Nation Digest

ILLINOIS

Ex-Blagojevich aide pleads to wire fraud

A former chief of staff to and longtime friend of Rod Blagojevich pleaded guilty to wire fraud Tuesday and promised to cooperate with federal prosecutors in their corruption case against the ousted governor.

Alonzo "Lon" Monk, 51, said that as Blagojevich's top aide he witnessed efforts to shake down road-builders, a hospital executive and a racetrack owner for hundreds of thousands of dollars in gubernatorial campaign contributions.

Monk said that even before Blagojevich (D) was elected, there was talk of using the powers of the governor's office to raise a cash hoard that would eventually be split among an inner circle of key advisers.

Blagojevich has denied any wrongdoing and has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. His attorneys, Sheldon Sorosky and Samuel E. Adam, did not respond to phone messages seeking comment.

-- Associated Press

COLORADO

Associate questioned in balloon case

An investigation into a Colorado couple who told authorities that their son floated off in a balloon has spread to those who worked with them.

Robert Thomas told sheriff's investigators about what he had observed between Richard and Mayumi Heene when he helped record the husband's ideas this year, said Thomas's attorney, Linda Lee.

Lee said Richard Heene was "obsessed" with trying to land a television show and become famous. "Heene believes the world is going to end in 2012," she said. "Because of that, he wanted to make money quickly, become rich enough to build a bunker or something underground where he can be safe from the sun exploding."