Supreme Court bolsters political influence of US Latinos

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The Latest on the springtime storm sweeping through the Northeast (all times local): 1:50 p.m. Warnings of up to 6 inches of snowfall in some parts of Rhode Island have made some residents nervous to leave their homes. Johnston resident Dennis F. Conte stayed home early Monday because he was worried about getting into an accident. But later he decided it was safe enough to do errands. Outside Dave's Marketplace in East Greenwich, Conte acknowledge that snow this time of year is unexpected and makes things difficult. But he says it's nature and "we just have to grin and bear it." He says he was getting by with patience and knowledge that warmer weather was on the way. Coastal areas of Rhode Island are expected to get 1 or 2 inches. ___ 11 a.m. Southern New England is getting hit by a second consecutive day of April snow. The snow that started Monday morning is expected to last into the evening. The National Weather Service says Cape Cod and the South Shore should only expect an inch or 2, with the Boston area getting 3 to 4 inches, while some areas to the north of Boston and into central and western Massachusetts could get up to 6 inches. Most of Rhode island and Connecticut are expected to get in the 3 to 4 inch range, with less in coastal areas. Some spots could get record-low temperatures. Many Massachusetts school districts canceled classes Monday. The maximum speed on the Massachusetts Turnpike was reduced to 40 mph from Hopkinton to the New York border. ___ 7 a.m. An early spring cold front is bringing snow and gusty winds to the Northeast after the region had one of its mildest winters on record. The National Weather Service says several inches of snow could fall Monday from Buffalo, New York, to Boston. The weather service has issued winter weather advisories effective until Monday afternoon. Snow is falling across the upstate New York, where forecasters say up to 10 inches of snow is possible in some western areas. The wintry blast follows another storm that dropped up to 6 inches of snow Sunday on parts of Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Wind gusts of up to 30 mph have been reported in western New York. New York state police say a tour bus, three tractor-trailers and eight passenger vehicles were involved in the pileup in the town of Maryland, 55 miles west of Albany. Only minor injuries were reported. ___ 5 a.m. Whipping winds have toppled hundreds of trees across New York City. The Wall Street Journal (http://on.wsj.com/234GDJc) reports that the city Department of Parks and Recreation on Sunday received reports of as many as 324 downed trees. About 100 trees came down in Brooklyn and Queens, 70 on Staten Island and 40 in the Bronx. Manhattan had a handful of fallen trees. The National Weather Service says 64 mph winds were recorded at JFK Airport and 45 mph in Central Park on Sunday. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority says service was temporarily suspended after a tree crashed on the elevated tracks of the northbound 4 train early Sunday near Woodlawn station in the Bronx. A tree also fell on the southbound track of the Q train in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn.

The Latest: Spring snow warnings keep some people at home