Nation in brief: Haggard forming another church

Colorado Springs, Colo. – Former megachurch pastor Ted Haggard said Wednesday that he will launch a new church from his Colorado Springs home, 3 1/2 years after he resigned from his ministry amid an embarrassing and devastating sex scandal.

“This is my resurrection day,” he declared.

Haggard said his new venture would not be a megachurch like New Life Church, the congregation he founded in 1985 and then left in 2006 after a male prostitute said Haggard paid him for sex.

Haggard said he doesn’t know how many people will attend his new church, but he said the ordeal he and his wife, Gayle, went through has prepared them to help others.

“I have an incredible heart for broken people,” he said. “I think we’re qualified to hold people’s hands” in times of trouble.

Palin endorses GOP longshot

Anchorage, Alaska – Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin gave longshot Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joe Miller a boost Wednesday by endorsing him in the Aug. 24 primary against Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

Palin said there is no tension between her and Murkowski. Palin’s political action committee, SarahPAC, even donated to $4,800 to Murkowski’s campaign last year and pledged to raise funds for her before Palin abruptly quit as governor.

But when Palin abruptly resigned her governor’s post last summer, Lisa Murkowski said she was “deeply disappointed that the governor has decided to abandon the state and her constituents before her term has concluded.”

Palin trounced Murkowski’s father, incumbent Gov. Frank Murkowski, in the 2006 GOP primary race, which launched Palin’s national political career.