Palin kept donations from tainted politicians

Sarah Palin felt so strongly about the public corruption indictment of a Republican state senator this summer that she urged him to resign _ but not strongly enough to return the $1,000 he gave to help elect her governor.

The donation from John Cowdery was one of two from Alaska legislators who contributed to Palin's 2006 campaign weeks after the FBI raided their offices. The sprawling public corruption scandal that followed became a rallying point for candidate Palin, who was swept into office after promising voters she would rid Alaska's capital of dirty politics.

One of the donors is awaiting trial and Cowdery was indicted in July on two federal bribery …

Strong quake shakes California

LOS ANGELES - A strong earthquake south of the U.S.-Mexico borderSunday swayed high-rises in downtown Los Angeles and San Diego andwas felt across Southern California and Arizona, knocking out powerand breaking pipes in some areas but causing no major damage.

The 7.2-magnitude quake struck at 3:40 p.m. in Baja California,Mexico, about 19 miles southeast of Mexicali, according to the U.S.Geological Survey. It was initially reported as a magnitude-6.9quake. The updated magnitude was still an estimate, according toUSGS seismologist Lucy Jones.

The area was hit by magnitude-3.0 quakes all week.

"It's been quite a while since we've …

Blair Set to Announce His Resignation

LONDON - Prime Minister Tony Blair is announcing Thursday that he will resign after 10 years of leading Britain's government, a Labour party official said.

"There are a mixture of emotions today. There's disappointment and sadness that we are losing the prime minister after 10 years," said …

Donald Jones, mentor of young Hillary Rodham, dies

Drew University professor and Methodist minister Donald G. Jones, who was spiritual mentor for a young Hillary Rodham Clinton, has died at age 78.

University spokesman David Muha said Jones _ who taught social ethics for 36 years at the Madison school _ died Thursday at Morristown Memorial Hospital of natural causes.

Jones served in the Navy and then attended Augustana College in South Dakota and graduated in 1957. Four years later, he became an ordained minister through Drew's theological school.

His first pastorate was at First United Methodist Church in Park Ridge, Illinois, where he met a young Hillary Rodham while leading the church's youth …

Our views: ; CAMC must look at future needs; How are hospitals to plan ahead if the state underfunds programs?

PEOPLE traveling interstate highways through the wild green hillsof West Virginia probably do not worry about how they would be caredfor in case of an accident.

They need not. Charleston Area Medical Center's General Divisionon the East End is a Level I trauma center - one of only two in thestate - and it provides top-notch care.

People in this area who suffer heart problems need not worryabout the quality of the care they can receive. CAMC's MemorialDivision in Kanawha City has the nation's seventh largest heart andvascular center, and it is highly regarded.

High-risk pregnancy? Premature infant? Don't worry. CAMC'sWomen's and Children's Hospital on the West …

Goodheart tapped to chair Judicial Nominating Commission

Boston attorney Lisa C. Goodheart was appointed Tuesday by Gov. Deval Patrick to chair the Commonwealth's Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC). The governor also announced the appointments of Worcester attorney Elizabeth W. Morse and Mansfield-based attorney John M. Griffin as vice chairs.

"I am very pleased that these three seasoned and esteemed attorneys have agreed to make the substantial commitment involved in leading the new JNC," Patrick said. "They are each persons of unquestioned integrity. I trust, with their guidance, we will be able to recruit a diverse pool of strong, decisive and effective judges from all corners of Massachusetts."

Earlier this month, Patrick …

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EDITORS:

The Associated Press closes its news cycle for Monday, March 3, 2008, and begins its report for Tuesday, March 4, 2008.

The AP news report is protected by copyright, which gives the AP …