The government of Kentucky has bowed to the demands of anti-Christianists who have been smearing the proposed Noah’s Ark theme park in the northern part of the state.
The state has withdrawn $18 million in tax incentives after multiple anti-Christian groups and organizations harassed legislators and officials claiming the park will promote religion in violation of the mythical separation of church and state.
Ken Ham’s Answers in Genesis who is funding the $172.5 million dollar park is now considering a lawsuit against the state to challenge the decision. The preliminary approval for the state tax-incentive program would have allowed them to keep 25 percent of state sales tax collected at the park for 10 years.
It could have meant more than $18 million that could be used to develop the park.
“State tourism tax incentives cannot be used to fund religious indoctrination or otherwise be used to advance religion,” Tourism Secretary Bob Stewart noted in the letter saying the state will now deny the funds. “The use of state incentives in this way violates the separation of church and state provisions of the Constitution and is therefore impermissible.”
The state is demanding Answers in Genesis not allow only Christians to be hired for the park.
“If you insist on the newly imposed condition … it will amount to unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination and my client will have no choice but to seek redress in federal court,” AiG attorney James Parsons wrote to the state.
Jamie Coots, who was the star of the National Geographic Channel reality TV show “Snake Salvation,” has died after being bitten by a snake during a weekend service.
Coots was bitten by a rattlesnake during a service Saturday night in Middlesboro, Kentucky. Emergency personnel arrived at the church from a 911 call but Coots had left the church and gone home. Police and medical crews arrived at the pastor’s home around 9 p.m. and urged him to accept treatment but he refused. A return visit by paramedics an hour later found the pastor dead.
His son Cody told FoxNews that his father had been bitten eight times before by rattlesnakes but never had such a severe reaction.
“In following Pastor Coots,” National Geographic channel said in a statement, “we were constantly struck by his devout religious convictions despite the health and legal peril he often faced. Those risks were always worth it to him and his congregants as a means to demonstrate their unwavering faith.”
Snake handling is illegal in most states including Kentucky.
At least six people are confirmed dead after a Sunday outbreak of tornadoes across the Midwest.
The town of Washington, Illinois was devastated by a massive tornado that tore an 1/8th mile wide track through the entire town. Mayor Gary Manier said that up to 500 homes have been damaged or destroyed and that some neighborhoods are completely destroyed.
“How people survived is beyond me,” Manier said.
The tornadic storms are considered unusual for mid-November. Damaging winds and tornadoes were reported in 12 states: Michigan, Iowa, Illnois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York.
The storms moved so fast at times that weather forecasters were warning people to see shelter even before they could see a change in the weather.
The storm threatened the Chicago area forcing the game between the NFL’s Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens to be delayed for two hours as teams and spectators huddled under the stadium.
A Kentucky teenager who refused to wear the number 666 in a regional cross country meet lost her chance to continue to chase a state championship.
Codie Thacker took a stand for her Christian beliefs and refused to wear the number even when she was told that she would not be able to run.
“I just don’t believe that 666 should be a number that’s anywhere on your body and I did not want that number associated with me. It kind of made me sick,” Thacker told reporters.
A representative for the Kentucky High School Athletic Association spokesman said that officials were not told Thacker’s objection was for religious reasons or they would have accommodated her. However, both Thacker and her coach told reporters they explicitly told the KHSAA officials she was objecting because of her Christian faith.
“I wouldn’t have been more proud of her if she won the entire meet. She stood on her principles; she stood for what she believed in,” Thacker’s coach Gina Croley said.
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul said in a speech today at the Faith and Freedom Coalition luncheon that there is a “war on Christianity”.
“It angers me to see my tax dollars supporting regimes that put Christians to death for blasphemy against Islam, countries that put to death Muslims who convert to Christianity, and countries who imprison anyone who marries outside their religion,” Sen. Paul said. “There is a war on Christianity, not just from liberal elites here at home, but worldwide.” Continue reading →
As temperatures increase for the summer, scientists are noting an increase in ticks infected with Lyme disease. They have also released a study that shows an increase in Lyme disease rates in 21 states.
“There is a lot of different theories of Lyme disease increasing because of warming temperatures,” said Dr. Liza Whalen. Continue reading →
The American Civil Liberties Union is threatening to sue schools in Kentucky if they permit the Gideons to distribute Bibles on school grounds.
William Sharp, ACLU Kentucky staff attorney, accuses elementary school staff of violating federal laws by helping the Gideons give Bibles to students who request them. Continue reading →
Winter Storm “Q,” which has already dumped a layer of snow in Arizona, New Mexico and Southern California, moves with full force into the eastern Plains and Midwest on Thursday, where it could dump a foot and a half of snow in some areas. Continue reading →
Winter Storm “Q,” which has already dumped a layer of snow in Arizona, New Mexico and Southern California, moves with full force into the eastern Plains and Midwest on Thursday, where it could dump a foot and a half of snow in some areas. 
