 A jury deliberation started late on Friday as jurors are trying to decide whether Menendez used his office and political power to help businessmen in exchange for receiving cash and gold bars. Menendez faces 16 felony counts. The Democrats' defense team, though, insists that they were gifts and blames Menendez's wife for keeping the senator in the dark regarding financial matters. She will stand trial later in the year. Lots of Houston-area residents are still sweltering in the dark after Hurricane Beryl slammed Texas last week.