Obama to attend NIU memorial

Sen. Barack Obama will be among the thousands expected to attend a Sunday evening memorial service for five students slain Feb. 14 at Northern Illinois University.

Obama's campaign staff confirmed Friday that the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination will attend the service, scheduled for 7 p.m. at the NIU Convocation Center.

Obama will arrive in DeKalb after making a Sunday afternoon campaign appearance at the University of Toledo in Ohio. Obama has spent the week campaigning in Ohio and Texas, sites of crucial March 4 primaries.

Northern Illinois University officials declined comment on any security issues to be addressed by Obama's presence at the memorial service.