• The coldest air of the season is expected to move into the northern plains this weekend into early next week.  At this time, the coldest air is expected on Sunday and Monday with sub-zero highs on both days across much of the area.  Overnight low temperatures of 10 to 20 below zero are likely with a few readings colder than 30 degrees below zero possible in the typical colder locations!
• More importantly, this brutally cold airmass will be accompanied by blustery northerly winds of 10 to 20 mph with higher gusts.  This will result in dangerously cold wind chill values ranging from 30 to 50 degrees below zero, especially on Sunday night and into the day on Monday.  With these temperatures, frostbite can occur in as little as 10 minutes!

• Author of school lunch reform proposal says USDA ruling is a step in the right direction, but permanent legislative fix still needed
• Washington, D.C. - Rep. Kristi Noem today issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture permanently loosened meat and grain requirements in school lunches, which have come under increased scrutiny since their implementation in 2012:
• "Making sure our kids are healthy is a top priority, but making sure they don't go hungry is critical as well.  The USDA's announcement comes after a tremendous amount of pressure from parents, school administrators, and Congress. What they are offering is a step in the right direction and adopts some of the provisions offered in my bill to give relief.  A more permanent legislative fix and even greater flexibility is still needed, however, in order to give parents and school administrators the tools they need when planning our kids' lunch programs."
• In December 2013, Rep. Noem introduced the Reducing Federal Mandates on School Lunch Act, which was endorsed by the National School Boards Association, the School Superintendents Association (AASA) and the Council of the Great City Schools.  The legislation would:
• Make the USDA's easing of the meat and grain requirements permanent through a legislative fix, allowing schools more flexibility in serving meats and grains while still staying within calorie maximums
•  Give administrators flexibility on some of the rules that have increased costs for school districts