Jurors have reached a partial verdict on former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is accused of trying to sell Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat, among other allegations.

According to reports by The New York Times:

As they began a 10th day of deliberations on Monday morning, they told a federal court judge here that they had reached agreement on 18 of 20 criminal counts against Mr. Blagojevich, but were deadlocked on two others. An announcement of their verdict was expected after 1 p.m. Central.

Mr. Blagojevich, a Democrat whose former aides say once saw himself as a presidential contender, was tried on charges of wire fraud, attempted extortion, bribery, extortion conspiracy and bribery conspiracy.

The trial was Mr. Blagojevich's second on the charges. Nearly a year ago, another jury deadlocked on all but two of the counts against him.

This jury's decision may end, at last, the spectacle of Mr. Blagojevich's spiraling political career, which has played out here since shortly after Mr. Obama was elected president in November 2008.

Mr. Blagojevich, 54, and a lawyer and former state and federal lawmaker, was accused of trying to secure campaign contributions, a cabinet post or a new, high-paying job in exchange for his official acts as governor — whether that was picking a new senator, supporting particular legislation or deciding how to spend state money.

He has proclaimed his innocence again and again — on the witness stand, in television interviews and in a memoir he wrote.

If convicted on these charges, Gov. Rod Blagojevich could be serving Max B numbers.

More on the verdict as it becomes available.

A House vote is expected today the could cut $6 billion in funding from domestic agency accounts such as  food stamps and the Medicaid health care program for the poor and disabled.

If enacted as the GOP has planned, cuts would transform Medicare from a program in which the government directly pays medical bills into a voucher-like system that subsidizes purchases of private insurance plans.

Democrats and Republicans are at odds on this matter with Democrats estimating the GOP plan would provide vouchers whose value would steadily erode.

The House took the matter to task yesterday (April 14) summoning a number of rational alternatives most notably a Democratic substitute raising taxes on the wealthy and a plan by GOP conservatives to cut far more harshly. The final vote is scheduled for today (April 15).

This vote comes just seven days after the government's lack of funds almost caused feared government shutdown. Last Friday, President Obama and congressional leaders agreement, to cut about $38 billion in federal spending and avoided the first federal closure in 15 years.

The budget deficit is projected at $1.6 trillion this year. House Speaker John Boehner said that over the next decade it would cut government spending by $500 billion.

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The drama continues for Biship Eddie Long as its been reported that his New Birth Missionary Baptist Church has laid off two-full time ployees and will be reducing salaries by 10%.

The church also initiated a "pilot program" trimming the work week down from 5 to 4 days.

New Birth released a statement saying,

"Like numerous other churches and charitable organizations across Georgia and the rest of the country, New Birth and its faith community have been impacted by the nationwide downturn in the economy."

However it remains unclear whether Long's  salary will be affected. 

The statement read that Long's compensation is determined by an independent board, "in conjunction with advice and counsel of New Birth's CPAs and tax advisers, all in accordance with IRS regulations."

Hmmm.   Peep the video and you decide.

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According to the Associated Press, City Council Chairman Vincent Gray beat out Fenty by obtaining 53 percent of yesterday's vote to 46 percent for Fenty, making Gray the mayor due to no Republican opponent.

“Tonight the people of the District sent a message loud and clear,” Gray told supporters. “Not it's time for us to look forward.”

Fenty, who, made improving the city's schools a top priority, brought in Michelle Rhee as public schools chancellor.

Although Rhee seemed like an obvious choice after gaining national attention for her approach to measuring teacher quality by students' test scores and advocating merit pay, Rhee drew attacks from unions for firing more than 200 teachers over student performance; many feel that it was this choice that led to Fenty's loss in the election.

Although Rhee is not fully credited for the loss, other area voters felt racially divided over their support of the two black mayoral candidates as well as over Rhee's performance.

According to the Associated Press, Sixty-eight percent of whites said Rhee was a reason to vote for Fenty.

Fifty-four percent of blacks saw her as a reason to go with Gray.

Gray has said he wouldn't make a decision about Rhee's future until after the election.

"The first thing is go see a doctor, be checked to make sure you are medically alright."

After several years of spreading a virus throughout the male gender, a prostitute has been captured, but the damage has been done as there are fears that 100s of men have been infected.

With a schedule of two clients a day, four days a week for several years, Nigaila Gibbs, 20, whom knowingly is HIV+, has left many in question to whether or not they have contracted it and are now positive.

Under the belief that many men have had sexual contact with the woman, her photo has been released serving as a heads up for those residing in St. Louis County, Missouri that a medical examination might be smart right about now.

Gibbs has been charged with prostitution while knowingly infected with HIV, which is a felony.

Check the story below.

Crystal Gale Magnum, 31, who made claims of being raped by members of the Duke lacrosse team back in 2006, faces her own problems as she is being accused of arson and attempted murder.

Gathering reporters at her home, she aims to provide explanation as to why she attacked her boyfriend, set his clothes on fire in a bathtub and then proceeded to threaten to stab him while her children and authorities watched.

With no bond set, the woman faces a list of heavy charges including child endangerment, resisting an officer, assault/battery and more.

In regards to the case before her, Magnum feels as though she will not receive a fair trial as her boyfriend was abusive as well, along with denying that she set the fire, although reports are stating that she did so right after authorities arrived on the scene.

Back in 2006, Magnum, reportedly a student at North Carolina Central University, accused members of the Duke team of trapping her inside a bathroom and sexually assaulting her during a lacrosse party where she was invited to dance.  The charges left the players indicted on rape and other charges on the basis of her allegations, but they were eventually exonerated after North Carolina's attorney general dismissed the case.

He revealed his plans in a statement posted on his CNN blog:

"Now, decades later, I talked to the guys here at CNN and I told them I would like to end 'Larry King Live,' the nightly show, this fall and CNN has graciously accepted, giving me more time for my wife and I to get to the kids' Little League games," King said.

Stating that he was tired of the nightly grind, the host now looks to pursue new pastures.

Although King, now 76,  is stepping down from his position, it does not mean that his time with CNN has come to a close.  The announcement added that he would host specials "on major national and international subjects."

His show was recently recognized by Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running show with the same host in the same time slot.

"With this chapter closing, I'm looking forward to the future and what my next chapter will bring. But for now it's time to hang up my nightly suspenders," King said.

Now with King stepping down, CNN is making an attempt to find his successor.

Hector Castro is accused of killing the 2-year-old after giving her a malicious beating, right before he suffocated her.

Castro has been charged with capital murder.

Taking place in McAllen, Texas, paramedics were alerted after a call from a source saying that a girl was choking.

According to reports, Castro shoved a screw down her throat to make it appear that she had died by accident and had choked on the object, but it was hard to mask the fact that she was abused.

Once in the hands of authorities, he confessed to the senseless murder.  With 4 other kids residing in the home, all were taken into the custody of the state.

Byrd is noted for various controversial political stances that date back to the 50's.  This includes voting against the Civil Rights Act of 1964, an act that he claims he regretted.

The Civil Rights of 1964 outlawed discrimination against voting and racial segregation in schools.

Byrd's health had been declining for the past few years and died peacefully at Inova Hospital in Fairfax,  Virginia.

Patrick Fousek, 38, and girlfriend Samantha Tomasini, 20, were arrested last Tuesday after it was reported by two women that they were approached by the father who offered his 9-month-old daughter for $25 outside of the Westridge Wal-Mart located in Salina, CA.

Unaware if it was simply a prank or a joke, the women notified the authorities and left a description of the man's car, which police were able to trace and capture the two at Fousek's home.

Upon entry, police discovered the child along with the parents, who were reportedly high on methamphetamine.

On Thursday, a man claiming to be Fousek's brother stated that it was him, not his brother, that tried to sell the child for $50 and the fact that it was only meant to be a joke.

So, was it like some sort of sale where people could get "half on a baby"?

"The girls knew I was kidding. Who's going to say you want to buy a baby for $50 to strangers at a Walmart? That's preposterous," he told Action News reporter Felix Cortez.

The infant is now in the hands of protective custody while the couple remain at the Monterey County Jail on suspicion of child endangerment, an attempt at child abandonment and being induced with methamphetamine.