From the Fairness Campaign: Just before 3 p.m. today, President Barack Obama signed into law the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act that includes the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act as an amendment. The bill will expand the 1969 federal hate crime law to include crimes motivated by perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. The bill passed the Senate last Thursday with a 68-29 vote in favor of the bill; both Kentucky Senators Bunning and McConnell voted against the measure. It passed the House on October 8 with the support of Congressman John Yarmuth, Ben Chandler, and Republican Brett Guthrie. [Press Release]

Miss me on the radio this morning? Listen to my interview about Gilles Meloche and Jerry Abramson here on the internets. Yes, the phonebook can be read to you for the right fee. [Clicky Clicky]

Like Francene says, Jackie Hays is the classiest person in local television news. We wish he the best in her news retirement. And as the gays would say? We’ll miss her more than our luggage. [C-J]

Louisville Metro Councilcritter Kelly Downard deserves our praise for being one of the lone voices of reason in Metro Government. He was the only elected official to call for justice in all the Gilles Meloche scandals and he’s the only elected official to continue speaking out. [Fat Lip]

Students are the change agents and leaders for the 21st Century. [Metro United Way]

Bill Mike Runyon will run for the Republican nod in Eastern Kentucky’s 97th state house district. [Bluegrass Politics]

Mike Reynolds says there are already robocalls going out disparaging his record. [Kentucky Club for Growth]

The Courier-Journal has definitely fallen in love with tabloid journalism – our kind of journalism.  Shame. [Bill Lamb]