Secretary of State Kerry in talks with Venezuela counterpart

Secretary of State John Kerry spoke with Venezuela's foreign minister as the two countries work to repair their relationship. Kerry called Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez by phone Tuesday in an attempt to keep the lines of communication open between the countries, according to Roberta Jacobson, the top U.S. diplomat for Latin America. Relations reached a low point this year when President Nicolas Maduro accused the U.S. of working to overthrow him, and the U.S. said his government engages in undemocratic practices. Kerry expressed concern about individuals jailed for political reasons in Venezuela, including prominent opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, according to Jacobson. Lopez has been jailed for 19 months and a verdict in his case is expected Thursday. Last week, Kerry met with Lopez's wife, Lilian Tintori, in Washington. More…