A newly formed Early Childhood Advisory Council will help Kentucky create policies, standards, and goals which should improve the education given pre school children.

26 people have been named to a state council charged with seeking ways to improve early childhood education.  They were named today (Tuesday) in an executive order issued by Kentucky's governor.  Former C-E-O of United Way of Kentucky Terry Sims Tolan will direct the brand new Early Childhood Advisory Council.  Tolan says consistency of care is the highest priority.

Focusing solely on his third presidential bid, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Tx., announced Tuesday he will not seek re-election for a 13th term in the House of Representatives. Observers contend Paul, who is the father of U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is an excellent fundraiser who would have easily retained his seat despite redistricting, but the 75-year-old congressman felt it was time to move on and put his energy into one last bid for the White House.

The sluggish U.S. economy disappointed most forecasters, not to mention job seekers, in the first half of this year.

It grew at an annual rate of just under 2 percent, which is below the average for the last half century when the U.S. economy grew about 3 percent each year.

And although it may not seem like much, that 1 percentage point makes a big difference — influential analysts are saying we're in for a "new normal."

The weekend did not end well for fire and police personnel near Island Park, Idaho, where 14 million bees went berserk after a semi wrecked on a highway Sunday afternoon. The truck was carrying more than 400 hives; crews didn't finished cleaning what was called a river of honey off the road until late Monday.

The bees swarmed in black clouds that kept the truck driver and rescue personnel in their vehicles until they could put on protective gear. In the end, it seems that many of the bees were killed after being sprayed by firefighting foam.

In Libya, rebels are eying the western mountain city of Gharyan as the next step in their advance toward the capital, Tripoli.

The Libyan government insists that the city is firmly on the side of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, but NPR reporters who were recently taken there say the real extent of government support is unclear.

Regime Stages Pro-Gadhafi Display

What happens when you cross CBS's The Price is Right with PBS's Antiques Roadshow?

You get NBC's It's Worth What?, a game show in which contestants are asked to guess the value of objects found anywhere from your neighbor's attic to international museums.

It's Worth What? is the latest in more than a dozen shows that deal with antiques or junk — depending on how you spin it. It also represents the beginning of a cable craze crossing over to broadcast — and the trend isn't over yet.

For the first time in three years, Kentucky’s general fund tax receipts have increased.  The fiscal year, which ended last month, saw a six point five percent increase...that's the highest growth rate since 2006.  State budget director Mary Lassiter says it’s a sign of economic recovery.

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has taken steps to apply for federal education grants from the Race to the Top program. The commonwealth is eligible for a portion of the $500 million that will be made available later this year. Like the previous round of Race to the Top grants, states must put together lengthy applications for the money.

The trial of a teen accused of killing a gay classmate, 15-year old Lawrence King, is underway in southern California and bringing national attention to the problem of gay bullying.

Prosecutors say the defendant murdered his classmate out of his hatred of homosexuals, but defense attorneys say their client snapped after being repeatedly harassed by the openly gay teen.

Rep. Michele Bachmann is the Republican front-runner in Iowa, and she's drawing the kind of wide coverage to prove it. Politico compares her to Howard Dean; ABC reports that her husband's counseling firm may have urged gay patients to pray their way straight.