channel 8 storm tracker

FirstEnergy says about 13,000 of its customers were knocked out, mostly in the Toledo area, though some were affected in greater Cleveland. Spokesman Mark Durbin at FirstEnergy's Akron headquarters says the company saw the storm coming from the West and staffed accordingly.

Schools closed today in Toledo, Akron, Mansfield and numerous other districts. Some flights were canceled at the airports in Toledo and Cleveland, and the Toledo Zoo delayed its opening for a couple of hours.

  • CLEVELAND -- The Natonal Weather Service has dropped the Winter Weather Advisory for all of northeast Ohio as of 12:30 p.m.

    ->CLEVELAND -- All day people were calling "Snowbird," which is Cleveland's equivalent of snow plow 9-1-1, but they were told to wait even though the main roads had already been cleared.

    You might say this was a case of following the rules to a fault instead of using your common sense.

    Grovewood Tavern usually does a pretty good business, but getting in here hasn't been easy these last two days for customers or employees.

    "I pulled out into the street but couldn't go any further. I sat there just spinning my wheels," bartender Amy Pheneger said.

    Tavern owner Beth Davis says motorists in this Collinwood neighborhood were just lucky there wasn't a serious accident.

    "There have been cars sliding thorough intersections. I'm concerned for my customers parking in the street and having to have to walk here," Davis said.

    Ward 11 Councilman Mike Polensik says the division of streets winter snow plan was released Thursday.

    It has very specific when and what to plow guidelines.

    The plan puts such a low priority on residential streets it could be up to 72 hours after a storm before road crews would touch them.

    Polensik says his ward won't again wait that long.

  • Once again, WKYC and WKYC.COM are looking for the best holiday lighting displays around northern Ohio to feature on Channel 3 News at 11 PM.

    Please visit the following link where you can upload your photos or find more useful information about the holidays including recipes, activities and the cutest costume contest from our "Moms Like Me" and the ulimate Metromix guide to the Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and the winter wonderland that is C-town:

    Question:Friday morning, how are you finding the road conditions?

    Please post your comments below.
  • COLUMBUS -- A state investigation concludes inflexible contracts and restrictive bidding have contributed to road salt shortages and high prices.

    A report from the Ohio Department of Transportation also notes that last year's snowy winter in the Midwest depressed salt supplies.

    The department examined the salt market at the request of Gov. Ted Strickland following reports that rock salt prices were up as much as 300 percent this year.

    According to the analysis, part of the blame lies with Ohio contracts that take salt off the market by requiring suppliers to put aside far more salt than may actually be purchased.

    The report turned in Monday also is critical of state statutes that force counties to rely on bids from Ohio salt producers, limiting competition.

  • The full Moon of December 12 will be the biggest and brightest of the year.

    NASA reports that, yes, some full Moons are larger than others and that tonight's will be a "whopper."

    Read more from NASA.gov: By Frank Macek

    CLEVELAND -- November 2008 turned out to be colder and snowier than normal in the Greater Cleveland area.

    According to the latest mont