Plane crash kills 1 near Kewanee airport
KEWANEE -- Federal investigators are trying to figure out what caused a plane to crash into a cornfield in northwestern Illinois, killing a Missouri woman and injuring two others.
Illinois State Police officials said the plane went down a half-mile south of the Kewanee Municipal Airport on Monday evening. They said the 1976 single-engine Cessna had just taken off from the airport when it crashed.
Authorities say the Henry County coroner pronounced 83-year-old Peggy Middleton dead. A second passenger and the plane's pilot, 82-year-old Harold Middleton, both suffered minor injuries. The Middletons lived in Downing, Mo.
State police said the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will be handling the investigation.
Judge increases bail for police sergeant
CHICAGO -- A judge has increased bail for a Chicago police sergeant after prosecutors raised their estimate of the amount he allegedly stole from the police union he headed from $600,000 to $1 million.
Cook County Circuit Judge Donald Panarese agreed to raise bail for Sgt. John Pallohusky to $350,000. Last week, Pallohusky's bail was set at $250,000.
The judge denied prosecutors' request that Pallohusky post $1 million in cash and allowed the sergeant's attorneys to post 10 percent of the $350,000.
Until his arrest last week on theft and money laundering charges, Pallohusky was the president of the Chicago Police Sergeants Association.
Prosecutors allege he used union money to pay for Las Vegas gambling trips, expensive meals and a second home in Chicago.
University of Illinois plans public forums
URBANA -- The University of Illinois plans to hold public forums on its three campuses in December to seek input on the search for a new president.
The university says the committee is starting to build a pool of applicants. Forums will be held Dec. 2 at the Chicago campus, Dec. 3 at the flagship campus in Urbana-Champaign, and Dec. 8 in Springfield.
The university wants to hire a replacement for outgoing President B. Joseph White by July 2010.
