Winter Storm Cancels Classes At SIU

Classes at Southern Illinois University are canceled because of a storm that's left a slick layer of ice under several inches of snow, with more wintry weather on the way.

WSIU Radio reports that some services at the 18,000-student Carbondale university were to remain open Friday, including dining services for students, the Morris Library and the student recreation center.
 
University administrators called off Friday's classes because of questionable driving conditions.
 
National Weather Service forecasters say parts of the region could get a foot of snow by the time a storm moves through the region.
 
UPDATE:  Snow is falling in parts of southern Illinois Friday aftrnoon, and forecasters say parts of the region could get as much as a foot and a half of snow by the time a wintry storm moves through the region.
 
The National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky. says portions of southern Illinois are also expected to receive up to a quarter-inch of ice.
 
Forecasters say areas south of Interstate 70 are bearing the brunt of the storm. A state of emergency has been declared for Jackson County, home to Murphysboro and Carbondale, where some secondary roads are impassable.
 
Illinois State Police have responded to dozens of accidents and officials in Franklin county are warning drivers to stay off the roads.