Indiana's Sen. Bayh won't seek third term
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., saying increased partisanship was making public policy more difficult to achieve, said he would retire when his term ends.
"After all these years, my passion for service to my fellow citizens is undiminished, but my desire to do so in Congress has waned," Bayh, 54, said in prepared remarks released by The Indianapolis Star. "My decision was not motivated by political concern. Even in the current challenging environment, I am confident in my prospects for re-election."
As a Democrat from a red state, Bayh's decision offers Republicans a chance to pick up a Senate seat from America's heartland.
Only several days ago, the senator's staff, associates and state Democratic Party officials told The Indianapolis Star Bayh would seek a third term. Democrats released a poll indicating Bayh is handily ahead of both former Sen. Dan Coats and former U.S. Rep. John Hostettler, two of four Republicans hopefuls.
But Bayh cited the increasingly partisan tenor in Congress for his decision to walk away.
"Two weeks ago, the Senate voted down a bipartisan commission to deal with one of the greatest threats facing our nation: our exploding deficits and debt. The measure would have passed, but seven members who had endorsed the idea instead voted 'no' for short-term political reasons," he said. "Just last week, a major piece of legislation to create jobs -- the public's top priority -- fell apart amid complaints from both the left and right."
Those two events, among other things, "led me to believe that there are better ways to serve my fellow citizens, my beloved state and our nation than continued service in Congress."
U.S. sending top brass to Middle East
JERUSALEM, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- The United States sent top officials to Israel, trying to defuse the volatile situation between Israel and Iran over developments in Iran's nuclear program.
Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with his Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi Sunday, and officials indicated Vice President Joe Biden would visit Israel next week, Ynetnews.com reported Monday.
U.S. officials haven't announced Biden's visit, but a statement was expected soon, the Israeli news agency said.
U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, National Security Adviser James Jones and CIA Director Leon Panetta also have traveled or are in the region.
During a news conference in Tel Aviv Sunday, Mullen warned of fallout from a strike on Iran, saying such action would have "unintended consequences" rippling throughout the region.
Mullen said it was important to allow diplomacy and international pressure to run their course before considering military options over Iran's nuclear program. Last week, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced the first batch of uranium was enriched to 20 percent.
Utah eyeing elimination of 12th grade
SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- Utah State Sen. Chris Buttars says his state should make 12th grade optional to students who have already completed their required high school credits.
The Los Angeles Times said Monday while Buttars initially proposed the complete elimination of 12th grade to trim spending, he has since suggested the state try to save as much as $60 million by making the grade optional.
Utah State Sen. Howard A. Stephenson applauded the proposal from Buttars, a Republican.
"The bottom line is saving taxpayer dollars while improving options for students," said Stephenson, another Republican. "The more options we give to students to accelerate, the more beneficial it is to students and taxpayers."
Utah Board of Education Chairwoman Debra Roberts said nothing truly would change should Buttars' proposal receive the necessary support, saying high school students should not be pressured to graduate early.
"We've always had an option in place for early graduation," she told the Times.
Ice rink roof collapses; no injuries
ROSTRAVER, Pa., Feb. 15 (UPI) -- About 100 adults and children fled in a "stampede" as the roof of a ice rink collapsed around them in Rostraver, Pa., one witness said.
"This could have been tragic," said Justin Shawley, assistant fire chief.
The roof fell Sunday at Rostraver Gardens. No one was injured, authorities said.
Fire officials were investigating whether a buildup of ice and snow trigged the collapse of the roof's midsection, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Monday.
Tara Banasick, 32, was working at a concession stand when she heard loud cracking like "the worst thunderstorm."
"The cracking kept happening, pieces of the roof started to collapse, and I rounded everyone up and started them toward the back exit," Banasick said. "It was like a stampede."
Teams of 9- and 10-year-old children, some from as far as Ontario, Canada, were competing in a youth hockey tournament in the 50-year-old building, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Monday.
More snow forecast for winter-weary states
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- Large chunks of the United States were under weather alerts Monday with freezing rain, sleet and snow battering weather-weary states.
The National Weather Service issued storm warnings and weather advisories for Tuesday in sections of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, especially mountainous regions, CNN reported.
Other warnings and watches were posted in Tennessee, Kentucky, and parts of the Midwest and the Mid-Atlantic states, weather officials said. Up to 3 inches of snow was expected by Monday in those areas.
Hundreds of flights in and out of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta were canceled as the system moved in, CNN said.
A snow emergency was in effect in Washington, where Mayor Adrian Fenty said 4 more inches of snow could fall. The area had already received a season-record snowfall of 55.9 inches, preliminary NWS estimates indicate.
Officials in Kansas City reported more than 100 damaged vehicles littered highways around the city during a 2-hour period Sunday, the Kansas City Star reported. More than 50 injuries were reported, none of them critical.
CNN said one accident involved as many as 30 vehicles.
"You could be driving along and think everything is fine and then -- boom -- you hit a burst of snow," said meteorologist Pat Cooper of the NWS office in Pleasant Hill, Mo. "Visibility's almost zero, you brake, and then you get cars piling into each other."
Officials from Fairfax and Arlington counties in Virginia issued appeals to help clear sidewalks so children could return to school Tuesday after the Presidents Day holiday, The Washington Post reported.
Howard County, Va., school officials said facilities there would be closed Tuesday.
"Some streets are still covered with ice, and others are too narrow," schools Superintendent Sydney Cousin said. "The high piles of snow create real visibility issues."
