Technology Slice Blog

Plane Crash in Chicago Crystal Lake - Four people from out of state were killed this morning when a plane crashed near northwest suburban Crystal Lake. The single-engine aircraft crashed about 10:30 a.m. in a farm field near U.S. Hwy. 14 and North Ridgefield Road in unincorporated McHenry County, officials said. There was no information available about where the plane took off or where it was headed, said FAA officials, who also said the plane was operating on "visual flight rules" and was not in touch with air traffic control. The victims are two men and two women who all appear to be age 18 or older, according to McHenry County Deputy Coroner Curt Bradshaw. “They have not been positively identified,’’ Bradshaw said Saturday evening. “We only have presumptive identities.’’ Bradshaw said the victims are not from Illinois and authorities are trying to reach their family members, who are also out of state. They were all pronounced dead on the scene and autopsies are sche

Hidden Costs of Divorce - Child support, mortgage payments and attorney fees are the bulk of expenses in a divorce. To keep costs down many people opt for the pro se route — the Do-It-Yourself divorce solution — and represent themselves. Since the other expenses are typically fixed, and an attorney’s final invoice billed at hundreds of dollars an hour is a variable amount, the DIY route is an attractive solution for budget-conscious parents. However, the price tag of a DIY divorce isn’t calculated during the divorce process. Down the line parents usually discover they had a right to certain property, funds or child custody. Visiting court and filing motions to modify comes with their own expenses. If someone has their heart set on the DIY divorce route they should still consult an attorney. An initial consult with an attorney will cost a couple hundred dollars, but the information about divorce laws and state laws could pay for itself tenfold. "With consults, fathers can get

Nick Swisher in Afghanistan - Yankee outfielder Nick Swisher is finally taking his new wife, JoAnna Garcia, on a honeymoon -- to Afghanistan, the New York Post reported Wednesday. Swisher and actress Garcia, a star of ABC's "Better Without You," plan to visit U.S. troops in November, marking their first trip since they married in December 2010. Speaking to the Post at the Yankees Unite for Tornado Relief event at Southern Hospitality Hell's Kitchen in New York, Swisher said, "Three military officers came to the Yankee locker room and asked if any of us would like to visit the troops. My hand went straight up, I said, 'I'm in.' I knew Joanna would want to go. It will be our first trip since we got married." "I come from a military family ... and no matter what your views are, these men and women are out there risking everything for us. I realize how fortunate I have been, so I like to give back at every opportunity I can," he added.