Illinois state buildings close; National Guard on alert

The Sears Tower was shut down and Illinois state government buildings in Chicago and Springfield were closed after explosions in New York and Washington stunned the nation.

In Springfield, the secretary of state's office said the state capitol would be closed for the day. In Chicago, the James R. Thompson state office building was evacuated.

The National Guard was on a state of heightened alert in Illinois, but no units had been called into service, said Lt. Col. Larry Andrews, a spokesman for the Illinois National Guard.