NATION IN BRIEF : TENNESSEE : 1 of Charges Against Rep. Ford Dismissed

A judge in Memphis, Tenn., dismissed one of 19 charges against U.S. Rep. Harold E. Ford after defense attorneys rested their case in the 18-year Democratic congressman’s federal bank fraud trial. The case was expected to go to the jury today. After testimony ended Monday, Judge Jerome Turner granted an acquittal on a mail fraud count against Ford and on 11 of the 16 charges against two co-defendants. Ford remains charged with conspiracy and 17 counts of bank or mail fraud. Douglas Beaty and Karl Schledwitz remain charged with conspiracy and four counts of mail fraud. Ford is accused of taking handouts disguised as loans from former bankers and political allies .