The agreement will turn the unused and rusting span into a new bridge that will connect Louisville’s Waterfront Park to downtown Jeffersonville. The historic bridge was built for railroad traffic in 1895, but has been closed with its approaches removed since 1969.

Under the agreement signed by both states, Kentucky is pledging $12 million to replace the deck on the bridge and connect it to the spiral ramp that has been completed in Waterfront Park.

On the other side of the river, Indiana will spend up to $8 million and Jeffersonville will provide $2 million in matching dollars to pay for construction its ramp to the Big Four Bridge.

“I am grateful to both states and particularly (Indiana) Gov. (Mithc) Daniels because Jeffersonville could not have done this on its own,” said Jeffersonville Mayor Tom Galligan in a news release. “This is a big day for citizens on both sides of the river.”

While Jeffersonville is finalizing an environmental review of their proposed ramp, officials say the construction is set to begin this spring meaning the new pathway could be open to pedestrians and cyclists in early 2013.

“The governors of Kentucky and Indiana are working together to make great things happen for Louisville and Southern Indiana,” said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. “The Big Four will not only link both sides of the Ohio River, it helps bridge our communities together. We are one city, one community and one family, as I said in my inaugural address. Let me add a fourth element: We are one region. This project is proof of that.”

However, a vast majority of (older, less high) Americans have rejected the idea of replacing Ulysses “Da Reconstructionist” Grant with Ronald “Raygun” Reagan, according to a new Marist poll released last week.

A Republican congressman from North Carolina has proposed legislation that would replace the image of President Ulysses S. Grant on the fifty dollar bill with that of President Ronald Reagan. Do Americans want this change to occur?

Most do not.  79% think this suggestion is a bad idea while 12% say it’s a good one.  9% are unsure.

Reagan is the modern day hero of many Republicans, but even more than seven in ten members of the nation’s GOP — 71% — believe the switch is a bad idea.  83% of Democrats and 79% of independents agree.

I was actually worried there for a few seconds that the past two decades of Regan-induced revisionist history would whitewash the ugliness of an administration that — in case you missed it — shifted the tax burden from the country’s wealthiest to its middle-class, over-leveraged our borrowing capacities less than a decade before the Cold War ended (which had little to do with him anyway) and created the foundation of our modern day, deregulated corporate oligarchy.

But this isn’t to say there’s no place in our legal tender for the visage of a man who gassed California student protesters and starred in movies with chimpanzees.

That’s what the $3 bill is for.

From Business Wire:

First Lady Michelle Obama and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will be joined by several high-ranking HHS officials to announce the release of new grants for communities to support public health efforts in preventing obesity and tobacco use while improving nutrition and increasing physical activity among the American people.

No one in the Mayor’s Office or health department will confirm a dollar amount, but we’re hearing the city could receive anywhere up to $10 million in federal grant money to create more health equity policies and expand other elements such as the Mayor’s Healthy Hometown Movement.

Expect an official announcement of some kind when the Mayor Abramson returns from Washington tomorrow afternoon.

GE-whiz: In the good news section, General Electric says it will build a new line of energy-efficient washers and dryers at Appliance Park — delivering about 430 new jobs to Louisville.

Morning Tyler: Democratic mayoral candidate Tyler Allen may never lead the primary pack in fundraisng, but he has some ingenuity in reaching constituents. The co-founder of 8664 went to Ustream for his blogger breakfast and took questions. For those who don’t know, Ustream is website that allows live broadcasting of events online. If you miss Allen’s broadcast, they’ll be archived online.

Obama, on hold: Who’s the boss, the president or the bankers?

Houston, we have history: Here’s a 2-minute bio of Houston city controller Annise Parker, the first openly gay mayor of a major U.S. city.

“Crit Luallen … has successfully fought corruption and fiscal mismanagement, the capstone to her 35-year career as a versatile problem-solver in state government,” according to the magazine, which also commended her reputation among law enforcement and public officials nationally.

“This is truly an honor and quite a pleasant surprise. I believe in the value of public service and I have worked to build a record of integrity and competence throughout my career,” Luallen said in a press release. “But I am also fortunate to have had some wonderful people around me who contributed to any successes I have had.”

Since 1994, Governing Magazine has honored individual state and local government officials for outstanding accomplishments by naming them public officials of the Year. Recipients include elected, appointed and career officials from every branch of state or local government. The award is considered one of the nation’s preeminent honors for state and local officials.