Ice Topples Power Lines in Dakotas

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - Thousands of people are without power after

icy weather toppled miles of power lines in the Dakotas.

A winter storm carrying freezing rain and snow is pushing

through the region. Blizzard-like conditions are expected to

develop over the weekend and into Monday.

The South Dakota Rural Electric Association reports 11,500

customers without power statewide as of Saturday morning. That's

down from 12,500.

The association says 15 of the state's electric cooperatives are

reporting outages, with 6,000 power poles brought down by ice.

In North Dakota, Huron-based Dakota Energy reported 725

customers without power and 28 miles of downed lines.

Governors of both states have declared statewide emergencies to

deal with the storm.

Tags: daily updates, storm, ice, weather