Governor Steve Beshear’s office released photos of the US 68/KY 80 bridge disaster at Kentucky Lake:

“We are grateful that this wreck caused no injuries or loss of life. Since that bridge carries 2,800 cars every day, we were very fortunate that no one was on the span at that time,” said Gov. Beshear. “We’ll turn our attention to a full inspection of the bridge and determine what steps we can take next to speed up the replacement of that important artery.”

“I encourage our citizens to remain calm and patient as our state transportation officials investigate the structure and determine next steps,” said Sen. Ken Winters, of Murray. “I thank the Governor and Transportation Secretary for their immediate attention to this matter, and I hope that they will fully explore many alternatives, even temporary bridges, to best serve the people of western Kentucky.”

We’re all rolling our eyes at the state for spending $84,000+ to “study” whether or not it makes sense to fold the University of Pikeville into the state’s higher education system.

But you know what’s maybe crazier?

University of Kentucky president Eli Capilouto is spending $1.2 million on a single Chicago consultant to determine the size of UK’s bureaucratic bloat.

That same consultant has already received $280,000 for spending three months of “study” prior to a Board of Trustees retreat on October 1.

That’s $1.5 million on a single consultant. In a single year. From a single source. And there are no golden eggs anywhere that we can find.

Why is that crazy? A mere one percent salary increase to all 12,000 University of Kentucky employees – excluding hospital staff – would only cost $3. 6 million, according to an email blast from Lee Todd. And UK already has some of the country’s top business and public administration professors on-staff. Some of the brightest minds in the world that could produce the reports from these “studies” at little or no cost.

That’s what’s maybe crazier.

UPDATE: Have so far heard from legislators on both sides of the aisle in both houses, LRC staffers, capitol folks, people in the governor’s office, Jim Gray’s office, state employees, AOC staff, the EBEC and attorneys galore. Unlike Jack Conway, Elaine Walker, Steve Beshear and a couple others who childishly have tried every way imaginable to defame me and ruin my livelihood, I put my money where my mouth is. I think everyone has found out that I don’t take something on if I can’t win. And I’m tired of these Keith Hall sons of bitches running roughshod over everything that is holy in this Commonwealth.

Original story continues below….

John Schaaf, of the Legislative Ethics Commission, apparently wants me to personally chap his lying ass. He wants me to make the legislature roll its eyes at his bullshit organization even more than it already does.

Check the latest from a newsletter he sends out each month:

A website called Page One recently published false statements about the members of the Legislative Ethics Commission. In the first false statement, a website poster claimed: “All but one member of the (Legislative Ethics) Commission have contacted me over the past several months to express outrage . . . “

In the second false statement, the poster claimed: “Now they’re freaking out via email because they’re experiencing tons of legislative pressure for daring express their thoughts privately.”

Contacted for this newsletter, eight members of the Commission said they’ve never had contact with the website poster, there’s been no “legislative pressure” on any issue, and they are unfamiliar with the website.

Looks like Schaaf – who I told you last week is under serious pressure to cover his own ass – is under more pressure than I thought.

He’d lose his job today if I published everything his ass has said to me. And everything the members of the commission have said. He knows he can try to get away with it because I guarantee confidentiality when working with someone who requests/demands it.

So, John Schaaf: tread lightly. When you accuse me of making shit up, I will focus my high beams on you personally. You know I have enough friends in the legislature to find out anything I need to find out. Not just because they like me but because you’re one of the most corrupt sons of bitches in Frankfort. When you play passive aggressive and try to undermine my integrity, I can and will fight back. Legally and ethically, of course. And we all know Ethics in Kentucky are a fucking joke because of people like you.

You can continue apologizing for and making excuses for the way you’re pussing out on Keith Hall all you want. But I have nothing to lose in pursuing the bullshit you’re peddling.

You wanna play? I will play. Mark these words.

To everyone else: Now you see how bogus the Legislative Ethics Commission is.

This week the State House Republicrats are really angry about redistricting and they talked about a fancy foreigner bird that pooped everywhere:

Okay, so maybe it wasn’t so much bird poop… but it got you to watch the video, didn’t it?

Today, President Barack Obama kicks off the third day since his State of the Union address in Ann Arbor, Michigan. There, he’s focusing on keeping college affordable and within reach of all Americans.

His key issue of the effort?

Reforming student aid to promote affordability and value: To keep tuition from spiraling too high and drive greater value, the President will propose reforms to federal campus-based aid programs to shift aid away from colleges that fail to keep net tuition down, and toward those colleges and universities that do their fair share to keep tuition affordable, provide good value, and serve needy students well. These changes in federal aid to campuses will leverage $10 billion annually to help keep tuition down.

That’s direct from a White House release. They’re going balls-to-the-wall in this push.

Here’s more:

Rewarding Schools that Keep College Affordable

The President’s proposal to reform student aid to keep tuition from spiraling too high and drive greater value will improve distribution of federal financial aid and increase campus-based aid. This reform will reward colleges that are succeeding in meeting the following principles:

1. Setting responsible tuition policy, offering relatively lower net tuition prices and/or restraining tuition growth.
2. Providing good value to students and families, offering quality education and training that prepares graduates to obtain employment and repay their loans.
3. Serving low-income students, enrolling and graduating relatively higher numbers of Pell-eligible students

The campus-based aid that the federal government provides to colleges through Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG), Perkins Loans, and Work Study is distributed under an antiquated formula that rewards colleges for longevity in the program and provides no incentive to keep tuition costs low. The President is proposing to change how those funds are distributed by implementing an improved formula that shifts aid from schools with rising tuition to those acting responsibly, focused on setting responsible tuition policy, providing good value in education, and ensuring that higher numbers of low-income students complete their education. He is also proposing to increase the amount of campus-based aid to $10 billion annually. The increase is primarily driven by an expansion of loans in the federal Perkins program – which comes at no additional taxpayer cost.

Colleges that can show that they are providing students with good long-term value will be rewarded with additional dollars to help students attend. Those that show poor value, or who don’t act responsibly in setting tuition, will receive less federal campus-based aid. Students will receive the greatest government grant and loan support at colleges where they are likely to be best served, and little or no campus aid will flow to colleges that fail to meet affordability and value standards.

Do you think Jimbo and Shirley Q. are paying attention as they both pocket millions of dollars each year and continually jack tuition up through the roof?

Only time will tell but our money’s on them not giving a flip and doing everything they can get away with until reforms are enacted.

Brave patriot and State Senator Jimmy Higdon isn’t just a guy who will tackle you for stealing beef jerky. He’s not just a secret Mexican. He’s also one of the few people in Frankfort actually trying to stop pill mills without lining his pockets at the same time. [CN|2]

Quick, let’s pretend the Energy and Environment Cabinet cares about Earth Day! [Click the Clicky]

The state is now appealing the decision to release child abuse records. We repeat, Steve Beshear’s administration is now appealing the decision to release child abuse records. That’s how quickly they flip-flop and waste your tax dollars. [Debby Yetter]

And just like that, ANOTHER attorney was hired at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. [SoS]

Jerry Abramson desperately wants to run for the U.S. Senate. Or for Congress. So papaw is floating him all over the state to sound official. [State-Journal]

Andy Barr says he’s raised $425,000 in his second bid against Ben Chandler. [Press Release]

Apparently the Council on Postsecondary Education didn’t pay attention to what President Barack Obama had to say in his State of the Union address. [C-J/AKN]

Do you want to read another story about people suing over the ridiculous Greg Stumbo-Damon g…Thayer redistricting poop? Of course you do. [Ronnie Ellis]

Maybe you want to read yet another story about the redistricting lawsuit. So. Here you go. [H-L]

Oh, nope, you need another story about it all. The case will be heard at 10:30 A.M. on Monday by Judge Phillip Shepherd, who will hopefully strike down this bogus mess. But don’t hold your breath. [AP/Amanda Van Benschoten's Replacement]

Maybe it’d be easier to just watch a video about the redistricting mess. [WKYT]

Yes, a bridge over Kentucky Lake was struck by a tugboat last night and it partially collapsed. No one died, though, so calm down. It’s not earth-shattering news and there’s no need for us to write 45 times about it. [Press Releases/Email Blasts]

When Jerry Abramson says small businesses should have a large role in tax reform in Kentucky? He means gigantic businesses that employ thousands and operate outside the state. [Business First]

Newspapers in Eastern Kentucky are on fire this week over pill mill busts throughout the region. Just a week ago, Jack Conway was saying the problem was disappearing. Funny how that works. [The Morehead News]

Today former Lieutenant Governor Daniel Mongiardo blasted the nasty redistricting process in Kentucky. He hit Steve Beshear, praised Kathy Stein and pointed out the shenanigans with Alice Forgy Kerr. [Page One]

Fresh on the heels of Rand Paul’s TSA encounter, this piece of legislation would require an independent study of x-ray body scanners. [Pro Publica]

You, the taxpayer, are spending $84,400 on a study to determine whether or not the University of Pikeville should become a state school. [C-J/AKN]

Earlier today Republican Erwin Roberts – who once wanted Anne Northup’s seat – filed to run in the 10th State House District. [SoS]

Redistricting may face court scrutiny but – again – here’s hoping the Republicans have a clue what they’re up against. [Ronnie Ellis]

Here’s more on Jeff Hoover being really made that he was duped by Greg Stumbo. [H-L]

Raise your head if you think Frankfort will do the right thing when it comes to halting executions. [WHAS11]

Madison County has been divided into four State House districts and locals don’t seem to be too happy about it. [Richmond Register]

Today Adam Edelen announced plans to audit the Quality and Charity Care Trust. [The 'Ville Voice]

We can’t wait until the press start to re-discuss Newt Gingrich’s role in an international arms and bribery or whatever plot. [Wonkette]

Phillip Bailey got the headline wrong: “Mongiardo Rips General Assembly, Williams Over Redistricting Plan” – the REAL story in that release today, as we told you, was that he called out Alice Forgy Kerr and Steve Beshear while supporting Kathy Stein. [WFPL]

Urbody so mad over redistricting that people are getting all sue-happy. Republicrats shoulda made this a federal issue, though, because Greg Stumbo has the state judges in his back pocket, for the most part. [Ryan Alessi]

Even Bill Gates says the mega rich should pay more taxes. Because it’s, you know, just. [HuffPo]

Two twists in the dragon’s tail? China’s consumption ration is no longer falling and its reserves are no longer rising. [The Economist]

This week the Transportation Lady focuses on the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s centennial:

Oh, hey! It’s Greg Stumbo-Jeff Hoover caption contest time!

Kind of illustrates the state of affairs in Frankfort today, eh? Jeff looking timid, Greg looking down at him.

Have at it.

Something the Kentucky Democratic Republican Party doesn’t want you to think about: how November brought the election of a Republican as Elliott County Judge-Executive.

Carl Fannin is, based on what we can tell, the first Republican elected to county office there in more than 70 years.

You may remember his opponent, Georgia Ison. She’d previously been indicted while County Court Clerk. Steve Beshear appointed her to replace the former Judge-Executive, who also was indicted while in office.

Fannin was the only Republican to win in Elliott County. No other local or statewide candidate was able to do so.

The amazing thing? Less than four percent of Elliott County is registered Republican.

It’s a testament to how disjointed and broken Steve Beshear has allowed his party to become. In the land of Rocky Adkins, Walter Blevins, Jr. and John Will Stacy, no less. It’s a preview of what’s to come in 2012.