I I II I Iy Icy Cold Stings Slings Most Mod of Nation Bj Ry Associated td Press Midwinter Midwinter's s most severe ere weather lashed most of the nation Tuesday and there wasn't much relief in sight A bitter biller cold wave gripped the central part of the country It was warmer near the arctic circle in Canada than in many parts of the For the second straight day temperatures dropped far below zero in the midwest One reading leading early carly Tuesday was 45 degrees below More Cold Forecast And it was cold and icy and wet over widespread areas of the east Colder weather was on the I way said U. U S S. S forecasters for I much of the east and parts of the south I Snow f fell n in Houston Tex and the mercury dropped to 25 above e I Temperatures were below freezing freezing freez freez- ing ng all the way to the Rio Grande valley alley The cold threatened citrus and vegetables in the rich agricultural agricultural agri agri- cultural region There was a t mounting death toll attributed to the cold and icy weather Hundreds suffered in injuries injuries injuries in- in juries in falls on icy streets Storms Close Schools School Schools closed in many areas areas- In the east and Texas by ice storms in the midwest and west westby westby westby by cold weather Travel on highways highways highways high high- ways was slowed Many air flights were canceled Communications were disrupted in some areas because because because be be- cause of ot ice-coated ice power lines The cold air missed only two parts of the country the country the extreme southeast and the far west fore west fore forecasters I casters said The rest of the nation they said was feeling the sting of the cold Canadian air The midwest like Monday Mondel got the most severe se cold with readings far below zero They also i reached cached subzero levels in the northern and central