Free bus rides offered in Detroit amid cold weather

DETROIT (AP) - Free bus rides are being offered in the Detroit area as part of efforts to keep people warm during dangerously cold weather .

The Detroit Department of Transportation and the Detroit-area SMART bus system are giving free rides Wednesday.

Temperatures dropped to minus 6 degrees (negative 21 degrees Celsius) Wednesday morning. The National Weather Service says the previous record low for the day in Detroit was minus 4 degrees (negative 20 degrees Celsius) on Jan. 30, 1951.

The U.S. Postal Service suspended mail deliveries Wednesday in Michigan.

Amid snow, winter storm warnings were in effect for western Michigan and parts of the Upper Peninsula.

Hundreds of schools were closed. WLUC-TV reports the cold delayed construction of snow statues for Michigan Technological University's annual Winter Carnival because it's unsafe to work outside.