Illinois briefs

Paul campaign office open:

Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, a Texas congressman, will have an open house for his new Illinois campaign office between 7 and 9 p.m. Wednesday at 136 E. Golf Road, Arlington Heights. According to a release from Paul's campaign, the open house will include a conference call with the candidate. The site is Paul's first official headquarters in Illinois.

Oprah conquers YouTube

Oprah Winfey has a talk show, a magazine and a Web site. Now she has her own channel on the online video site YouTube. Harpo Productions and YouTube say the channel will offer exclusive, behind-the-scenes footage from "The Oprah Winfrey Show," which is taped in Chicago. In a video posted on the site, Winfrey says she's "excited" to have her own YouTube channel and that it will include videos she creates herself. Jordan Hoffner -- the company's head of business development -- says the channel offers the YouTube community more access to Winfrey and a look into what it takes to produce a hit talk show.

Seal dies during surgery

Officials at the Lincoln Park Zoo said a 36-year-old harbor seal is dead following a surgery. Betsy the seal went into cardiac arrest after the exploratory procedure over the weekend. It was unclear what her medical problem was. Zoo officials said the seal had lost her appetite in the past few months. Experts say life expectancy for harbor seals is about 16 years. Betsy arrived at the zoo in 1972. The zoo's general curator, Megan Ross, said Betsy was a deeply loved friend to many at the zoo.

Political donations targeted

The Illinois Republican Party wants Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich to return political donations from a firm that has both state contracts and business ties to the governor's wife. Mark Wight's firm has given nearly $100,000 to the governor's campaign since 2002 and has collected $10 million in state contracts. Illinois GOP Chairman Andy McKenna said in a statement that Blagojevich's claims of changing business as usual in Springfield are "clearly hollow rhetoric." There was no immediate response from the governor.