// a href = ./ //

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - A prison watchdog says the need for inmate space in Illinois is "trumping security" as officials announced they plan to set up temporary bed space in a half-dozen mostly medium-security prisons.

The change was announced yesterday in a letter from the Department of Corrections to the main employee union.

John Maki of the prison observer John Howard Association says the six prisons targeted - in Centralia, Danville, Hillsboro, Canton, Vienna and Vandalia - are among the state's most crowded.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees says the planned closure of the Dwight prison is forcing the move.

Corrections spokeswoman Stacey Solano says prison gymnasiums will be used temporarily for minimum-security inmates. She would not comment specifically on the reason for the move.

A small town police chief is now unemployed, and he says it's because he criticized the Montgomery County prosecutor's handling of a burglar investigation. Mike Bland was fired from his post with the Bellflower, Missouri Police Department.

Bland's firing notice indicates that he was terminated for failing to get permission from city officials prior to an interview with Fox 2 News.

Bland told Fox 2 he had permission from the Mayor of Bellflower and he has the phone records to prove it. "There was numerous calls made between her and I about this exact case," Bland said. "And not only that, witnesses to the phone call itself."

Bland had criticized county prosecutors for failing to charge three burglary suspects who had confessed to the crimes.

In a statement Montgomery County’s Prosecuting Attorney said there had not been sufficient documentation to file criminal charges.

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) - The first buses carrying passengers from a disabled cruise ship are pulling away to take them to next stop on their odyssey.

The cruise ship terminal in Mobile, Ala., was raucous late Thursday as passengers streamed off the Triumph.

What was supposed to be a pampered voyage changed for the worse when an engine fire Sunday knocked out primary power to the ship.

After, the trip was marked by overflowing toilets, food shortages and foul odors.

Carnival said passengers have the option of a seven-hour bus ride to the Texas cities of Galveston or Houston or a two-hour trip to New Orleans. Some also can stay in Mobile.

All passengers had disembarked by 1:00 a.m. Central Time.

The Associate Press posted video of interviews with some of the passengers as they left the ship.