NPR 2011-06-28

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is convicted at his corruption 1 retrial, with a jury finding him guilty a short time ago on 17 of the 20 charges against him. Those include all 11 charges related to his attempt to sell or trade President Obama's vacated Senate seat. In Chicago, NPR's David Schaper tells us this is a major switch from the former governor's first trial.

In the first trial, there was a hung jury, and almost of many of the counts, he was only found guilty on one count. That was lying to the FBI. This time around, the prosecution 2 in that streamlined case and a much simpler case in presentation to the jury, we're able to win a victory.

NPR's David Schaper at the Federal Courthouse in Chicago.

The US Supreme 3 Court is siding with an industry that makes and sells video games. On a 7-2 vote today, the justices determined 4 that the Californian law banning the sale or rental 5 of violent games to minors 6 was unconstitutional. James Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media, which sponsored this ban, says at least parents are much more aware.

"Well, today, the decision is definitely a loss. There are an awful lot of positives that came out of these broader efforts."

Steyer says he plans to keep up the fight though to stop violent video games from being sold to children.

President Obama heads back into another meeting soon in a bid to break an impasse 7 over the budget deficit 8. NPR's Scott Horsley reports the president is due to meet with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell about an hour from now.

The White House and congressional Republicans remain sharply divided on the subject of tax revenues. President Obama argues additional revenues must be part of any balanced deficit reduction plan, while Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell insists no tax increase can pass the Congress. Despite that apparent stalemate, White House spokesman Jay Carney remains 9 upbeat about the prospects 10 for a deficit-cutting deal.

"It's not only in each side's political interests, but most importantly it's in the country's economic interests and in the people's interests."

Lawmakers are under pressure to make progress on the deficit before an August 2nd deadline to raise the federal debts ceiling. Scott Horsley, NPR News, the White House.

Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachman is formally in the race for president, launching her campaign today for the GOP nomination 11 in her birthplace of Waterloo, Iowa. Details from NPR's Don Gonyea.

Michele Bachman moved in Minnesota when she was 12 years old, but in her campaign, she's putting her Iowa roots front and center. The state holds the nation's first caucuses 12 next year. Speaking in Waterloo, she said President Obama needs to be a one-term president.

"We can't continue to rack up debt and hand it and put it on the backs of the next generation. We can't afford the unconstitutional health care law that will cost us too much and deliver so little."

Bachman also praised the Tea Party and is hoping that movement will boost her campaign. Don Gonyea, NPR News, Waterloo.

Dow's up more than 100 points.

This is NPR.

A fast-moving wildfire burning near New Mexico's Los Alamos nuclear laboratory is 44000 acres and growing. At least 30 structures including homes were burned to the ground. Dozens of people evacuated 13 as the fire spread to just a mile southwest of Los Alamos. The nuclear lab was closed today.

Nebraska authorities are trying to reassure 14 the public that Missouri River floodwater leaking into the turbine building at a nuclear plant near Omaha is not a threat. The Omaha Public Power District tells reporters there's no nuclear material in the building where pumps have been used to address seepage 15. The head of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission was due to inspect the facility today.

It has been a bad day at Wimbledon for the Williams sisters. As NPR's Philip Reeves reports from London, Venus and Serena are out of the tournament.

On an unusually hot day in London, the attempt by Serena Williams to come back from her health problems came to a sticky end, which was beaten by France's Marion Bartoli, the No.9 seed. Williams lost the first set — 6-3, but put up a fierce fight in the second, saving five match points before going out on a tiebreak. For all her many titles, Serena Williams was always likely to struggle in this contest after being out of action for months. Soon afterwards, sister Venus, five-times champion, who's also had injury problems, was also shown the door, losing to the 32nd seed, Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova. So for the first time since 2006, there'll be no Williams sister in the Wimbledon singles final. Philip Reeves, NPR News, London.

Before the close on Wall Street, Dow was up 100 points at 12044, and Nasdaq was up 35 at 2688.

This is NPR.