Kentucky hospital merger still possible, despite governor’s objections

The honeymoon is over for Ashley Judd.

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear delivered his third State of the Commonwealth address since taking office in December 2007. It's been a tough two years for Beshear, who already has trimmed almost one billion dollars from state spending. On Monday, he ordered more cuts. Tony McVeigh of Kentucky Public Radio reports.

Ark Encounter, a planned Bible-based theme park, has received the support of Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, who says it will improve the state economy and create jobs. But critics say his plan to give the park tax breaks as a tourist attraction violates the separation of church and state.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

Kentucky Governor Beshear's budget slashes education while preserving tax breaks for a Creationist theme park.

CALGARY — Hope the outgoing governor of Montana will grant a last minute reprieve for Canadian death row inmate Ronald Smith is fading fast as Brian Schweitzer spends his last few hours in office. Smith, 55, and his legal team had hoped Schweitzer would grant clemency in one of his final acts in office before his successor, Steve Bullock, is sworn in as Montana‘s new governor later today. One of Smith’s lawyers, Don Vernay, had hoped to hear something sooner rather than later.

Euro-area finance chiefs, pressuring Cyprus to shrink its banking system as the condition for a bailout, are reviving demands they jettisoned last week as too extreme, four European officials said. Finance ministers for the 17 euro countries are considering a plan to shutter the two biggest banks in Cyprus and freeze the assets of uninsured depositors, said the four officials, who asked not to be named because the talks are ongoing. The ministers are holding a teleconference tonight.fla

I have good news to report in Wisconsin.  The recall election for Republican governor Scott Walker will take place on June 7. Polls show Walker Leads Barrett 52%-45%. Wisconsin Republican Governor Scott Walker leads Democratic Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett by 7 percentage points in the state’s June 5 recall election.