About 1M homes, firms lack power
BOSTON — From Virginia to Massachusetts, about 1 million homes and businesses remained without power Sunday, two days after a destructive nor’easter, leaving some residents unsure when they could return home and schools questioning if they would be able to open Monday morning.
Skies were clear Sunday over much of the Northeast hit by the storm, which was blamed for nine deaths, including two children struck by trees. But many communities faced major challenges restoring power and cleaning up debris.
Some utility companies told customers that power may not be restored until later this week, around the time another storm could strike the region.
In Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Wolf said he’s authorizing drivers taking utility crews to try to restore power to homes and businesses to work longer hours than is normally allowed.
As of 1 p.m. Sunday, the governor said 236,000 utility customers remain without power in the commonwealth, down from a high of 587,000 at the height of Friday’s storm.
W.Va. strike continues
Unions representing West Virginia teachers and service personnel say they will stay out on strike after the state Senate voted to cut the 5 percent pay raise they had negotiated with the governor.
A joint legislative committee has been formed to address differences in the pay raise bills of the state Senate and House.
In a joint statement Saturday, the American Federation of Teachers-West Virginia, West Virginia Education Association and the School Service Personnel Association said Senate President Mitch Carmichael and his leadership team had left them with no choice after they voted to reduce the raise to 4 percent.
The statement said all public schools in West Virginia would be closed again Monday “and remain closed until the Senate honors the agreement that was made.” Teachers walked out of classrooms statewide starting Feb. 22.
Kelly admits mishandling
WASHINGTON— Nearly a month after Rob Porter, the White House staff secretary, resigned amid accusations of domestic abuse, John Kelly, the president’s chief of staff, acknowledged on Friday he had stumbled in response to initial reports of the allegations.
“We didn’t cover ourselves in glory,” Mr. Kelly, who had issued a statement in Mr. Porter’s defense, told a group of reporters gathered in his office. He said Mr. Porter had “presented himself as the ultimate gentleman” while he worked at the White House.
“I never saw him mad or abusive in any way,” Mr. Kelly said.
More than 30 aides had their clearances reduced from top secret to secret two weeks ago after Mr. Kelly’s review. The controversy over Mr. Kelly’s handling of Mr. Porter and security clearance procedures has shaken confidence in Mr. Kelly within the White House and led to speculation he might depart his job.
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