News Brutal US deep freeze blamed for at least 11 deaths, sets all-time record cold in Illinois cities January 31, 2019January 31, 2019Steve Kiggins and Aamer Madhani and John Bacon, USA TODAYComments Off on Brutal US deep freeze blamed for at least 11 deaths, sets all-time record cold in Illinois cities Near-record temperatures were recorded in dozens of cities and towns. The Midwestern metropolises of Chicago, Minneapolis and Detroit were among areas feeling the brunt of the polar vortex-powered weather.