President Obama vowed to continue diplomatic efforts aimed at isolating Russia, even as Russian troops solidified their hold on the Ukrainian territory of Crimea. The US and other leading countries has suspended preparations for a G8 summit meeting in Russia in summer. Obama says they are also weighing economic sanctions in response to Russia's military movement.

'The strong condemnation that proceeds from countries around the world, indicates a degree which Russia is on wrong side of history on this.'

Secretary of State Kerry is visiting Ukrainian capital of Kiev and show support this week. Obama also urge Congress to OK an aid package for Ukraine's fragile economy. Scott Horsley NPR News, Washington. 

 

 

While a winter misery across a large swathe of US today after another storm moved in dumping ice and snow on a broad area of the mid-western and east coast, our forecasters rained in their storm projections. The Baltimore Washington D.C. have already got 48 inches of snow before results setting down. New Jersey saw half a foot of snow today. Delaware also saw 48 inches of snow. More than 27,000 airline flights around the country were cancelled today.  

 

 

Harsh winter weather is also having an effect on the economy. Cold weather push down sales while boosting trucks and SUV sales. Spending rose in January, but the increase came largely from higher heating bills. NPR's * has more.

The Commerce Department says spending rose by 4/10 of recent. That increase reflected a jumping spending on services that was mainly from higher spending on heating bills. CB with Kelley Blue Books says the weather also pushed up sales of trucks and SUV brands, such as  * and the Ford f450. 

'Those brands sell vehicles that are actually appealing to people who are stuck in a polar vortex looking for some form of escape or at least a tool to help them battle it.'

Overall spending on durable goods, such as car fell, nondurable goods covering clothing and food dropped by 7/10 of a percent. *, NPR News.

 

 

Nation's manufacturers say activity picked up somewhat in February. The Institute for Supply Management key purchasing managers grow. So its manufacturing index was up just under 2 points, harshly reviving a 5 * depth of the previous month. At 53.2, the index is above the level that shows expansion in manufacturing rather than contraction. Report data coincides with data showing China's manufacturing sector cooling somewhat though.

 

 

On Wall Street, stocks have a tumble today as tensions increase over Russia's intervention in Ukraine. The Dow Jones Industrial Average down 153 points to 16,168. The NASDAQ fell 30 points. The S&P 500 closed down 13 points today. 

 

 

You are listening to NPR News in Washington.

 

 

With the ban over the proposed XL pipeline expected to come to an end sometime within the next few months, Mineral groups say they now plan to broaden their focus to include the possible loosing of curbs by the administration, US oil and gas exports. Some environmental groups are concerned that President Obama lifts the decades oil ban on US crude exports, and could undercut promises made to deal with climate change. TransCanada Cooperation pipeline will move around * 1,000 barrels of oil a day from Canada to US refineries. 

 

 

New analysis of the national park service says communities adjacent to parks lost more than $400 m in visitors' spending during the two-week government shutdown last October. NPR's Howard Berkes reports an estimated 8 m people would've visited national parks during the shutdown.

The estimates are based on visitation numbers and tourism revenues for three previous Octobers. National Park service statisticians then figure what the the visitation and spending should have been during the 16 days gates were closed. Communities in North Carolina and Tennessee depending on the Great Smoky Mountains National Park were hit hardest, with estimated losses of more than 300,000 visitors and  $25 m. Grand Canyon, the K  * and Yellowstone were closed behind. The impact in some areas was blunted, when state officials provided state, local and private funding to get park to reopen during the government shut down. Howard Berkes NPR News.

 

 

In Bowling Green Kentucky, the home of the National Corvette Museum, they now recovered the first-made classic vehicle swallowed up when a portion of the museum's floor caved in. Cheers erupted as the car, classic blue 2009 ZR1 cranked up, and drove a few feet away and resume power. Online video showed a portion of the museum's floor opening up with giant sinkhole. The cars fell into the 40-foot wide hole.