Briefs: Four injured on lake

Four men have been hospitalized after their small sailboat capsized in Lake Michigan off Chicago's South Side. Chicago Fire Department spokeswoman Eve Rodriguez says three of the men went to area hospitals in critical condition. The fourth man is in stable condition. Rodriguez says high winds, heavy currents and low temperatures made it "a tough rescue." The fire department used its dive team and helicopter in the rescue. The Chicago Police Department's marine unit and the U.S. Coast Guard also assisted.

Climb the Sears Tower

Here's a chance for dejected marathoners to earn a medal regardless of the weather. On Nov. 11, the annual Go Vertical race will challenge athletes to climb up the indoor stairs of the Sears Tower. The 103-story climb begins at 7 a.m. in the building's lobby and ends at the skydeck observatory. Climbers can sign up online at www.drcrf.org. Entrance fee is $75, and runners are encouraged but not required to raise additional donations for the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation. Deadline to register is 5 p.m. Nov. 1.

Cross talks transit funding

Illinois House Republican Leader Tom Cross says a way to get money for cash-strapped mass transit agencies is to give them sales tax revenue the state collects on gasoline purchases in Chicago and the collar counties. Cross met in Chicago this afternoon with Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan to talk about funding for a massive state construction program and how to pay for mass transit. The two issues have stalled in the Legislature. Governor Rod Blagojevich and lawmakers have been unable to resolve their differences over the best approach on payments. Madigan says he still favors a proposed regional sales tax to bail out the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra commuter rail and Pace suburban bus system.

Tests show no dehydration

Cook County Chief Medical Examiner Nancy Jones says tests show no evidence of dehydration in a Chicago Marathon runner who died. Thirty-five-year-old Chad Schieber collapsed during the October 7th race. An autopsy blamed his death on a heart condition and ruled out heat stress. At the time of the autopsy report, dehydration tests weren't back from the lab. It was also reported that the ambulance crew who picked up Schieber during the Chicago Marathon apparently got lost on the way to a hospital, authorities said. An autopsy blamed his death on a heart condition called mitral valve prolapse, though heart experts say the condition is rarely dangerous. Schieber was picked up from the marathon route by an ambulance from Niles, one of 30 suburban crews called to help when hundreds of runners were stricken by that day's hot weather. The crew radioed Chicago dispatchers Schieber was in full cardiac arrest and said they planned to take him to the UIC Medical Center, Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said this week. The ambulance crew drove a couple blocks the wrong way, then flagged down a city ambulance and got directions, Niles Fire Chief Barry Mueller said. But then they drove past UIC because they couldn't find the emergency room entrance. They ended up delivering Schieber to the West Side Veterans Administration Hospital a few blocks away. The hospital is not part of Chicago's emergency response network but has a fully working emergency room, officials said.

No death penalty in case

DuPage County prosecutors say they won't seek the death penalty for a mother accused of beating to death her five-year-old daughter. Christina Beltran of Woodridge is accused of beating Evelyn Beltran several times. And on the evening of July 6, throwing her to the ground after being angered by her disobedience. That action caused the girl's head to hit the floor, after which the mother is alleged to have jumped on the girl and struck her several times about the head and face and repeatedly slammed her head against the floor. The girl died shortly after being admitted to an area hospital. Assistant State's Attorney Thomas O'Connor says Beltran faces up to 60 years in prison if convicted. She is being held in lieu of $2 million bail.

Two planes touch wings

United Airlines officials say no one was injured when the wing tips of two planes touched on the ground at O'Hare International Airport. United spokeswoman Megan McCarthy says no one was injured in the Wednesday afternoon incident. She says the Boeing 767s had pushed back from adjacent gates when one plane moved forward and the wing tips touched. She says both planes were damaged and immediately returned to their gates. Passengers on the planes moved to new flights. McCarthy says United is investigating the extent of damage to the planes.