Still no verdict on Blagojevich

CHICAGO - Jurors have ended their seventh day of deliberations at the corruption trial of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich without announcing a verdict, and hinting they may not have one Friday, either.

They'll be back Friday to start an eighth day, though they asked U.S. Judge James Zagel for permission to end their work at 12:30. Court officials have said earlier the Blagojevich jurors planned to deliberate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. The jury began deliberating last week, after Rod Blagojevich's attorneys declined to call any witnesses.

They say the government never proved its case. Blagojevich and his brother, Robert Blagojevich, have pleaded not guilty to charges that include trying to sell or trade an appointment to Barack Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat.

Daily Herald staff writer Ted Cox contributed to this story.