Briefs: Lyric, guild reach deal
The show will go on at the Lyric Opera of Chicago this weekend. The Lyric's general director, William Mason, says the opera has reached a tentative contract settlement with the American Guild of Musical Artists. The union that represents the opera's chorus, dancers, singers, actors and production staff had threatened to strike. But Mason says the settlement means today's opening night performance of "La Traviata" will go on as planned. Details of the contract aren't being released, pending ratification by union members.
Lender accused of fraud
Edwin Evans served prison sentences for rape and armed robbery. After reinventing himself as a financial adviser, Evans drove around Chicago in luxury sedan and wore pin-stripped suits. At his height, he was able to promise cash-poor homeowners he could help them fight off foreclosure. However, authorities say Evans couldn't shake off his tendency toward crime. He was indicted Thursday on federal fraud charges. Prosecutors allege Evans, 41, while working at Greater Investment Mortgage Corp., in 2002, used phony documents to help a woman obtain two mortgages for homes in Will County and Chicago. Evans has not entered a plea on the charges, is not in custody, and his whereabouts is unknown, according to U.S. attorney spokesman Randall Samborn.
Jet forced to turn back
An engine on an American Airlines jet caught fire Friday during a flight to Chicago, forcing the pilots to return to St. Louis and evacuate the aircraft on the runway. There were no reports of injuries aboard the MD-80 jet, said Jeff Lea, spokesman for Lambert Airport. All 137 passengers, two pilots and three flight attendants left the plane safely after it turned back to Lambert and landed, said Tim Wagner, spokesman for Fort Worth, Texas-based American Airlines. Flight 1400 reported engine problems sometime after takeoff and landed at 1:40 p.m. Passengers walked down a staircase to the runway after emergency crews extinguished the fire with flame-retardant foam. American Airlines maintenance will look at the aircraft and try to determine what caused the fire, Wagner said. The National Transportation Safety Board is sending at least two investigators, including a jet engine specialist, agency spokesman Peter Knudson said.
One injured in fire
Fire officials say one person is in stable condition after being injured during an apartment fire Friday on Chicago's far South Side. The Chicago Fire Department said an investigation into the cause of both the fire and an explosion at the site were ongoing. A People's Gas spokeswoman said crews from the utility were waiting for an all-clear from the fire department to investigate as well. The Chicago Fire Department said calls about the fire at the three-story building started coming in just after 4 p.m.