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WISCONSIN: Pilot, 81, dies; wife, 80, lands plane

An 80-year-old woman landed a twin-engine plane after her husband fell unconscious at the controls and died. Door County Sheriff Terry Vogel said the dispatch center was told just after 5 p.m. Monday that a Cessna about 6 miles south of Sturgeon Bay had declared an emergency. The pilot, an 81-year-old man from the Sturgeon Bay area, had suffered a medical emergency and was unconscious. His wife, the passenger, was flying the plane. A certified pilot flew alongside and coached her. Just after 6 p.m., the right engine ran out of fuel and lost power, but she was able to land at Door County Cherryland Airport. She had minor injuries. Her husband was pronounced dead.

ILLINOIS: 2 years for ex-guv's top aide

A top aide and law school roommate of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who provided devastating testimony that helped send his old friend to prison, was himself sentenced Tuesday to two years in prison. Judge James Zagel rejected defense arguments that Alonzo "Lon" Monk deserved a measure of leniency for cooperating with federal investigators. Monk, as a close friend for decades, should have known better than anyone that Blagojevich's personality was trouble, and so he should have declined jobs with the Democrat, Zagel said. "Before he took the job, he knew he was dealing with someone with relentless persistence to get his way," the judge said. Monk pleaded guilty in 2009 to one count of wire fraud for helping Blagojevich try to squeeze a racetrack owner for a $100,000 campaign donation.

IOWA: White powder threat

The Statehouse was locked down Tuesday afternoon and no one was allowed to leave the building after Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad (D-Des Moines) opened an envelope that contained white powder. As lawmakers milled around, two hazardous materials workers with yellow protective suits and oxygen bottles went to Samad's desk. A short time later, all were told the initials tests were negative.