After a mouse was spotted on a plane, the flight was grounded for safety reasons. more ›

You could say we are Leslie Nielsen fans here at Chicagoist. Already this week we have remembered him twice. But who isn't a fan of the Canadian actor turned icon of deadpan comedic performance, who passed away earlier this week? We are just happy the Brew and View at The Vic is showing Airplane! tomorrow night, where we can watch raise a toast to that murderers row of now-departed deadpan talent, (Nielsen, Lloyd Bridges, Rorbert Stack and Peter Graves) as they anchor one of the most epic and beloved assortment of gags and groaners ever squeezed onto celluloid. Not all of the jokes work, but the sheer density of their numbers created such a sustained manic intensity that comedic filmmakers have been trying to replicate ever since. more ›

Actor Peter Graves passed away over the weekend at the age of 83. Perhaps known best for his role in the original Mission: Impossible TV series, Graves is also remembered for dozens of films, especially his role as Capt. Clarence Oveur in Airplane!. And one enterprising YouTuber put together a video featuring all of Graves' parts from the Airplane! movie. more ›

We've all had strange, memorable flights across the country, but nothing we've ever experienced compares to this: the Trib is reporting that a baby was born on board a Southwest flight during it's Midway-to-Salt Lake City leg. The flight, Southwest Flight #441, originated in Columbus, Ohio with stops here at Midway, SLC, and Boise before terminating in Spokane, WA. The flight made an unscheduled stop in Denver as a result of the birth; there's no word yet on the condition of either the mother or the child. Update: The Trib reports both baby and mother are fine. more ›

Taking his message to the skies, Barack Obama is now traveling in a plane emblazoned with his campaign slogan, "Change We Can Believe In" and the Obama logo on the tail. The plane is getting a workout on Obama's current international hopscotching. Ever the lightning rod for critics, Obama's patriotism is yet again being hammered. Because no American flags on a plane means the terrorists win? A few of the Trib's commenters have bypassed the Haterade and gone straight to the crazy sauce: more ›

• The Cubs beat the Sox, 11 to 7. Look for Wrigleyville to be a drunk fest tonight. [Trib]
• A home-built airplane crashed and burned after taking off at Aurora Municipal Airport. The pilot is okay. [Trib]
• Daley addressed graduates at Northwestern University, and encouraged their active participation in helping Chicago get the 2016 Olympics. [S-T]
• A naval recruit was struck and killed by a Metra train in Highwood early this morning. He was crossing the tracks at an undesignated crossing. [Trib]
• Two more buyers have emerged for the Cubs. [Trib]
• The Sun-Times has published a special report on violnece in the city. [S-T] more ›

Midway ranked number-one on customer satisfaction for midsize airports in a new survey from J.D. Power and Associates, who apparently took a break from giving awards to every car ever to compile this data. According to the survey, late-arrival rates were the highest since 1996, customers are less satisfied than ever, and fewer people are checking bags. Perhaps even fewer travelers will be checking bags now that American will be charging $15 to do so. more ›