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(Continued from page 20)
• The National Weather Service forecast a foot or more of snow in some areas of the Upper Midwest, with freezing rain possible for parts of the Great Lakes. To the south, Oklahoma and Arkansas faced a possible ice storm Thursday evening.
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US Chamber of Commerce running ads for Idaho incumbent facing GOP primary test, W.Va. hopefuls
• WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is launching ads backing eight-term Republican Rep. Mike Simpson, who faces a primary challenge in Idaho, and two GOP candidates in West Virginia as the business organization ramps up its political activity for next year's congressional elections.
• The Chamber's involvement in Idaho marks the second time in recent months that the group has taken sides in the internal Republican fight pitting the GOP establishment against conservative activists. The group backed Bradley Byrne over tea party favorite Dean Young in a special congressional runoff primary in Alabama, pumping at least $200,000 into the race. Byrne won the Nov. 5 contest.
• Simpson is facing a challenge from lawyer Bryan Smith, who has the endorsement of the anti-tax Club for Growth. The conservative group has helped topple Republican incumbents in past primaries, including longtime Sen. Richard Lugar, although the GOP later lost the general election in Indiana last year.
• The Club for Growth describes Simpson, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, as one of the "biggest Republican-in-name-only" members of Congress.
• Not so, says the Chamber television ad that begins airing Friday. The Associated Press obtained advance copies of the commercials.
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Pearl Harbor survivor keeps going at age 96 by chatting up tourists from across globe
• PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) -- Herb Weatherwax cruises the open-air grounds of the visitors center at Pearl Harbor on a motorized scooter dubbed "Herb's Hot Rod." When a woman notices his blue and white cap embroidered with the words "Pearl Harbor Survivor," he coaxes her over.
• "Come get a picture," Weatherwax says. Her family surrounds his scooter to pose for a snapshot and shake his hand.
• The 96-year-old charms visitors in a similar fashion each of the three days a week he volunteers at a memorial for the USS Arizona, a battleship that sank in the (Continued on page 22)
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