Tagged: Rod Blagojevich

On his last full day of freedom, Rod Blagojevich will do what he loved doing as governor and while defending himself unsuccessfully against corruption charges. He'll step up to a microphone and talk.

Blagojevich is scheduled to deliver a last statement outside his home in Chicago on Wednesday. The 55-year-old Democrat is due to report to a prison in Colorado on Thursday to begin serving a 14-year sentence.

He's announced that he'll make a statement starting precisely at 5:02 p.m., which enables prime time news to lead with his remarks.

St. Louis County goes on holiday recess with approved budget

The St. Louis County Council has approved a 2012 budget after a contentious season of fiscal wrangling with County Executive Charlie Dooley. Early this fall Dooley's county budget estimates convinced him to propose drastic cuts. Dooley drew sharp criticism for his proposal to shut down 23 county parks and lay off almost 200 county employees.   

Updated 1:48 p.m., then 2:16 p.m.

A federal judge has denied what he called a "harebrained" motion by Rod Blagojevich's lawyers over what they claimed was potential misconduct by the forewoman at his corruption retrial.

Judge James Zagel threatened Monday to sanction the attorney who drafted the motion for the impeached Illinois governor, who was convicted of charges including that he tried to sell President Barack Obama's old Senate seat.