Blizzard blasts Midwest

A killer snowstorm was sweeping across the Midwest and beyond on Thursday, shuttering schools, clogging highways and bottling up airports for the holiday rush. Three deaths were reported, including a woman in Utah who died after trying to walk for help when her car became stuck in the blizzard. Blizzard warnings were in effect from Missouri to Wisconsin, according to AccuWeather meteorologist Mike Smith. The Weather Channel reported that parts of 20 of the lower 48 states are under winter weather advisories -- as far west as Washington state and as far east as New York state.