Considering former Representative William Jefferson had $90,000 stashed in his freezer in 2006, the verdict may come as no surprise. Jefferson, a Democrat who represented parts of New Orleans, was convicted on 11 of 16 corruption charges involving soliciting bribes and other "pay-to-play" schemes on Wednesday. The next step is for a judge to determine Jefferson's sentence. The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that the judge has "meted out stiff sentences for lesser figures in the case," and that if convicted of all counts, he would have faced 235 years in prison. The government said that the $90,000 booty Jefferson had stowed away was intended for "Atiku Abubakar, then vice president of Nigeria, to gain his help with a telecommunications deal in Nigeria." A Republican now holds Jefferson's seat in the House; though he won reelection in 2006, when the corruption investigation was still fresh, Jefferson's disgraced reputation became a lightning rod for partisan clashes as the imbroglio deepened.

A series of town-hall meetings disrupted by anti-reform citizens has Democratic leadership crying foul. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid characterized town-hall dissenters as "loud, shrill voices trying to interrupt" and "throw a monkey wrench into everything." Both the White House and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi say the dissent is being "manufactured" by political and corporate organizations; Pelosi dismisses town-hall dissent as "astroturf," or artificially generated faux-grassroots movements. Regardless of their inspiration, however, the citizen protesters mean business: ABC's Steven Portnoy reports that, at a town-hall event for freshman Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-MD), the congressman faced an image of himself, hung in effigy, and enraged, booing crowds. Portnoy reports that a visibly unnerved Kratovil "pleaded" with constituents; a Blue Dog Democrat, Kratovil is officially "undecided" on his health-care position. At least one congressman—Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC)—has been forced to forgo the town-hall format after a threat on his life forced staffers to clamp down on public access to the congressman.

"Cash for Clunkers" lives on—until Labor Day, at least. After lengthy negotiations, the Senate reached a deal late Wednesday, agreeing to vote on a plan that would infuse $2 billion into the program that awards car buyers up to $4,500 for trading in gas-guzzlers for fuel-efficient rides. Officials estimate the additional monies could fund 500,000 new vehicle sales and last until Labor Day. The agreement couldn't have come soon enough: As of Wednesday, more than $775 million of the $1 billion fund had been spent, accounting for nearly 185,000 new vehicles, the Associated Press reports. If not replenished by Congress, the program would go broke by Friday, President Obama said. While it wasn't clear whether additional, proposed amendments to the plan would pass on Thursday, the agreement as it stands "accomplishes what we need to accomplish," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

George Sodini—who allegedly killed three and wounded 15 yesterday at a L.A. Fitness branch in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, before committing suicide at the scene—had an online diary that served as a blueprint for the shooting massacre, according to ABC News. In his blog, Sodini, 48, expressed hatred for his domineering mother and brother and his lust for women. The day before the attack, Sodini mused about religion, and his plans for the attack, as well as his preparation—he hadn't had a drink since 2:30 p.m. on Friday. The diary read, "Last time I tried this, in January, I chickened out." In his diary, Sodini said he hadn't had sex since 1990, but described his biggest problem as "not having relationships or friends." He welcomed post-mortem publication of his papers planning the attack because "maybe all this will shed insight on why some people just cannot make things happen in their life, which can potentially benefit others."

Federal Housing Finance Agency Director James B. Lockhart III is stepping down—and given the intensity of public scrutiny on the mortgage world, who can blame him? Lockhart says he would have left even sooner, but last fall's mortgage meltdown required him to stick around. Lockhart, a prep-school friend of George W. Bush's, has worked in Washington for eight years. He oversaw Fannie and Freddie during the advent of subprime loans and other high-stakes mortgage gambles, and is credited with helping orchestrate the government takeover of the organizations. Lockhart says he'll move to New York and work on Wall Street next. His announcement coincides with the Obama administration's renewed effort to overhaul Fannie and Freddie, an effort that would transfer their troubled assets into a new federal entity and could end up splitting the two companies. At the fore of the White House's new effort is National Economic Council Director Larry Summers, who first warned that Fannie and Freddie posed a threat to the financial world more than a decade ago.

Susan Boyle may have gotten a (subtle) hair-color update a few months back, but that’s nothing compared to the number Harper’s Bazaar has done on her. The Britain’s Got Talent runner-up channeled Michelle Obama in a photo shoot for the September issue of the magazine, which hit newsstands today, donning the first lady’s designer favorites J. Crew and Michael Kors alongside pricier gowns and shoes. The result? An elegant editorial spread shot outside London, and a poised yet candid Boyle, whose break from the media madness has clearly come as a relief. “It was good,” Boyle told Bazaar of her time in the headlines, which sent her briefly into a clinic following a meltdown. “But overwhelming. It was too big for anyone to handle.” As for the appearance overhaul—one that would surely garner the What Not To Wear seal of approval—Boyle said she’s not too concerned with further improvements. “For now I'm happy the way I am—short and plump,” she said. “I would not go in for Botox or anything like that. I'm content with the way I look. What's wrong with looking like Susan Boyle? What's the matter with that?”

Where are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles when you need them? As the U.S. Army prepares to expand training operations in the Mojave Desert, it hopes to move more than a thousand threatened California desert tortoises from their home, the Los Angeles Times reports, despite the fact that the animals have not fared well during previous relocations. Just last year, the Army moved more than 600 desert tortoises, but cut the $8.7 million program short, after officials noted high mortality rates among the animals—namely thanks to coyotes. Relocated tortoises also have a tendency to wander away from the relocation site, a further danger. The Army's proposal alarms conservationists, who point out that the animals' population is already plummeting, in part due to a respiratory disease. "Nothing's ever been done on this scale before," said Ileene Anderson, a biologist with the Center for Biological Diversity. "Every time the animals recognize that they don’t know where they are, they have some built-in mechanism that tells them to head for home and they make a break for home."

It is hard to imagine a stronger signal of Bill Clinton's celebrity status than North Korea's explicit demand that they would release the two jailed American journalists provided he come visit. Back-door dealings for their release began sometime in the spring, when the U.S. started pressing the North Koreans via the Swedish ambassador. Eventually, the prisoners' families were allowed to regularly speak with them on the phone. During a conversation in mid-July, the North Koreans conveyed their surprising desire for Clinton to come to Pyongyang. Then, through a collaborative effort involving both the State Department and Al Gore, officials sought to confirm that the high-profile visit would actually result in the prisoners being released. They also made it clear that the trip would not involve issues such as North Korea's nuclear saber-rattling. (Though most observers fully expect that these issues were discussed.) As it turns out, before Clinton's unmarked plane had touched down in Pyongyang, the North Koreans had already committed to handing over the two journalists.

The health-care air wars are on—but not everyone is playing ball. CNN is refusing to broadcast an advertisement critical of the insurance industry because it "unnecessarily singles out" an insurance executive. The ad highlights the CEO of Cigna, Ed Hanway, and blasts his salary of $12 million and generous retirement package. The rejection comes hot on the heels of CNN's controversial decision to not air an ad criticizing Lou Dobbs for inciting the nutty "birther" movement. The company behind the ad, Americans United for Change, is "a top White House ally in the health-care wars," according to the Plum Line. An AUC spokesman criticized the network's decision: “The bottom line question is: Would CNN run ads from Cigna that are positive about the company? If yes, why would they turn down an ad critical of the company for their role in trying to kill health-insurance reform?" Not surprisingly, MSNBC will run the ad tomorrow.

Talk about a change of scenery. The four freed Uighurs who were detained at Guantánamo Bay have landed a job in Bermuda tending to a golf course in preparation for the PGA Grand Slam of Golf. The men got the job after five Filipino workers quit unexpectedly, the Miami Herald reports. "They have only just started, but they are doing what everyone else does, starting at the bottom and fitting in," the landscaping manager for the course said. It remains to be seen whether the job will turn into a permanent gig for the Uighurs. Meanwhile, 13 other Uighurs still being held at Guantánamo recently pleaded in a letter to President Obama to expedite their release to the Pacific island of Palau.

Soon, locals in Baghdad will be able to wander through their city unobstructed, as the government plans to dismantle the blast walls segregating neighborhoods there. But many are concerned that the authorities—who are eager to show they are in control after American forces recently withdrew from Iraqi cities—are moving too fast. Violence is still very common in the war-torn country; just last Friday, 30 people died in bomb attacks on Shia mosques around Baghdad. BBC News asks the fundamental question: Will "giving Baghdad its face back... also create new opportunities for those who do not want the violence to stop?"

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton did not mince words while visiting Kenya on Wednesday. In a speech, she said "the absence of strong, effective democratic institutions has permitted ongoing corruption, impunity, politically motivated violence, human-rights abuses, and a lack of respect for the rule of law" were holding it back. Clinton also warned that investors would be hesitant to do business there should the country not start getting its act together. A statement from President Obama, who's father was born in Kenya, reiterated his recent comments that only Africans can help Africa rise. Reuters cites a recent study that found that "a bribe is expected or solicited in nearly half of all transactions" in Kenya.

Restaurateurs meet your new nemesis: Sam Sifton, who will be the new food critic for the New York Times, filling the shoes of Frank Bruni. In a memo to the staff, executive editor Bill Keller said Sifton is a "writer of discernment and wit and erudition" and that the "prospect of reading Sam on a regular basis brings big smiles to our faces." The Observer points out that the influence of the food critic has dwindled a good deal in recent years with the proliferation of food blogs. Nevertheless, the Times food critic—who traditionally strives to remain anonymous—remains one of the sweetest jobs in the biz.

Rihanna wants to get a little closer to Chris Brown. The New York Post reports that although Rihanna's ex-boyfriend will be sentenced today for beating the singer in February, her feelings toward him may be softening. Currently, Brown is barred from getting within 50 yards of Rihanna. However, the Post writes, "If Judge Patricia Shnegg in Los Angeles Superior Court were to ask Rihanna's stance on keeping Brown 50 yards away," Rihanna would request a Level 1 order, according to her attorney. A Level 1 order would reduce the 50-yard restriction, but ban Brown from annoying, molesting, or harassing the "Umbrella" singer.

Was Blackwater—the military contractor accused of abuses and overcharges in Iraq—even worse than originally thought? According to The Nation's Jeremy Scahill, who literally wrote the book about Blackwater, a former Blackwater staffer and an ex-Marine allege in a new federal court filing that the company's owner, Erik Prince, "may have murdered or facilitated the murder of individuals who were cooperating with federal authorities investigating the company." Scahill reports that "the former employee also alleges that Prince 'views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe,' and that Prince's companies 'encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life.'" The two testified in sworn affidavits filed this week in the Eastern District of Virginia as part of a suit against Blackwater on behalf of Iraqi civilians. The pair also claim that Blackwater smuggled weapons into Iraq via Prince's private planes and hid videos, emails, and documents from the State Department. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) told The Nation, "If these allegations are true, Blackwater has been a criminal enterprise defrauding taxpayers and murdering innocent civilians." Prince stepped down as CEO of Blackwater—which currently operates under the name of Xe Services LLC—in March. When asked about the case, a company rep said, "Unfortunately no one can help you in that area."

Here is one more example of how badly the pharmaceutical companies need to be reined in. The New York Times is reporting that Wyeth hired ghostwriters to pen 26 articles that endorsed the use hormone therapy in women, while downplaying the negative side effects. The articles, published in influential medical journals between 1998 and 2005, did not adequately address the increased risk of cancer and dementia that accompanies hormone therapy. During that same time, sales of Wyeth's hormone drugs skyrocketed to nearly $2 billion. A federal study's findings contradicted the findings of the articles, and subsequently reduced the popularity among doctors of hormone therapy in women. Wyeth now faces a litany of lawsuits over the drugs. The documents shine a spotlight on a shady practice in which pharmaceutical companies will promote their drugs, even if it comes at the expense of patients' health.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was sworn in as president of Iran Wednesday as hundreds and perhaps thousands of protesters battled with riot police in Tehran's Bahrestan Square. The Iranian leader's disputed election on June 12 set off the largest protest in the country in a generation. “It is not important who voted for whom. What we need is national greatness," Ahmadinejad said in a speech broadcast live on television. "We are representing a great nation. It needs great decisions and great deeds. We need to take great steps." According to reports, around 50 of Iran's 290 lawmakers skipped the ceremony, with some leaving the chamber as Ahmadinejad spoke. Widespread oppression has continued. A Basiji militaman, according to the Los Angeles Times, said "If somebody dressed in green comes to the streets, it means we have to arrest him or her."

Add one more element to the sibling rivalry. Eli Manning is set to sign a mega-deal with the New York Giants worth $97 million over six years; surpassing his big brother Peyton of the Indianapolis Colts. The deal will make him one of—if not the—highest paid player in the NFL. The New York Post reports that the entire contract will likely be worth around $107 million. Eli was the MVP in the Giants' thrilling Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots, and has led his team to the playoffs the previous fours seasons. Still, Eli's performance towards the end of last season left many fans nervous, as the Giants were quickly booted from the playoffs. Let's hope the new contract doesn't go to Eli's head: Michael Vick was also at one time the NFL's highest paid player.

Harry Patch, who was Britain's oldest survivor of WWI, died last month at the age of 111. Thom Yorke, the lead singer of Radiohead, was so moved by Patch's story that he wrote a song in his honor. The song, titled "Harry Patch (In Memory Of)," was actually recorded prior to the veteran's death but just released on the band's Web site Wednesday. Yorke wrote of the song: "It would be very easy for our generation to forget the true horror of war, without the likes of Harry to remind us. I hope we do not forget." Patch was noted for shunning the spotlight and always discussing his experience with war in a dignified manner that honored all veterans.

It's the epitome of emo: an anti-whaling music video set to Modest Mouse's "King Rat" and directed by the late Australian actor Heath Ledger. The 6-minute video, which is Ledger's final directorial effort, debuted Wednesday. The Times of London reports that Ledger first approached Modest Mouse to make the video for their song in January 2007. The animated video features a boat full of whales and dolphins hunting for humans on the high seas. The crew, led by a cigar-chomping blue whale, skins men, processes their meat, and feeds them to seal pups. Before his death 18 months ago, Ledger was surfer and anti-whaling activist. According to Ledger's co-director and illustrator, Daniel Auber, the video was "fully conceived down to the last detail" by Ledger, and was finished in his honor by a team from The Masses, a collective of actors and musicians that Ledger belonged to.

Auditions begin next week for Season 9 of American Idol, but Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson will be missing their judging sidekick: Paula Abdul confirmed late Tuesday that she would not return to the show. A salary dispute is said to be behind her departure. The Los Angeles Times reports that Abdul wanted $10 million—what host Ryan Seacrest got when he recently signed a new contract—a significant step up from the $2 million to $4 million a year she’d been earning. “I’ll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day1 become an international phenomenon," Abdul Twittered Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the companies that produce AI called her “a tremendous talent and we wish her the best.” Fans of the reality juggernaut will have to make do with Simon, Randy, and Kara DioGuardi, who has judged one season of the show and whose option was picked up Monday.

In an unexpected move, LAPD Chief William J. Bratton is stepping down from his post Wednesday, the Los Angeles Times reports. Bratton, credited with drastically improving the city's crime rates since assuming the position of police chief in 2002, relies heavily on crime data and a computer mapping system to pinpoint areas of L.A. that require more policing. According to sources, Bratton will leave the job more than three years early to head a private security firm, saying he's confident that the police department will still improve without him. "If I left tomorrow, this would continue after I'm gone," he told the Los Angeles Times last year. Insiders close to Bratton—including his boss, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa—allegedly knew nothing of Bratton's intent to leave his job.

It's about to get ugly in the Senate. This week, almost three-quarters of GOP senators will oppose Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor as unfit for the bench. Although the Associated Press reports that Sotomayor's confirmation as the first Hispanic justice is still "all but assured," senators from both sides of the aisle will go through the motions of a heated confirmation battle. Democrats have painted Sotomayor, who grew up in a Bronx housing project, as embodying the American Dream and say she will be a moderate judge, while Republicans have focused on her "wise Latina" comment and say she's an activist who would bring bias to the High Court.

Tabloid notoriety hasn't helped Jon and Kate Gosselin's television show, it seems. Us Weekly reports that Jon & Kate Plus 8's return to TLC on Monday night saw a 61 percent drop in viewership. The previous episode drew a record-breaking 10.6 million viewers who witnessed the couple's announcement that, after 10 years of marriage, they would separate. By contrast, Monday's episode hovered around 4 million viewers. The episode showed Kate vacationing, then camping with the kids while Jon supervised a kitchen renovation. Meanwhile, Radar reports that a Gosselin babysitter recently slept over at Jon's house—overnight child care, or sexy rendezvous?

The Democratic National Committee said today that Republicans are colluding with lobbyists to encourage "angry mobs" of right-wing extremists to disrupt health-care town-hall meetings around the country. "These mobs of extremists are not interested in having a thoughtful discussion about the issues," DNC spokesman Brad Woodhouse said in a statement. He argues that the mobs are "bused in by well-funded, highly organized groups run by Republican operatives." He also writes that some of the extremists are hanging members of Congress in effigy, questioning the president's citizenship, and using Nazi symbols.

Ever wonder what it’d be like to meet your favorite celebrity? If that celebrity is Method Man, watch out: The rapper is being sued for shooting a fan six times with a pellet gun upon being asked for an autograph. According to court documents filed this week, Mary Anderson attended a Method Man concert in Houston last year and waited in line to get her ticket stub signed. When she reached Method Man—formally known as Clifford Smith—he reportedly pulled out a pellet gun and fired six times into Anderson’s stomach and torso. Anderson’s attorney said the victim suffered permanent scarring to her chest, stomach and breast area, leading her to sue for assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress. “You can't just go around the country shooting people like that,” Daniel Horowitz, the attorney, said. Method Man has yet to be served. The Wu-Tang Clan member has not commented on the allegation.

Long gone are the days of Rain Man. Three new movies tackling Asperger's syndrome are set to hit the big screen in the coming months, reflecting the public's growing concern with autism, along with an artistic recognition that the disease is a metaphor "for the condition of us all." Those with Asperger's—considered a "high-functioning form of autism"—generally exhibit an obsessive personality, a high IQ, and extreme social awkwardness. One of the films, Adam, about the title character's struggle with romance, opened in New York last week and earned honors at the Sundance Festival. One advocate said the movies indicate that Asperger's awareness is creeping into the mainstream, and that "it's becoming less of a threat and part of our culture."

Drivers still hoping to swap old cars for lump sums have a little more time to get to the dealership: The Senate is expected to to pony up an additional $2 billion for Cash for Clunkers. According to President Obama, the program’s initial $1 billion—which was supposed to last until October—will run out Friday. The vote to extend the measure (using money formerly set aside to use toward renewable-energy subsidies) will allow the rebates to continue through September. The program awards rebates of between $3,500 and $4,500 to consumers who trade in old cars for newer, more fuel-efficient ones, aiding consumer spending and allowing nearly a quarter-million Americans to buy new cars. The Clunkers program reported having performed $664 million worth of transactions as of early Tuesday morning.

A lone gunman in Collier, Pennsylvania, shot more than 10 people, killing four as well as himself, according a report in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Witnesses say a man carrying a duffel bag entered L.A. Fitness, a chain gym, through the back door before opening fire. A woman in an aerobics class said the man entered the room and began shooting, prompting class participants to crouch and hide on the side of the room. Another woman, who was running on a treadmill at the time of the shooting, said she heard 12 to 15 individual shots. A man who was playing racquetball says he heard "about eight shots": "It was panic. Then we realized it was gunfire. Once the shooting started, everybody started running."

The medical-grade latex gloves are officially off. The Washington Post reports that the battle over universal health care is heating up as Congress heads for vacation, with $52 million already spent on health-care related ads. Drugmakers, labor unions, Democrats, Republicans, and health-insurance companies are making large ad buys, in what may end up to be the nation's most expensive legislative battle. A handful of key battleground states have been targeted—Louisiana, Maine, Montana, and North Dakota—sites of hot 2010 Senate races and home to key Finance Committee senators. Reformists have shelled out $23 million, the largest share of the $52 million spent so far, advertising in favor of overhauling the health-care system without taking a stance on Obama's plan.

Hillary Clinton arrived Tuesday in Nairobi, Kenya, landing in a country that is increasingly viewed with frustration by American officials. The secretary of State will follow the agenda laid out by Barack Obama last month in his trip to Ghana, where the president emphasized good governance, trade, and food security. But her first stop in Kenya will be a difficult one, where she will be drawn into the dangerous politics of a country which saw 1,000 killed during election violence last year. High-ranking Kenyan officials are suspected of instigating the bloodshed. In a statement, the American Embassy in Nairobi condemned Kenya's reluctance to hold perpetrators accountable: “Failure by Kenya to take ownership of the process of accountability at all levels will call into serious question whether the political will exists to carry out fundamental reforms.”

In an incident that recalls the days of the Cold War, two nuclear-powered Russian attack submarines have been patrolling international waters off the U.S. East Coast, the Associated Press reports. Although the submarines have yet to do anything to provoke American forces, two senior U.S. officials did acknowledge their presence. This latest incident comes at a time of increased tension between the U.S. and Russia. The Obama administration is seeking to start a missile-defense plan in Central Europe. The Russians conducted military exercises in the Caribbean last year. Officials said they were not informed by Moscow of the submarines' presence.

After being released from North Korean imprisonment Tuesday thanks to Bill Clinton's dramatic 20-hour visit to negotiate with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, journalists Euna Lee, 36, and Laura Ling, 32, were reunited with their families at Burbank Airport outside of Los Angeles early Wednesday morning. Lee cried as she rushed down the plane stairs to her 5-year-old daughter Hannah. Clinton exited the plane moments later and hugged Al Gore, who founded the media company that Lee and Ling work for. During a statement to reporters, Ling spoke briefly of their rescue. "Thirty hours ago, Euna Lee and I were prisoners in North Korea. We feared that at any moment we could be prisoners in a hard-labor camp," she said, but "suddenly, we were told that we were going to a meeting." When they walked through the doors and saw Bill Clinton standing there, "We were shocked, but we knew instantly in our hearts that the nightmare of our lives was finally coming to an end." Gore also spoke at the press conference, saying, "To everybody who's played a part in this, we are so grateful." Later, President Obama remarked that he was "extraordinarily relieved" at their safe return.

The rumors of Sarah Palin's divorce are greatly exaggerated. Last night, Palin fired back at blogosphere rumors, telling Politico via a phone interview that the reports of a possible divorce from her husband Todd are "made up." She went on to say that she loves discovering "what's goin' on in my life from the news." "Do you want to talk to Todd?" she joked. "He's sitting right next to me."

How did Alessandra Stanley's factually challenged New York Times tribute to Walter Cronkite make it to print? James Rainey, writing for the Los Angeles Times, blames a sliding standard for high-profile Times writers. The Gray Lady, Rainey writes, "needs to enforce its high standards more uniformly, regardless of whose byline appears at the top of the story." Former editors at the paper reinforce Rainey's theory that editors are hesitant to challenge big shots like Maureen Dowd, Thomas Friedman and others. Still, the fact that the Times gave Stanley such a public dressing-down is a sign that the paper of record will rebound from what one Timesman called "a disaster, the equivalent of a car crash."