Jury in Miami begins deliberations for 6 men charged with plotting to destroy Sears Tower

July 22nd, 2009 Acquittal or new trial sought in Miami terror caseMIAMI — Five men convicted of plotting with al-Qaida to destroy a Chicago skyscraper and blow up FBI offices want a federal judge to declare them innocent or order a new trial, claiming that a juror who appeared skeptical of the prosecution's case was improperly removed during deliberations. The men also contend there was insufficient evidence to support their May convictions — which came after two previous mistrials — and that prosecutors modified the original indictment in ways that trampled on their constitutional rights.

July 16th, 2009 What you talkin' bout, Willis? Sears Tower renamedCHICAGO — The Sears Tower has officially become the Willis Tower in a ceremony in downtown Chicago. The country's tallest building and one of the world's iconic skyscrapers was renamed Thursday after London-based insurance brokerage Willis Group Holdings as part of its deal to lease 140,000 square feet of space in the tower.

July 1st, 2009 Sears Tower unveils 103rd floor glass balconiesCHICAGO — Visitors to the Sears Tower's new glass balconies all seem to agree: The first step is the hardest. "It's like walking on ice," said Margaret Kemp, of Bishop, California, who said her heart was still pounding even after stepping away from the balcony.

July 1st, 2009 Sears Tower to open 103rd floor glass balconyCHICAGO — The Sears Tower is offering a new way to push your fear of heights right over the edge. A glass ledge, actually, suspended from the building's 103rd floor Skydeck.

June 24th, 2009 Sears Tower to undergo $350M green remodelCHICAGO — The Sears Tower will undergo a $350 million green remodeling effort at the 110-story skyscraper, including wind turbines, green roofs and solar panels. Owners and architects said Wednesday that the plan will reduce electricity use in the building by 80 percent and save 24 million gallons of water a year.

June 19th, 2009 Sentencing delayed in Miami terror caseMIAMI — Sentencing has been put off until September for five Miami men convicted of plotting terror attacks against Chicago's Sears Tower and several FBI offices. The five had been scheduled for sentencing July 27.

June 4th, 2009 Sears, FTC to settle personal data allegationsHOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — The Federal Trade Commission is announcing a preliminary settlement with retailer Sears Holdings.

May 13th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A federal jury in Miami found five men guilty Tuesday of conspiring with the terrorist group Al Qaeda in a plot to blow up Chicago's Sears Tower and federal government buildings, while a sixth man was acquitted in the long-running case. The purported plot against the tallest building in the US was revealed in 2006 but never went beyond the planning stages.

May 12th, 2009 5 Miami men convicted of Sears Tower attack plotMIAMI — A federal jury in Miami has convicted five men of plotting to join forces with al-Qaida to topple Chicago's Sears Tower and bomb FBI offices in hopes of igniting an anti-government insurrection. A sixth man was acquitted.

May 2nd, 2009 Sears Tower to add glass balconies for a sick viewCHICAGO — Visitors to the top of the tallest building in North America soon won't be able to avoid looking straight down. The Sears Tower plans this summer to add four enclosed glass-bottomed balconies jutting out from the building's 103rd floor Skydeck — offering a view of 1,353 feet down.

May 1st, 2009 New jury problem surfaces in Fla. terror trialMIAMI — A new jury problem surfaced Friday in the terrorism conspiracy trial of six men when panel members asked a federal judge to remove a juror because she supposedly refused to deliberate.

May 1st, 2009 Ill juror replaced in Fla. trial of Liberty City 6MIAMI — A federal jury was told Friday to forget several days of deliberations in a long-running terrorism case and start from scratch after one of the panelists became ill and had to be replaced.

April 30th, 2009 Sick juror in terrorism case stalls deliberationsMIAMI — Deliberations in the terrorism case against six Miami men have stalled until a judge decides whether to replace a sick juror. U.S. District Judge Joan Lenard dismissed the juror Thursday.

April 24th, 2009 Closing arguments begin in terror trial in Fla.MIAMI — Six South Florida men being tried a third time on terrorism charges pledged allegiance to Osama Bin Laden and wanted to wage war against the United States, including blowing up Chicago's Sears Tower, a prosecutor said during closing arguments Thursday. The so-called "Liberty City Six" were again facing four terrorism-related charges each after two previous trials ended in hung juries.

April 24th, 2009 Closing arguments begin in terror trialMIAMI — A federal prosecutor called six South Florida men would-be terrorists who pledged allegiance to Osama Bin Laden during closing arguments in their terrorism trial. The prosecutor said Thursday the so-called Liberty City Six wanted to wage war against the United States and blow up Chicago's Sears Tower.