Ark Encounter

Kentucky's 'Ark Encounter' Creationist Theme Park Struggles To Stay Afloat

David Taintor | December 23, 2011, 11:15AM

It's been a while since we checked in with Kentucky's planned "creationist theme park." A local alternative magazine, LEO Weekly, reported this week that slow fundraising has delayed the Ark Encounter's groundbreaking.

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Kentucky

KY GOPer Williams: Dem Gov 'Needs To Treat Christians As Well As He Does Hindus'

Eric Kleefeld | November 7, 2011, 11:55AM

Kentucky Gubernatorial Candidate David Williams (R)

Kentucky Republican gubernatorial nominee David Williams, who is also president of the state Senate, appeared Monday morning in an interview with the local Fox affiliate in Louisville, in an effort to boost his underdog campaign in the home stretch. And of course, the local TV host asked Williams about the continued controversy that Williams kicked up in the campaign in the last week -- when he attacked Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear for participating in a Hindu religious ceremony, and subsequently called upon Hindus to come to Jesus.

"Well, my criticism was not for his attendance," Williams told host Lindsay Allen (more on that later). "You know, Governor Beshear is the one that's made a big deal out of him being -- his father being a Baptist minister, his grandfather being a Baptist minister. I just think that Governor Beshear needs to treat Christians as well as he does Hindus and other folks.

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KY-GOV

KY GOPer Williams: 'I Don't See' How My Hinduism Comments 'Could Offend Anyone'

Eric Kleefeld | November 5, 2011, 1:49PM

Kentucky Republican gubernatorial nominee David Williams

Kentucky Republican gubernatorial nominee David Williams, who is also president of the state Senate, recently sparked controversy when he attacked Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear for participating in a Hindu religious ceremony. And now, after Williams called upon Hindus to "love and know Jesus," he says he doesn't know why people would be offended -- as the comment was rooted in his belief that Jesus is the one and only route to salvation.

"I can't see how anyone could object to the fact that if I believe that, that I pray for them to have salvation," Williams told the Louisville Courier-Journal. "I don't see how that could offend anyone."

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KY-GOV

KY GOPer: I'm Not Criticizing Hindus -- I'm Inviting Them To 'Love And Know Jesus'

Eric Kleefeld | November 4, 2011, 1:12PM

Gov. Steve Beshear (D-KY), Republican gubernatorial nominee David Williams

At a campaign stop on Thursday, Kentucky Republican gubernatorial candidate David Williams, who is also president of the state Senate, took some more time to explain what he called "a little controversy that's happened" -- and called upon Hindus to come to Jesus.

The controversy in question, of course, is Williams's attack on Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear participating in a Hindu religious ceremony at the groundbreaking for a factory run by an Indian company.

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KY-GOV

Kentucky GOPer Williams Further Clarifies Attack On Dem Gov, Hindu Ceremony

Eric Kleefeld | November 3, 2011, 10:25AM

Gov. Steve Beshear (D-KY), Republican gubernatorial nominee David Williams

Kentucky Republican gubernatorial nominee David Williams, who is also the president of the state Senate, released a statement Wednesday further clarifying his attack on Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, over Beshear participating in a Hindu religious ceremony at the groundbreaking for a factory run by an Indian company.

Williams's statement, via the Cincinnati Enquirer:

"To be clear, I very much support economic development and strongly believe in freedom of religion. What I cannot understand is why Governor Beshear has a long pattern of opposing outward displays of the Christian faith such as Christmas trees, prayers before high school football games, and posting the 10 Commandments but apparently has no problem personally participating in displays of non-Christian religions.

"I see nothing wrong with a governor attending a religious gathering and respecting other cultures. But for him to engage and participate in a Hindu religious ceremony where prayers are being offered to gods in which he does not believe is not only disrespectful of Hinduism but stands in direct opposition to his own expressed Christian faith which recognizes but one God. It also flies in the face of his previous record of stamping out religious displays in governmental settings, which all happened to be Christian in nature."

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Kentucky

GOP Nominee For KY-GOV Slams Dem For Participating In Hindu 'Idolatry'

Eric Kleefeld | November 1, 2011, 2:34PM

Gov. Steve Beshear (D-KY), Republican gubernatorial nominee David Williams

Gov. Steve Beshear (D-KY) is heavily favored to win re-election in a vote next Tuesday, with leads of roughly 2-1 in all the publicly released polls. Now his Republican opponent, state Senate President David Williams, is launching an attack against Beshear on a new front: Beshear participated in a Hindu religious ceremony!

This past Friday, Beshear attended a groundbreaking ceremony in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, for a new factory run by FlexFilm, a company based in India that makes materials for packaging, printing, insulation and other purposes. The plant represents a $180 million investment, and is expected to create 250 jobs in Kentucky.

As the local newspaper the News-Enterprise reports, the groundbreaking included a Hindu ceremony, the bhoomi poojan:

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Ark Encounter

Kentucky 'Creationist Theme Park' To Receive 75 Percent Property Tax Discount

David Taintor | August 10, 2011, 6:00AM

A creationist theme park slated to be built in Kentucky has big ambitions, including erecting a full-size wooden ark, a walled city with plenty of outdoor parking. And now it's set to receive a 75 percent property tax discount to do it.

The 75 percent property tax break will span the next 30 years, the Lexington Herald-Leader reports. Rick Skinner, the mayor of Williamstown -- in Grant County, where the park will be built -- said the offer will be followed by a formal deal in the coming months, according to the report. Skinner did not immediately return TPM's requests for comment.

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Creation Museum

Same-Sex 'Couple' Denied Entry To Creation Museum Date Night Event

David Taintor | February 23, 2011, 10:40AM

The Creation Museum in Petersberg, Ky. denied a "same-sex couple" entry to a date-night event on Feb. 11. But the "couple" wasn't actually gay.

Here's what happened. When Jonathan Meador, his girlfriend and Brandon Absher approached the entrance to the event, they were stopped at the door.

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Ark Encounter

Kentucky 'Creationist Theme Park' Gets Preliminary OK For Tax Incentives

David Taintor | December 23, 2010, 8:42AM

TPM Photo Illustration

The Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority has granted preliminary approval for a creationist theme park to get up to $37 million in tax incentives, the Lexington Herald-Leader reports.

The theme park -- dubbed Ark Encounter -- is backed by both Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear (D) and Answers in Genesis, a Christian organization that also built a similar attraction, the Creation Museum.

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Steve Beshear

KY Gov. Beshear Unveils Plans For Creationist Theme Park Complete With Full-Sized Ark

David Taintor | December 2, 2010, 8:32AM

TPM Photo Illustration

Aqua Buddhists need not apply: Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear (D) on Wednesday unveiled some interesting tourism plans for his state, announcing a plan to construct a "creationist theme park."

A joint project between Beshear and Answers in Genesis -- a Christian organization that also built a similar attraction, the Creation Museum -- the park will reportedly cost at least $150 million and create 900 jobs, according to the news release.

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Mosques

Another Mosque Project Comes Under Fire -- In Kentucky

Evan McMorris-Santoro | August 20, 2010, 8:44AM

Perhaps it's no longer surprising in the current climate, but yet another mosque construction project is coming under increased attack from critics this month. It's time to add Florence, Kentucky to the list of controversial Islamic construction projects stretching from Temecula, California to Murfreesboro, Tennessee to, of course, lower Manhattan.

It may be that the Cordoba House project in New York has led to increased attention on -- and opposition to -- the Florence, Kentucky mosque project, which has been in the planning stages since at least 2002. At least one Republican politician has weighed in on both, and the answer is (or, really, is not) surprising: he says one shouldn't be built, while construction of the other is Constitutionally guaranteed.

Here's a description of the project in question from the Northern Kentucky Enquirer:

The site is identified as a 5.58-acre parcel at 900 Cayton Road in Florence. It is in the section that runs between Mall Road and Hopeful Church Road, behind Kroger and the former Hollywood Video site.

Sounds tame enough -- and picturesque to boot. Who wouldn't want to worship next to an old Hollywood Video? When the proposed site was announced July 26, the mosque seemed to be unimportant to the residents of Florence, according to the Enquirer.

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National Board of Ophthalmology

Rand Paul's Dissident Ophthalmology Group Still Certifying Doctors

Justin Elliott | June 15, 2010, 2:48PM

Rand Paul, Republican U.S. Senate candidate from Kentucky

It seems that Kentucky Republican Senate candidate Rand Paul's rogue ophthalmology certification outfit, the National Board of Ophthalmology, is still recertifying doctors even though the group has virtually no public footprint.

Ben Smith at Politico reports on the group Dr. Paul founded to protest changes in the national American Board of Ophthalmology's certification policies:

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Rand Paul

Rand Paul Defends His National Board of Ophthalmology In Certification Flap

Ben Frumin | June 14, 2010, 2:18PM

KY-SEN candidate Rand Paul (R)

The Louisville Courier-Journal has a much-discussed story today about Kentucky Republican Senate nominee Rand Paul and his lack of certification from a mainstream ophthalmology board.

As we reported last month, Paul is the founder and president of the National Board of Ophthalmology, a certifying board for eye doctors that has left little public record, and whose legitimacy seems unclear at best. He hasn't been certified by the mainstream board since 2005. He is certified by the NBO.

The Courier-Journal points out today that Paul's board "is not recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties, which works with the American Medical Association to approve such specialty boards."

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Rand Paul

Rand Paul In '08: Beware The NAFTA Superhighway! (VIDEO)

Justin Elliott | May 21, 2010, 1:42PM

Kentucky Senate candidate Rand Paul

Campaigning for his father in Montana back in 2008, Rand Paul spoke out against the NAFTA Superhighway, encouraging Congress to stop the mythical project that would connect Mexico, the U.S., and Canada and, critics say, deal a fatal blow to American sovereignty. Long a bugaboo on some segments of the Right, the NAFTA Superhighway does not actually exist.

"It's gonna go up through Texas, I guess, all the way to Montana," said Paul, at an event in Bozeman. "So, it's a real thing, and when you talk about it, the thing you just have to be aware of is that, if you talk about it like it's a conspiracy, they'll paint you as a nut."

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Rand Paul

Paul Has Been Guest Of Conspiracy Theorist Shock Jock Alex Jones (VIDEO)

Justin Elliott | May 21, 2010, 9:14AM

Alex Jones and Rand Paul

Kentucky Republican Senate nominee Rand Paul has been a guest on the show of wacky conspiracy theorist radio host Alex Jones multiple times in the past couple years.

For Jones, who runs the site Infowars.com and broadcasts his eponymous radio show out of Austin, 9/11 trutherism is only the beginning. He regularly devotes his show to investigating the Bilderberg Group, the "rise of FEMA," the Bohemian Grove, how to fight the New World Order, etc.

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FBI

FBI: Sparkman Was Found Touching Ground, Not Hanging From Tree

Zachary Roth | September 24, 2009, 5:48PM

Bill Sparkman

Bill Sparkman, the Census worker found dead in Kentucky recently was not found hanging from a tree, according to an FBI spokesman. Rather, David Beyer told TPMmuckraker, Sparkman's feet were planted on the ground. A rope around Sparkman's neck was attached to a tree.

An anonymously sourced AP report said that Sparkman was hanging from a tree, and that he had the word "Fed" scrawled on his chest.

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Census Bureau

Dead Census Worker Was Warned To "Be Careful" In Rural Kentucky

Zachary Roth | September 24, 2009, 4:48PM

Bill Sparkman was warned about the danger of going into rural parts of Kentucky to conduct Census interviews, a retired state trooper who knew him told TPMmuckraker.

Gilbert Acciardo, who ran an after-school program at a southeastern Kentucky high-school where Sparkman was a substitute teacher, said that when Sparkman -- a Florida native -- first started doing the Census work, "I said, you're going into rural Kentucky, isolated areas. Be careful over there -- people may not understand that you're there to gather statistics."

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