EX-ALDERMAN -- A STICKLER FOR ETHICS -- JAILED FOR FRAUD
CHICAGO (AP) -- Former Alderman Larry Bloom, known as a stickler for ethics while he served on the City Council, has been sentenced to six months in federal prison and fined $5,000 for cheating on his taxes.Bloom, who was sentenced Monday, had pleaded guilty to reporting $9,000 -- including a $6,000 payoff he took from a corrupt contractor -- as rental income in claiming a tax loss for his real estate company.
Federal prosecutors dropped other corruption charges against him that arose in their City Hall investigation called Operation Silver Shovel.
Bloom was elected alderman as an anti-corruption candidate in 1979 and ran unsuccessfully on the same issue for mayor in 1989 and city treasurer in 1995. He left the council that year.
HEATER LIKELY CAUSED DEATHS OF 4 TENT CAMPERS IN GEORGIA
BAXLEY, Ga. (AP) -- A portable heater left running inside a zipped-up tent apparently led to the carbon monoxide deaths of four campers, including three children.
Douglas Green, 51, his son, Adrian, 10, Clarence Williams, 9, and Nicolette Hawkins, 7, were found dead in their tent Sunday, said Bill Butler of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Clarence and Nicolette were the adopted children of Green's common-law wife.
Autopsy results are expected next week. The family's puppy was also found dead in the tent.
OFFICIALS PROBING N.C. FACILITY AFTER BOY'S SUFFOCATION DEATH
BANNER ELK, N.C. (AP) -- Authorities are investigating a home for abused children following the suffocation death of a 9-year-old boy and a series of other complaints.
Timithy Thomas, who weighed only 53 pounds, died Thursday, shortly after he was subjected to a "basket hold" by his teacher at Grandfather Academy.
Basket holds are used on unruly children and involve a teacher getting behind the child, crossing his arms and holding the child's wrists.
"I feel like it was definitely unnecessary," Avery County Sheriff Richard Buchanan said Monday. "We feel like that this probably was the cause of death."
PILOT ERROR AND TRAINING CITED AS FACTORS IN FATAL A.F. CRASH
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Pilot error, training shortfalls and burnout were among the causes of a crash of two Air Force helicopters that killed 12 airmen, military investigators say.
The Air Force on Monday released an overview of the investigation into the Sept. 3 accident of two Pavehawk helicopters. Col. Denver Pletcher said one helicopter had a new instructor pilot, a marginally qualified copilot and an unqualified gunner.
"We think that if any one of the crew members in those critical positions we mentioned had been different or more experienced, this accident might not have happened," he said.
The two helicopters were taking part in a mock night rescue when one helicopter struck the second craft, tearing into the cockpit with its rotor. The two helicopters crashed 65 miles from Las Vegas.
40 CLINIC WORKERS EVACUATED DUE TO SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE
CHICAGO (AP) -- About 40 workers were ordered out of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Chicago after a suspicious package came in the mail.
Bomb experts who X-rayed the package say it appeared to be a vial of liquid, police Lt. Gary Szparkowski said. It may take several days to determine the contents.
Steve Trombley, president and chief executive of Chicago's Planned Parenthood, said he believed the package received Monday was linked to others received by clinics around the country.
BUDDY HOLLY RELATIVES ACCUSE MCA OF HOARDING PROFITS
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) -- Buddy Holly's relatives have sued the singer's record label, alleging the company hoarded royalty payments, forged contracts and produced albums without consent.
The lawsuit against MCA Records seeks unspecified damages but the family's attorney, Kevin Glasheen, described it as a multimillion-dollar case. Los Angeles-based MCA Records did not return calls seeking comment.
"It's bad form to steal from a dead man, but unfortunately in the music industry it happens," Glasheen said Monday. "The problem is that MCA, just like a lot of people who owe money, won't pay it until they have to."
The plaintiffs are Buddy Holly's widow, Maria Holly; his brothers, Larry and Travis Holley; and his sister Pat Holley. The singer dropped the 'e' from his family's last name.
WOMAN WHO BROKE INTO HOME OF PITT ORDERED TO THERAPY
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The woman accused of breaking into Brad Pitt's home and trying on his clothes has been ordered to immediately begin counseling.
Municipal Court Judge Dale Fischer issued the order Monday after Athena Marie Rolando, 20, said she had signed up for counseling but hadn't started.
Counseling was one of the terms of a three-year probationary sentence handed down last month when Rolando pleaded no contest to misdemeanor trespassing.
Outside court, Rolando denied having an obsession with Pitt, star of such movies as "Meet Joe Black" and "Seven Years in Tibet."
"I still think he's good looking," she said, "but I wouldn't want to hurt the man, would I?"
Police said Rolando hoisted herself through a window of Pitt's Hollywood Hills home in January. She was discovered wearing Pitt's clothes and sleeping in an upstairs bedroom. Pitt was not home.