I-39 in central Illinois reopens after pileup in snowstorm

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) — A stretch of interstate in central Illinois that had closed after a pileup involving about 100 cars, trucks and big rigs in a blinding snowstorm fully reopened Friday. There were no reports of injuries in the crashes. They happened Thursday on Interstate 39 north of Bloomington as winds cut visibility during a storm that swept through the Midwest and other parts of the country. State police said authorities were able to escort all the stranded motorists to warming centers. The interstate was closed in both directions early Friday, as crews untangled the nine passenger vehicles and 19 commercial vehicles as well as retrieve dozens more that slid off the icy roadway. Northbound lanes were opened before midday, followed by southbound lanes later in the day.