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Pilot killed in southern Illinois helicopter crash was crop-dusting at the time

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:48 GMT

OAKDALE, Ill. (AP) — A pilot killed when a helicopter crashed in rural southern Illinois was crop-dusting at the time, authorities say.Donald L. Pruett, 41, of Mount Vernon was pronounced dead at the scene Monday afternoon by Washington County Coroner Mark Styninger.Pruett was the sole occupant of the helicopter.The crash occurred in a remote farm area, Styninger said. The wreckage was found in a cornfield under overhead power lines, the coroner said. It was unclear if the helicopter struck the power lines.The cause of death appeared to be blunt force trauma pending an autopsy, Styninger said. Video shows crop dusting plane nearly clipping semi-truck in Northwest Indiana The Federal Aviation Administration said the helicopter was a Bell UH-1H “Huey.”The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.Oakdale is about 45 miles (72 kilometers) southeast of St. Louis, Missouri.

Paul Reubens had a quick moment in an iconic Chicago movie

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:48 GMT

CHICAGO — This week, many are sharing their favorite on-screen memories of the actor known best for his role as Pee-wee Herman. Those reflecting on the career of Paul Reubens, who died of cancer at the age of 70 on Monday, might also recall his brief moment in an iconic Chicago movie. If you weren't looking, you might have missed him during the two-hour, 13-minute film. (Courtesy: Universal Pictures)Reubens had a very small part in "The Blues Brothers," the memorable musical comedy from Universal Pictures in 1980 that starred Dan Aykroyd and the late John Belushi. The film featured a host of iconic spots in Chicago while featuring a host of legendary rhythm and blues artists. Pee-wee Herman star Paul Reubens dies at age 70 after cancer fight During his one scene in the film, Reubens was a waiter at the Chez Paul, a famous French restaurant in Chicago that was located at 660 North Rush Street. In an effort to recruit restaurant maitre d' "Mr. Fabulous" (Alan Rubin) back to th...

Video: Man hit repeatedly by Oklahoma police during arrest

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:48 GMT

ADA, Okla. (KFOR) - An internal investigation is reportedly set to review an incident caught on camera in which Oklahoma police officers appeared to repeatedly punch and knee a man that was on the ground being arrested.Witnesses told Nexstar's KFOR the video, seen in the player above, was “shocking,” “disturbing,” and “hard to watch.” Many of those witnesses showed up at the Walmart parking lot in Ada, Oklahoma, where the incident happened, to share their concerns.“I witnessed four police officers laying on top of him,” said Hunter Smith, who walked out of the store while the incident was underway. The officers appeared to be from the Ada and Chickasaw Lighthorse police departments. “The fifth one was kneeing him in his face while punching him.”The man, Justin Glaspey, was pulled over in the parking lot moments before the incident seen on video began. Bond denied for woman accused of DUI crash that killed bride on wedding night "He's never been in no trouble,” said Mike Byers, a f...

Former President Trump indicted for charges related to Jan. 6 Capitol attack

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:48 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – Former President Donald Trump is facing a third indictment for charges related to the 2021 attack on the United States Capitol.Trump was already facing charges for the illegal retention of classified documents and charges for the hush money case in New York, but with this indictment, Trump is charged with attempting to overturn the 2020 election.Special Counsel Jack Smith announced that a federal grand jury indicted trump on four counts related to the January 6 riots “charging Donald J. Trump with conspiring to defraud the United States, conspiring to disenfranchise voters, and conspiring and attempting to obstruct an official proceeding.”Smith said the attack was “fueled by lies, lies by the defendant, targeted at obstructing a bedrock function of the U.S. government.”The indictment states Trump had six co-conspirators assist him in his criminal efforts to overturn the election and retain power, though they were not named and haven't been charged.U.S. Attorne...

A new member of the Bears' defense earns high praise from teammates

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:48 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — A NFL team knows they have a good defender when someone going up against him has the kind of response that Justin Fields had at his news conference on Wednesday at Halas Hall."Goodness, gracious," said the Bears' signal caller when he was asked about the team's biggest free agent signing whose size on the field has certainly stood out to the offense. That's because Tremaine Edmunds' 6-foot-5 frame along with his athleticism has caused some problems for the Bears' offense as the linebacker takes part in his first training camp with the team."Justin said it best the other day. We have a scheme that should take advantage of somebody in the middle of the field. But the dude's like seven foot tall and the wingspan, that's not happening - and he's right," said offensive coordinator Luke Getsy of Edmunds, who joined the Bears on a four-year, $72 million contract this offseason. "He shrinks the windows for sure in the pass game and then his ability to play sideline-to-si...

'Gravy-themed' roller coaster coming to Midwest theme park

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:48 GMT

(WEHT) – An amusement park in the Midwest has announced plans for a new roller coaster featuring elements designed to take riders "back in time to Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma's house."The "gravy-themed" ride, called Good Gravy, is scheduled to open in 2024 at the Holiday World theme park in Santa Claus, Indiana.Once open, the ride will join Holiday World's other holiday-themed attractions spread across the park's Thanksgiving, Christmas, Halloween and Fourth of July sections.(Holiday World)Matt Eckert, the president and CEO of Holiday World and its Splashin' Safari water park, said it was hard to keep details of the new coaster under wraps."After a while it gets really hard to keep a secret," said Eckert. "I didn't even tell my kids, I didn't tell my wife." Americana-themed’ amusement park coming to Oklahoma Thrill-seekers who ride the Good Gravy coaster will start in the station, which is decorated in the style of "grandma's house," according to a press release from Holiday Wo...

'I wasn't going to come out of the water without finding her.' Good Samaritan credited with pulling three from reservoir

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:48 GMT

CUMMINING, IOWA (WHO) -- What started as a normal evening for Jason McLendon and his wife quickly turned into the opposite after they jumped into action in an attempt to save three people at Iowa's Dale Maffitt Reservoir. On Monday at 6:48 p.m., the Dallas County Dispatch got a call requesting help for three people who had been fishing at Moffitt Lake and fell in the water. The Dallas County Sheriff's Office said that a passerby helped two people out of the water and then dove to the bottom and pulled out the third who had been underwater for several minutes. Authorities said the 14-year-old girl who was underwater later died at a hospital.That passerby was McLendon."My wife and I were driving back from a friend's house," said McLendon. "I came across the dam here. I noticed a lady with a fishing pole ahead of us, walked out halfway in the road, walked back, looked a little confused. Thought they were just fishing. I get halfway down (the dam) and I see a man and a young boy running...

Highest-paying jobs in Chicago

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:48 GMT

The rich are getting richer, and have been for some time.Across the nation, wages have continued to rise this year despite the Federal Reserve's efforts to temper inflation. In June, average weekly earnings grew at a higher rate than the Consumer Price Index, the nation's primary inflation indicator.While pay is increasing across income levels, the historical growth for high-income jobs has been most profound. High-income jobs have grown 69% over the past 50 years—more than both middle- and lower-income jobs, a Pew Trusts analysis shows.The highest earners in the U.S. are what you'd expect: doctors and other medical professionals, engineers, tech workers, executives, and corporate leaders. Nationally, the 50 top-paying jobs all require at least a bachelor's degree, and many require a master's, doctorate, or another professional degree. Indeed, Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that higher degree holders earn more in a typical week and face lower rates of unemployment.Still, the ...

Park district hosting boxing events in August

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:48 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago Park District is hosting outdoor boxing events at five locations across the city this month.Each event features 10 bouts where boxers between 8 and 25-years-old will face off against each other.Highlights include a showcase featuring Chicago police officers as judges and referees and the Daley Plaza citywide boxing showcase.More information at chicagoparkdistrict.com/boxing-gyms.This month’s upcoming Chicago Park District Citywide Boxing events include:Sheridan Park, Citywide Boxing | 910 S. Aberdeen St., 7:00 p.m., August 3, 2023Ogden Park, Chicago Police Department Showcase | 6500 S. Racine Ave., 7:00 p.m., August 10, 2023Eckhart Park, Citywide Boxing | 1330 W. Chicago Ave., 7:00 p.m., August 24, 2023Daley Plaza, Citywide Boxing | 50 W. Washington St., 12:00 p.m., August 30, 2023Portage Park, Citywide Boxing | 4100 N. Long Ave., 7:00 p.m., August 31, 2023

Could the Big Ten expand again? Report says the conference is looking into it

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:48 GMT

CHICAGO — Ahead of the addition of two more teams to the conference in a year, the Big Ten may be looking west again to increase its membership. Per a report from Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports, a group of presidents in the conference have begun "exploratory discussions" on expanding again. This comes as the Big Ten gets ready to welcome UCLA and USC to the conference beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year. Per Wetzel, this comes in light of the instability in the Pac-12, which lost both of those schools and will have Colorado leave next year as well. The report has the conference eyeing Oregon and Washington as potential future members with the possibility of adding California and Stanford. All four would expand the conference to 20 teams, but all discussions, according to the report, are preliminary.The Big Ten has yet to respond for comment. Conference realignment has been a major topic for the past few in major college athletics with teams changing their affiliations more often ...