Winter storm weakens but thousands still without power

CHICAGO (AP) — The fury of the winter storm that swept into the northern Great Plains on Christmas Day weakened heading into Tuesday, but thousands remained without power in the Dakotas and Michigan.
High winds and drifting snow continued to make travel hazardous in the Dakotas, even as vast stretches of highways that had been closed reopened to traffic.
The storm has caused extensive power outages in the Dakotas, Nebraska and Michigan.
The South Dakota Rural Electric Association said roug