BREAKING NEWS

Palin formally steps down as Alaska governor

Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin has formally resigned from office, the former vice presidential candidate announced on Sunday. She turned over power to Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell. In a farewell speech Sunday in Fairbanks, she warned against big government but gave few clues about her long-term political plans. Palin was a relative political unknown a year ago when Republican presidential candidate John McCain selected her to be his running mate. The partisan election created problems for Palin when she returned to Alaska.