RICHARDSON TO RETURN DONATIONS

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a 2008 Democratic presidential
hopeful, announced that he will return up to $35,000 in contributions
to his 2002 and 2006 gubernatorial campaigns after the Associated
Press disclosed that the funds came from key figures in a public
corruption scandal in the state.

"We're totaling it up, and any money from any of these individuals,
the governor will donate to charities," Amanda Cooper, Richardson's
deputy campaign manager, told the AP.

Four people, including the former New Mexico Senate president, were
charged last week with trying to bilk the government out of $4.2
million in a courthouse construction project.

One of the four, engineering subcontractor Raul Parra, donated $5,500
to Richardson in 2002 and 2006, and a company in which Parra is a
partner contributed $15,000, the AP reported. Prosecutors indicted
Parra on charges of conspiracy, money laundering and mail fraud.

Richardson's campaign also took in $9,500 from Marc Schiff, the
project's architect, and $5,000 from the company of subcontractor
Manuel Guara, the AP reported. Both men have pleaded guilty to
conspiracy and mail fraud.

In unrelated Richardson news, the governor signed a law yesterday
permitting doctors to prescribe marijuana to help gravely ill patients
alleviate pain and nausea.