The latest local news, weather and high school sports in and around Columbia and Jefferson City

Wednesday, August 18, 2010  After three weeks of respectful but increasingly tense deliberations, 11 jurors were ready to convict Rod Blagojevich of what prosecutors called a "political corruption crime spree" that would have sent yet another former Illinois governor to prison.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010  A federal jury has found ex-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich guilty of one count of lying to federal agents. The jury returned its verdict on Tuesday in the corruption case against Blagojevich.

Thursday, August 12, 2010  Judge James Zagel asked attorneys to come to court Thursday in hopes of getting clarity about a jurors' note the day before hinting there's disagreement about at least some counts.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010  Rod Blagojevich's fate was in the hands of jurors Wednesday as they began deciding whether the impeached Illinois governor tried to sell an appointment to President Barack Obama's former Senate seat.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010  Rod Blagojevich is insecure, he talks a lot and he's a bad judge of character — but he is not a criminal, the ousted Illinois governor's defense attorney told jurors at his corruption trial Tuesday during a theatrical closing argument.