Boston

1 million-plus students take a snow day

The United Nations was shut down and more than a million children got the day off from school Wednesday on the heels of a storm that dumped as much as 14 inches of snow in the Northeast.

It was the latest in a series of storms that have spread snow and ice across parts of the eastern half of the nation since the weekend.

Slippery roads have closed schools, businesses and some government offices from the Plains to the East Coast, and airlines canceled more than 400 flights Wednesday at Newark’s airport, along with more than 300 at La Guardia and about 50 at Kennedy, officials said.

At least 55 deaths have been blamed on snow, ice and cold this week from Kansas to the East Coast.

Washington, D.C.

Government offers cyber terror alerts

Aiming to increase Internet security, the government is now offering Americans free cyber alerts and computer advice from the Homeland Security Department.

Anyone who signs up with the new National Cyber Alert System will receive e-mails about major virus outbreaks and other Internet attacks as they occur, along with detailed instructions to help computer users protect themselves.

The program, which begins Wednesday, represents an ambitious effort by the government to develop a trusted warning system that can help home users and technology experts.

The new alert system sets up potentially serious conflicts with leading software companies, including Microsoft Corp., which aggressively discourage any public disclosures about new security flaws in their products until engineers can study the problems and offer repairing software patches for their customers.

Washington, D.C.

Red Cross low on funding, blood supply

The American Red Cross disaster fund is running a deficit and its blood supply is dangerously low, President Marsha Johnson Evans said Wednesday in a plea for donations.

“There is no fallback option if the Red Cross isn’t there to deliver and no government safety net — we’re it,” Evans said in a speech at the National Press Club.

The Red Cross’ financial picture has been deteriorating for months, due to a drop in contributions and a spate of disasters in 2003 — wildfires and mudslides in California, the Northeast power blackout, Hurricane Isabel and some 500 tornadoes.

Blood donations also are down, in part because of a bad flu season.

The inventory remained at about two days’ supply Wednesday.

Washington, D.C.

Bowflex machines recalled for injuries

Hundreds of thousands of popular Bowflex fitness machines are being recalled because of safety problems that have resulted in more than 70 injuries, the government announced today.

The voluntary recall affects about 420,000 Bowflex Power Pro XL, XTL, and XTLU systems distributed by Nautilus Direct of Vancouver, Wash.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission says the machine’s backboard bench can collapse when being used in the incline position.

There also are problems with the “Lat Tower.”Nautilus Direct says the frame of the tower can weaken over time, twist forward and fall — hitting the user in the back, head or shoulder.

The machines in question were sold nationwide from 1995 to 2003 for about $1,200 to $1,600, depending on the model.

Consumers can call Nautilus Direct at 1 (888) 424-3020 to receive the repair kit. Nautilus is also contacting owners of the machines by mail.