21.   Racial profiling was just one of hundreds of bills lawmakers zipped through as they raced toward a midnight deadline to complete their work for the year.

22.   She appealed to the letter writer to get in touch, but the midnight deadline passed with no word.

23.   Some said there was cautious optimism among negotiators Tuesday that an agreement might even become final before the midnight deadline, or very soon after.

24.   The Bruins beat the midnight deadline for locking up one of their draft picks Tuesday but failed to come to terms with another.

25.   The archdiocese maintained its silence as the midnight deadline for closure passed.

26.   The council worked all day against a midnight deadline Tuesday night to renew the oil-sales program.

27.   The deal, which sent six minor-leaguers to Chicago, was made in the dwindling hours before the midnight deadline for making trades without players being subject to waivers.

28.   The International Brotherhood of Teamsters postponed its nationwide strike against United Parcel Service of America Inc. as contract talks continued past the midnight deadline.

29.   The last of the Serb army units were heading out to meet the midnight deadline of withdrawing from the Pristina area.

30.   The Japanese ship lines could still head off the dispute by paying the fines before the midnight deadline, Dombrowski said.