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A major winter storm is set to sweep the nation this weekend, bringing snow, sleet, ice and sub-zero windchills from the southern Plains to the Northeast from Friday to Monday. While it’s still too early to predict snowfall totals for areas east of the Mississippi River, heavy snow is expected in Memphis, Nashville, Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City. Further west, 8 to 14 inches of snow is expected in Oklahoma City, 6 to 12 inches in Little Rock, Arkansas, and 5 to 10 inches in Amarillo, Texas. Simultaneously, a long-duration extreme cold event is likely to move in during and after the storm. Those who lose power might endure several days of below-freezing temperatures. Extreme Weather Jan 6, 2025 Take these steps to protect yourself from winter weather dangers In the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region, wind chills of 40 to 50 below zero are possible. In Texas and along the Gulf Coast, temperatures could feel like they are in the single digits, down to 10 below zero. More than 50 record lows are possible from Sunday to Tuesday, with Texas and southern states most at risk of record cold. Cities like Dallas could spend more than 48 hours below freezing, and cities like Chicago could see the same time frame with temperatures below 10 degrees Fahrenheit. The threat of a deep freeze jogs memories of a similar situation that unfolded in Texas in 2021, when a winter storm prompted freezing temperatures and days without electricity after generator facilities froze and demand for electricity overwhelmed the system. Deep freeze in the southern Plains The storm will get its start in the southern Plains on Friday, first wreaking havoc on Texas and Oklahoma before moving east with heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain that make travel unlikely to impossible. But perhaps the largest threat to the region is the freezing temperatures that will set in as the snow and ice melt. As of Tuesday night, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had already activated the state’s emergency response resources. The state’s department of transportation will pre-treat and then treat roads, and will help with traffic control. The Division of Emergency Management will provide maps of warming centers. The National Guard will be on call to assist stranded drivers, and a number of other departments will be available to clear snow, monitor utility providers and natural gas supplies, and monitor air and water quality. Abbott urged Texans to remain aware and check alerts before any necessary travel. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas said on Facebook that it is monitoring the approaching cold weather and will keep Texans informed about power grid conditions. As of Wednesday, the agency said grid conditions are expected to be normal, but Texans can monitor changes through social media and through their app. Icy in the southeast The storm is set to expand across the South on Saturday, with ice storms continuing in Georgia and the Carolinas throughout the weekend. Wind chills will be as low as the single digits to -10 degrees Fahrenheit along the Gulf Coast, and many of these areas are at risk for pipe freezing, including Memphis and St. Louis. North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein advised residents in a Tuesday post on X to get prepared now — especially in anticipation of power outages — by collecting necessities such as batteries, food, and drinks. The North Carolina Department of Public Safety said people should plan to stay home and off the roads all weekend, and urged people in the state to wrap up their preparations by Friday night before the worst of the storm hits. The North Carolina Department of Emergency Management suggested stocking emergency kits in case roads become impassable. “Items like flashlights, batteries, and battery backups can make all the difference,” the department said on Facebook. NCDPS added in an emailed statement that items such as gallon jugs of water, non-perishable foods, pet supplies and food, cell…

And the nominees are… Nominations for the 98th annual Oscars will be announced Thursday with Hollywood’s biggest night less than two months away. All 24 categories, including the newest addition for Best Casting, will be revealed live from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Science’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Los Angeles. Cast and crew from top contenders and Golden-Globe-winning films like “One Battle After Another,” “Hamnet” and “Sinners” will learn how many of the coveted golden statuettes they’re in contention for. Timothée Chalamet could be taking home his first Academy Award after winning the Golden Globe for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture in a Musical or Comedy for his role in “Marty Supreme.” He’ll likely be joined in the category by Michael B. Jordan (“Sinners”), who is seeking his first Oscar nomination, and Leonardo DiCaprio (“One Battle After Another”), who has been nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars five times, winning once in 2016 for “The Revenant.” Jessie Buckley, after winning the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, enters as the favorite for Best Actress for her role as Agnes Shakespeare in “Hamnet.” It would be her second Oscar nomination following her nod for Best Supporting Actress in 2022 for “The Lost Daughter.” Those joining her in the category could include Rose Byrne (“If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”), Emma Stone (“Bugonia”), Kate Hudson (“Song Sung Blue”) and Chase Infiniti (“One Battle After Another”). Find out who makes the cut during the Oscars nominations announcement. Here’s how to watch: When are the 2026 Oscars nominations announcement? The nominations for the 2026 Oscars will be revealed Thursday, January 22 at 8:30 a.m. ET/7:30 a.m. CT/5:30 a.m. PT. How to watch the 2026 Oscars nominations announcement The live presentation will be streamed live on Oscar.com, Oscars.org and the Academy’s digital platforms – including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook. The announcement will also air on ABC’s “Good Morning America” and stream on ABC News Live, Disney+ and Hulu. Nominations will be announced by actors Danielle Brooks, a 2024 Best Supporting Actress nominee for her role in “The Color Purple,” and Lewis Pullman, who has starred in films like “Thunderbolts*” and “Top Gun: Maverick.” Academy Awards Dec 24, 2025 Oscars 2026: How to watch the movies getting the most awards buzz Academy Awards Feb 27, 2025 Why is it called an Oscar? Fun facts about the Academy Awards statuette How many nominees are there for Oscars categories? Best Picture has 10 nominees. All other categories have five nominees each. What are the Oscars categories? The following categories, listed alphabetically and not in order of presentation, will be announced at 8:30 a.m. ET/7:30 a.m. CT/5:30 a.m. PT: Actor in a Supporting Role Actress in a Supporting Role Animated Short Film Costume Design Live Action Short Film Makeup and Hairstyling Music (Original Score) Writing (Adapted Screenplay) Writing (Original Screenplay) Nominees for the remaining categories below will be announced beginning at 8:41 a.m. ET/7:41 a.m. CT/5:41 a.m. PT: Actor in a Leading Role Actress in a Leading Role Animated Feature Film Best Picture Casting Cinematography Directing Documentary Feature Film Documentary Short Film Film Editing International Feature Film Music (Original Song) Production Design Sound Visual Effects When are the 2026 Oscars? The Oscars ceremony will be March 15. How to watch the 2026 Oscars The Oscars will air on ABC and be streamed on Hulu. Who is hosting the 2026 Oscars? The 2026 Oscars will be hosted by Conan O’Brien, who holds the role for the second consecutive year.

Massachusetts voters could wind up sifting through at least 12 ballot questions this November. The website for the office of Secretary of State William Galvin shows a wide array of issues that have met the necessary signature totals and been certified. Rent control, marijuana regulations and election day voter registration are all included at this point. The high total would be a record for Massachusetts and potentially put voters in a unique spot. “Asking folks to feel like they understand these issues, understand the impacts, understand what it’s going to mean, that really, I think, can create some policy-making challenges,” said Doug Howgate with Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. But talk of 2026 is colliding with questions of the past. Detailing an audit into settlement agreements, Massachusetts Auditor Diana DiZoglio spoke of three agencies failing to provide needed documents and calling out what she sees as gaslighting by state leaders. That complaint extends beyond the day-to-day and into her ballot question to audit the Legislature, which passed overwhelmingly in 2024, but has yet to be implemented. “All sorts of games and allegations about not being able to access documents, or questions being answered from our office. I’ve repeatedly called on the AG to subpoena, whatever she needs, I’ll happily skip to court and meet her there,” said DiZoglio. Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has maintained her office needs to know the audit’s scope to determine what is constitutional. Analysts say the ongoing fight shows the complexities of the process. “You often see ballot questions, especially those that garner the public attention on issues, that then get very complicated very quickly,” said Howgate. As for which questions will be on the ballot in 2026, Galvin’s office’s website says the questions will be transmitted to the Legislature, and if the House and senate choose not to pass a proposed law, the petitioners behind the questions will then be permitted to gather an additional 12,429 signatures to secure their spot on the ballot.

Authorities are searching for a missing teenager from Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood. Boston police said on Wednesday that they were looking for 15-year-old Adrianna Goncalves, who was last seen around 7:50 a.m. Tuesday on Crestwood Park. When she was last seen, Goncalves was wearing black pants, a black North Face coat, grey and black sneakers and gold jewelry, police said. She was carrying a bag described as khaki or cream-colored. Police did not give a physical description of Goncalves, but they released a photo of her. Goncalves is known to frequent Kensington Park and Harrishof Street, both in Roxbury. Anyone with information is asked to call 617-343-4275. Anonymous tips can also be left by calling 1-800-494-8477, by texting “TIP” to 27463, or by visiting the Boston Police Department’s website.