Plea bargain with mayor near

Prosecutors accusing Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick of lying on the witness stand to cover up an extramarital affair said Wednesday that a plea deal is expected soon, a surprise development that appeared likely to cost him his job.

The Detroit city charter automatically expels any mayor guilty of a felony. Kilpatrick is charged with eight felonies in the perjury case and would have to get them all reduced to misdemeanors – or beat the charges in court – to keep his job.

Los Angeles

Actress Phillips charged in drug case

Prosecutors on Wednesday charged actress Mackenzie Phillips with felony drug possession in connection with her arrest last week at Los Angeles International Airport.

Phillips, 48, was arrested Aug. 27 by Los Angeles Airport Police officers after Transportation Security Administration officials discovered what appeared to be narcotics during a baggage search.

The alleged narcotics were in balloons and baggies typically used for heroin and cocaine, officials said.

Dayton, Ohio

Mom spared death in microwave killing

A woman convicted of murdering her infant daughter by microwaving her was spared the death penalty Wednesday by a jury that couldn’t reach a unanimous decision.

The defense had argued that China Arnold, 28, was drunk when the offense occurred and had no motive, while prosecutors had called the crime “heinous” as they argued for the death penalty.

Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Mary Wiseman is now limited to sentencing Arnold to life in prison without parole, life without parole for at least 30 years, or life without parole for at least 25 years. She plans to impose her sentence Monday.