NJN/am for Tuesday, February 11

Good Tuesday morning to you…

Weather: The iceman cometh. Temperatures are slipping to the freezing mark around metro Birmingham this morning, which means the rain that has fallen is starting to freeze, and the precipitation falling now is mainly in the form of freezing rain. Roads, especially bridges and overpasses, are starting to glaze over this morning, especially in north Jefferson. In short, if you don’t have to be out and about, don’t. Farther north, Interstate 65 north is covered with ice and snow in Blount and Cullman counties, with traffic backups around the 300 mile marker. The freezing rain will turn to rain and then end around noon, with highs reaching 35. Tonight, rain and sleet will return, with more icing possible and lows right around the freezing mark. On Wednesday, another weather system comes through bringing rain in the morning, turning to snow after lunchtime, with accumulations around an inch expected.

State of emergency. Gov. Robert Bentley declared a state of emergency for central Alabama in advance of the storm, and all local school systems called off classes for today. Many businesses have also closed as well, so if you do have to go out, call ahead first.

Iconic child star passes. Shirley Temple, who entertained movie audiences throughout the 1930s, died Monday night at her home near San Francisco. She was a box-office sensation during the latter years of the Great Depression, but was out of show business by age 21. Shirley Temple Black got into politics later in life, serving in several diplomatic positions under Republican administrations. Black, whose husband of 50 years died just months ago, was 85.

Sports: Bonus basketball. Pinson Valley had to battle not only a formidable Center Point squad, but also the Eagles’ entire student body when their Class 5A Area 11 boys finals was moved up to a noon start to avoid the winter storm. But the Indians came back not once, but twice to win 57-54 in overtime. They will host a sub-regional against Ramsay on Friday. Elsewhere in area finals, both Gardendale ‘s boys and girls fell to Huffman, Hayden’s boys were routed by Walker, and St.Clair County came back to edge Locust Fork… Olympics: Devyn Logan won silver for the U.S. in women’s slopestyle skiing, while superstar Shaun White grabbed the top qualifying spot in halfpipe snowboarding on Tuesday in Sochi. White is going for his third gold medal in the event. And in curling (because we know you love it so much), the Americans lost in both the men’s and women’s round-robin. China beat the U.S, men 9-4 in a match conceded after eight ends, while Russia defeated the U.S women 9-6. In the latter game, the Americans were up 4-1 after three ends when skip Erica Brown came up short with a draw to the “button,” or center spot, allowing the Russians to steal two points early.