The Environmental Protection Agency has concerns about the environmental impact of a 218-acre coal ash landfill in Trimble County proposed by Louisville Gas and Electric. [WFPL]

Way to go Carter County. You’ve done it again. An Carter County man was shot and killed by state troopers Wednesday after police said he pointed a rifle at them and refused to put it down. [H-L]

On a scale of 1 to 10, how sad will it be watching Andy Barr lose to Republican Ben Chandler one more time? [WTVQ]

It’s interesting that in stories like this one, it’s never mentioned how much Bill Bissett is paid to literally spin for the Kentucky Coal Association. That’s his job – to spin – not to provide facts or tell you anything based in reality. [C-J/AKN]

Hal Rogers continues to pretend that there’s some war on coal. Interesting that concern about a devastating practice (mountaintop removal) still equates to a war on every other form of mining in their feeble minds. [WKYT]

Public scholarship funds – meant for the needy – are benefiting private schools. Because that’s how the “conservatives” want it. [NY Times]

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County government has paid $60,000 to settle a lawsuit involving the July 2010 death of Dean Ferguson, a prisoner who collapsed at the local jail and later died. [H-L]

Here’s more of that fancy mainstream coverage about Kentucky. Voters registered a strong protest against President Barack Obama in Democratic primaries in solidly Republican Kentucky and Arkansas, while Republican Mitt Romney easily captured both states, according to unofficial election returns. [Reuters]

Is this maybe why America can’t have nice things? The Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday moved forward with legislation to increase airline passenger security fees, beating back a GOP attempt to keep them at current levels. [The Hill]

Consultants paid for by the University of Louisville are saying exactly what UofL money-drivers have been saying. Imagine that! What a coincidence. [Business First]

This American Airlines pilot believes sluts should pay the price based on his backwater beliefs. [Wonkette]

Even Colin Powell says the gays should be allowed to get married. Which will cause a bunch of racist twits to freak out. [HuffPo]

Not all Kentucky State Police officers are like this guy. Not all officers try to get a little sexytime in exchange for not making an arrest. [H-L]

This Winchester man did such a great thing that he became a hot topic throughout the national media yesterday. [HuffPo]

Clarence Aaron seemed to be especially deserving of a federal commutation, an immediate release from prison granted by the president of the United States. At 24, he was sentenced to three life terms for his role in a cocaine deal, even though it was his first criminal offense and he was not the buyer, seller or supplier of the drugs. [ProPublica]

Here comes Ben Chandler trying to pretend he’s responsible for keeping the USPS facility in Lexington open. [WKYT]

U.S. crime statistics show illegal drugs play a central role in criminal acts, providing new evidence that tackling drugs as a public health issue could offer a powerful tool for lowering national crime rates, officials said on Thursday. [Reuters]

If you missed it? Almost everybody is getting killed in Louisville these days. You can’t do anything without getting shot. It’s almost like being in Lexington. [C-J/AKN]

Almost nobody is going to go vote on Tuesday. All those television advertising dollars? Completely wasted. [H-L]

Okay, this latest thing from Chuck Schumer seems a bit ridiculous. If these douchebags want to renounce their citizenship, why not just go ahead and push them out forever? [Wonkette]

Only in Kentucky. A condemned killer’s fight to receive surgery for agonizing hip pain pushed Kentucky officials into an uncomfortable debate over security, politics and even the possibility of inviting scorn from Fox News pundits. [WLEX18]

Did you know that President Barack Obama is a scary dictator monster because he wants women to be able to decide whether or not they do things with their bodies? [Wonkette]

Yep, the House voted to continue the war with Afghanistan. Which may be a bigger blunder than Iraq. But that’s the American way. [HuffPo]

Game over for the climate? Like you even need to ask or answer that question. [NYT]

The Chinese economy is showing unexpected signs of weakness. Nothing to see here. Puppies and rainbows. Move along. [Reuters]

After a man went on television for a very low-profile announcement that he is now back to feeling about gay marriage the way he felt in the fun 90s, the world erupted in praise … and backhanded praise and faint praise and no praise AT ALL! [Wonkette]

Why does this monkey hate America?! Somebody call Pat Robertson right away! [MSNBC]

Even Julie Denton, who takes legislative ethics less than seriously, knows that ditching Passport in favor of a bunch of hot mess companies is a Medicaid disaster waiting to happen. [WFPL]

Candy Barr received the Herald-Leader endorsement in the Republican primary. Which means he will lose to Ben Chandler. Again. Because he doesn’t ever do anything to campaign. And because Chandler is already an anti-gay Republican. [H-L]

To be clear, this book is partly about historical truck hijacking of the 1950s and 60s, and the entire 2nd printing of it was hijacked while on a truck. The book is also about the biggest domestic marijuana syndicate in American history — 70 Kentuckians arrested on 30 farms in 10 states with 200 tons of pot. [C-J/AKN]

On a scale of one to teabagger, how shocked are you that Rand Paul is going to endorse Thomas Massie? Must have something to do with Alecia Webb-Embarrassment polling higher than Massie in Lewis County this week. [CN|2]

Administrators at the temporary West Liberty Elementary say [yesterday] is strictly a fun day as the kids wrap up what’s been a very rough year. [WKYT]

Haha, so, funny story. Now Harry Reid wants to reform the filibuster process. Too little, too late. [Politico]

Here’s your senator, Rand Paul, backing a campaign that shows a gun pointed at President Barack Obama. [HuffPo]

Just hours after President Barack Obama publicly backed gay marriage, the House struck back and passed a measure aimed at reinforcing the Defense of Marriage Act.

With a 245-171 vote, the House voted to stop the Justice Department from using taxpayer funds to actively oppose DOMA — the Clinton-era law defining marriage as between a man and a woman that the Obama administration stopped enforcing in February 2011.

-SNIP-

“The Justice Department is duty-bound to enforce DOMA and to not do so is a flagrant disregard for the Constitution and for the rule of law.”

Huelskamp’s amendment was attached to a $51.1 billion spending bill that would fund DOJ and the Commerce Department, and major science agencies. Sixteen Democrats voted with the GOP for the amendment, while seven Republicans opposed it.

Democrats immediately attacked Republicans for the vote.

One of those sixteen Democrats? None other than Ben Chandler.

So save your B.S. about him being a progressive Democrat who doesn’t support and vote in favor of anti-gay discrimination. It’s disgusting watching his gay staffers try to spin things.

It’s all right there in the open for the world to see.

Note: John Yarmuth didn’t vote on the issue.

During last evening’s 4th District GOP debate, both Gary Moore and Alecia Webb-Edgington pledged to continue funding headstart programs and both emphasized the importance of early childhood education. Thomas Massie? He said he wouldn’t and blamed illiteracy on parents. Even went so far as to blame family break-ups on taxes. We’re left wondering who beat Massie so hard with the stupid stick. Was it Rand Paul? Maybe the curb stomper guy? Hoo boy. [Stupidity Should Hurt]

At the dawn of the Internet era, Congress set out to avert a digital divide between rich and poor students. In a landmark bill, lawmakers required the nation’s phone companies to provide bargain voice and data rates to schools and to subsidize the cost of equipment and services, with the biggest subsidies going to the schools with the most disadvantaged children. More than a decade later, as schools struggle for funding amid widespread budget cuts, there is growing evidence that the program’s crucial low-price requirement has been widely neglected by federal regulators and at least one telecom giant. [HuffPo]

The Kentucky Public Service Commission is set to decide soon whether American Electric Power can keep burning coal at an eastern Kentucky power plant. [WFPL]

And the demand for coal for U.S. coal is plummeting. According to analysts, it may never recover. [The Atlantic]

On Friday, May 4, President Obama will welcome the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team to the White House to celebrate their 2012 NCAA championship. [Press Release]

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has identified at least three businesses that may be responsible for cleaning up toxic waste at the former Black Leaf chemical site in Louisville’s Park Hill neighborhood, two of which have agreed to work with the EPA to help make the property safe. [C-J/AKN]

Maybe Glenn Kessler of the Washington Post needs a reality check? Because the bridges situation in Louisville isn’t puppies and rainbows, as he’d have you believe. Most of Kentucky’s bridges are falling apart. [WaPo]

Why does Andy Barr continue to half-ass his second campaign against Ben Chandler? The latest polling shows him 24 points behind Chandler. [WLEX18]

Of course Mittens Romney has a Swiss bank account. Of course he does. [HuffPo]

Just a reminder that the government doesn’t have any money because you are fat as hell and rip toilets off the wall. [Wonkette]

Some things with Greg Fischer’s Metro Animal Services mess will never change. The latest is just kind of sad. [The 'Ville Voice]

The Kentucky Supreme Court heard the appeal of a judge kicked out of office by the Judicial Conduct Commission. Fitting that Marcus Carey is the guy’s attorney. [H-L]

What would you do if your home, place of employment and entire community were wiped off the face of the earth by a tornado? Recovery in Eastern Kentucky will take a long time and only the Red Cross remains on the ground supporting the people who most need it. [Click Here To Give]

Dear Readers: Who from Kentucky do you know that’s affiliated with Gineen Bresso’s campaign in Florida? Any consultants from Kentucky campaigns working for her? Because her campaign has illegally harvested thousands of email addresses. [Deep Floriduh Failures]

Way to go, Eastern Kentucky. Thanks for embarrassing the entire Commonwealth again . [HuffPo]

You know what’s unfortunate? The Kentucky Democratic Republican Party is working overtime to trash Sarah Lynn Cunningham. She’s running as a Democratic in the 19th State Senate District amongst the KDRP’s chosen boy, Morgan. Beshear’s crew have gone so far to call various unions to prohibit them from granting her an interview. And you wonder why the Democrats in Frankfort continue to fall apart. [Democratic Failure]

Virginia Foxx simply does not care for you damn kids and your debt. This heinous witch is half the reason the United States is in the pooper. [Wonkette]

Just like that, hospitals are starting to sue the state’s new Medicaid managed care plans. Appalachian Regional Healthcare sued Centene on the state level and Coventry in federal court. Cat fights are just beginning. [Deep Medicaid Thoughts]

Way to go, Lexington! A fire on Sheridan Drive on Thursday burned unchecked for several minutes, destroying a family’s kitchen, because the nearest fire engine had temporarily been taken out of service. [H-L]

You know you love you some cat fight between Papaw Beshear and David Williams. You just wish slapping were involved. [FOX41]

Low social status is bad for your health and biologists are beginning to understand why. [The Economist]

Ben Chandler can’t be bothered to deal with his constituents on any personal level. And he most certainly can’t be bothered with answering tough questions. But he’s sure got time to file bills congratulating a sports team. [Ben Chandler]

Michele Beard Bachmann, one of the dumbest women to ever live, is now using “tar baby” (yes, really) when discussing President Barack Obama. [Wonkette]

Careful what you wish for, teabaggers. Now the Republican Establishment is using Super PACs to restrain you. [HuffPo]

Here he is talking to the folks in Danville about something:

See the other three videos after the jump…

Predictions on how long it takes for A Kentucky Newspaper to not change at all? One day? One week? A month? How long will it take the feigned hype to die down before nothing changes? [C-J/AKN]

What would you do if your home, place of employment and entire community were wiped off the face of the earth by a tornado? Recovery in Eastern Kentucky will take a long time and only the Red Cross remains on the ground supporting the people who most need it. [Click Here To Give]

When are you mouth-breathers going to realize that your hate and ignorance helps drive young gay people to take their lives? Is it impossible for you to comprehend that hate, discrimination, defamation and attacks are the antithesis of what you claim to espouse? Of course you don’t. You won’t realize it until hordes of mouth-breathers start killing themselves for realizing they’re living in an ignorant fantasy world. [HuffPo]

The only thing the Kentucky Democratic Republican Party is turning up is the air conditioning. Because the folks at KDRP can’t walk ten feet without nearly sweating to death. And because the heat is coming from Republicans making life difficult for them. [Twitter]

While the Democrats love hanging this special session albatross around the neck of David Williams? This bit from a Gerth/Loftus/Wynn article makes it more than clear that Steve Beshear is in charge of spending way more than $60,000 per day: Meanwhile, Gov. Steve Beshear is still pondering whether to act on the state’s road plan quickly or allow the session to drift into next week. [C-J/AKN]

Of course Ben Chandler is making campaign contributions to his fellow faux Democrats. That’s how things work with him. [Politico]

But let’s not pretend that he could lose to Candy Barr, one of the worst opponents ever, like this article suggests could happen. [Probably Not Happening]

Kind of a major pee alert: Scott Walker was there to speechify as a guest of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. About three thousand radical marxist trade laborers, teachers, firefighters, and other public sector employees/Union Thugs turned out to welcome Governor Walker and offer a large bag of kettle-cooked chipotle dicks for him to eat. [Wonkette]

There are a bunch of children playing pat-a-cake in Frankfort. Literally playing pat-a-cake with important legislation. This is why Kentucky gets a mere eye roll in the rest of the country. [WFPL]

Mittens Romney is the Meh-Publican candidate and people can’t decide if they are brainwashed or skeerd of the black man enough to support him. [HuffPo]

Debby Yetter’s new position as an editorial writer at A Kentucky Newspaper is a strong move for the paper. She not only deserves the position but is one of the most solid and honest journalists in the state. [C-J/AKN]

Whattya mean the white supremacist nutballs are going absolutely insane these days? Now they’re paying lobbyists in Warshington. [Wonkette]

There is poison in the water in the 4th District and people are just going completely crazy. Now there’s apparently no race? Let’s just bang our heads against a wall. [Click This Mess]

Michele Bachmann says it’s shocking that a non-Republican woman thinks a mega-wealthy Republican woman who has nannies and all kinds of cash to raise kids doesn’t know what it means to bust her ass trying to feed her babies. What’s really shocking, though, is that Michele Bachmann still doesn’t know that glitter and a purse fall out of her husband’s mouth every time he speaks. [HuffPo]

Republican Ben Chandler barely out-raised his embarrassingly bad opponent, Candy Barr. [The Hill]

Seems Hal Rogers took more of his friends – the one he’s represented as an attorney or paid – to Florida with him to talk about drugs. [Hal Rogers]

Wondering where Tim Moore’s backwater and often bigoted shenanigans come from? Here’s a solid look at the 16th Century Mayflower mess that controls Moore. [H-L]

Joe Gerth says David Williams has been outmaneuvered. Unfortunately, it’s not David you should give two flips about. It’s yourself. You’ve been hoodwinked into voting for these shysters who continue to run the Commonwealth into the ground. [C-J/AKN]

The presidential campaign looks likely to sharpen American divisions. At least, that’s according to the foreigns who can’t believe people like Mittens Romney exist. [The Economist]

Kentucky’s special legislative session begins today and will cost you more than $60,000 per day. To accomplish next to nothing. All because Steve Beshear couldn’t be bothered to talk to legislators other than teabagger wannabe Damon Thayer. [FOX41]

The Kentucky Supreme Court will hear arguments this Wednesday in Frankfort on a case that could force Jefferson County Public Schools to change its student assignment plan. [WFPL]

Remember Sexytime Herman Cain? Turns out he’s still got those fancy campaign finance problems on his hands. Just cold paying people these days. [Politico]

What would you do if your home, place of employment and entire community were wiped off the face of the earth by a tornado? Recovery in Eastern Kentucky will take a long time and only the Red Cross remains on the ground supporting the people who most need it. [Click Here To Give]

You know you want to win a fancy copy of Jim Higdon’s Cornbread Mafia! Go enter ASAP and consider supporting his Kickstarter project to take the book on tour. [Page One]

Turns out Steve Beshear is not one of the nation’s top ten governors. Despite what his staff paid with taxpayer dollars would have you believe. [WaPo]

Just what Eastern Kentucky needs. A wildfire. Absolutely terrific. [H-L]

Earlier today, Candy Barr said he raised $181,594 in the first quarter of 2012 for his congressional race against Ben Chandler. That brings Candy to a total of $606,965 raised. [Press Release]

We’ve already descended to WAR ON WOMEN: CATERPILLARS vs. CNN DEMRAT PR LESBO-FEMINAZI as the hot narrative, several months before the typical bottoming-out month of August. [Wonkette]

Greg Fischer’s staff told media outlets we were lying about having telephone records and other pieces of information to prove he knew about his drunk driving parks director months before the scandal broke. So we started proving that Greg’s folks are the liars. We published the first tidbits of phone records. Proving Fischer is using your tax dollars to willingly lie to the press. [The 'Ville Voice]

Did you know that May is Pediatric Stroke Awareness Month in Kentucky? [SoS]

Ruh ro. A filmmaker goes undercover at Marcus Bachmann’s ‘pray the gay away’ clinic. You know this is going to be hilarious. [HuffPo]

Burnside in Pulaski County can’t catch a break. Two were killed in a shooting inside an apartment Wednesday night. [WKYT]

Mittens Romney’s opposition to gay marriage, which helped endear him to conservative activists during the dog days of the presidential primary, puts him at odds with three of his most prominent donors, all of whom helped fund a successful effort to legalize same-sex nuptials in New York last year. [Politico]

Here’s how Ben Chandler and his pals get to shroud details of their fancy congressional trips abroad. [Pro Publica]

Jobless claims rose by 13,000 last week. So much for our puppies and rainbows economy. [NPR]