SUNRISE: Police urge caution during morning commute

Many roads in Colorado Springs are covered in a sheen of ice this morning, leading police to caution drivers to slow down.

An overnight winter storm dropped snow throughout the Pikes Peak region, and slammed southern Colorado mountains with as much as 20 inches of powder, according to the National Weather Service.

The snow melted on many of the city's roads before it froze into slippery sheets that could bring havoc to the morning commute.

"Start out early and take your time," cautions police Sgt. Brian Steckler. "It's slick out there."

The traffic headaches were statewide, with Interstate 25 drivers facing slush and ice from New Mexico to Wyoming, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.

Police reported no serious accidents Tuesday morning, but said they had seen enough fender-benders and spin-outs to put the city on "accident alert."

That means drivers can fill out crash reports within 3 days of an accident and don't need to involve the police unless someone is hurt of one of the drivers is drunk.

While the Pikes Peak region didn't get deep snow from the storm, some other Colorado locations got a pile. According to the Weather Service, spotters in Crestone reported 20 inches early this morning. A spotter near Florissant reported 9.5 inches and parts of the Wet Mountain Range reported 15 inches, the Weather Service said.

The Teller County Sheriff's Office said some spots in that county were buried under 10 inches of snow this morning.

The weather service says a few flurries are possible this morning in Colorado Springs, but the day should turn clear and cold with a high of 29 in the forecast.

Temperatures are expected to warm to the 40s Wednesday.

WALL STREET LOOKS TO GAIN TODAY

Wall Street pointed to a third straight session of gains on Tuesday as investors held on to hopes that the government will reach an agreement to rescue U.S. automakers, the Associated Press reported.

Negotiators worked through the night to come up with a $15 billion bailout for Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp., and Chrysler LLC. A deal might occur as early as Wednesday.

The proposal being worked on reportedly would give the government an ownership stake in the automakers. The market is concerned that a collapse of any of the three companies could stymie the government's efforts to lift the U.S. out of a recession.

The pending deal helped alleviate investor anxiety about corporate earnings.

Meanwhile, fuel prices in Colorado Springs edged lower Tuesday, down to $1.55 per gallon of unleaded gasoline, according to the American Automobile Association. A year ago, gas was running $2.88 per gallon in Colorado Springs as it headed into its all-time record last summer of $3.98 per gallon.

Oil prices Tuesday were plunging again, with a barrel of crude falling $2.90 overnight to settle at $43.71.

MANY WAYS TO SAY "JINGLE BELLS"

One of New York City's most ethnically diverse areas has celebrated the lighting of its public Christmas tree with a multilingual singing of "Jingle Bells."

Elves from the Eriksen Translations language company crooned the holiday classic in at least 12 tongues in the plaza at Brooklyn's Borough Hall, where a 40-foot-tall balsam fir stands, the Associated Press reports.

Brooklyn officials say the borough has nearly 100 ethnic groups speaking more than 135 languages. They say that of the city's five boroughs only Queens is more diverse.

At Monday night's tree-lighting ceremony, "Jingle Bells" was sung in languages including Spanish, French, Norwegian and Romanian.

HAPPENINGS

- "Paws to Read," children can practice reading and building fluency by reading to a Paws to Read dog, 3-4 p.m., Fountain Library Branch, 230 S. Main St., Fountain; 3:45-5 p.m., Ruth Holley Library Branch, 685 N. Murray Blvd.,free.

- Jack Quinn's Running Club Empty Stocking Fund Night, with appetizers, 6 p.m., Jack Quinn's, 21 S. Tejon St., $5.

- "Mrs. Claus TellS Stories" children's program, 6:30 p.m., Old Colorado City Library Branch, 2418 W. Pikes Peak Ave., free.

- Chamber Orchestra concert, 7:30 p.m., Colorado College, Packard Hall, 5 W. Cache La Poudre St., free.