin from nearly instant
frostbite. Many across the nation's midsection went into virtual
hibernation, while others dared to venture out in temperatures
that plunged well below zero. "I'm going to try to make it two
blocks without turning into crying man," said Brooks Grace , who
was bundling up to do some banking and shopping in downtown
Minneapolis , where temperatures reached 20 below, with wind
chills of minus 50. "It's not cold - it's painful." The mercury
also dropped into negative territory in Milwaukee , St. Louis
and Chicago , which set a record for the date at minus 16. Wind
chills across the region were 40 below and colder. Records also
fell in Oklahoma and Tex