Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear is calling on Congress and the White House to move quickly on an economic stimulus package that would include help for the sagging auto industry.Governor's spokesperson Jay Blanton says Kentucky's economy is vitally linked to the industry."We're now the third largest producer of automobiles in the country, behind only Michigan and Ohio and there's some 80,000 jobs connected to the auto industry in Kentucky. And it's becoming clear pretty quickly that these companies that have presences in Kentucky are hemmoraging dollars," Blanton said.General Motors and Ford both announced third quarter losses and more job cuts Friday amid plummeting sales.Auto industry leaders have been meeting with government officials in Washington to discuss securing billions of dollars in low-interest loans.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.