A blaze that broke out at the Amoco petroleum refinery in Whiting, Ind., around 6 a.m. had officially been contained about 7:30 a.m., according to WGN-Ch. 9 news reports.
Refinery officials told the station that that no one was injured and no dangerous fumes were released in the fire at 128th Street and Indianapolis Boulevard. They said the fire reportedly began with a malfunction in a unit designed to remove sulfur from gasoline.
Illinois fireworks hinge on next round of primaries
If Illinois is to see much political action in this presidential campaign, the contests will have to survive next week’s matchups. Following Texas Gov. George W. Bush’s easy defeats of Sen. John McCain in Tuesday’s Virginia and Washington state primaries and the North Dakota party caucus, the pundits’ eyes turn to next week’s “Super Tuesday” Republican contests in a dozen states, including New York and California — a lineup that could decide the fight.
McCain’s political director said that if McCain does well in those races, his campaign will concentrate heavily on the March 21 primary in Illinois, to the neglect of the March 14 races in Texas and Florida, where Bush’s brother Jeb is governor. The odds of the Democratic race amounting to much in Illinois dropped with another overwhelming victory for Vice President Al Gore over Bill Bradley.
* Latest news update
* Internet Tribune Web Special: Election 2000
Balloonist sends flowers from on high
In the eighth day of his attempt to become the first solo balloonist to circumnavigate the world, Illinois native Kevin Uliassi sent African violets to his flight crew in Homewood, celebrating his passage over Africa.
His spokesman said Uliassi spent a restless night because the lens on a monitoring device had frosted over, indicating incorrectly that the balloon’s flame had gone out. As of 5 a.m., he had crossed from Algeria into Libya, to reach Egypt by midday.
* Latest news update
* Audio: Uliassi and ground crew conference call
Fourstalled
Dropping their fourth straight game, the Bulls lost to Toronto Wednesday night, 87-80. Their record for the season falls to 12-43.
The Blackhawks host Montreal, 7:30 p.m. Full schedule in Sports.
DAYWATCH
Coming up …
Brookfield Zoo marks National Pig Day, promising a swine-derful celebration (their pun, not ours) of one of the smartest farmyard animals; 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. … The University of Illinois at Chicago hosts its sixth annual Radio Career Day, gathering representatives of the nation’s biggest radio companies to discuss internships, sales, marketing, on-air and other jobs; noon-6:30 p.m., 750 S. Halsted St. … Check out tonight’s Metromix Live Webcast as Butterfly Child fills Schubas with its lush pop sounds; 10 p.m. … The Art Institute presents “The Woven Coverlet: An Expression of Treasured America,” through July 23. … American Theater Company stages “Medea,” through April 1. … The Riviera Theatre showcases the hard rock of Powerman 5000, 6:30 p.m. … Symphony Center hosts the San Francisco Symphony, 8 p.m.
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