Health departments across Kentucky are facing cuts amid growing demand. Legislators just kind of roll their eyes at the situation. [Debby Yetter]

The long-term unemployment situation in America just got a lot worse. The maximum duration is dropping to 79 weeks. [HuffPo]

Yep, it’s about time for the presidential race to get all, well, racy. Because fat white guys are always this stupid. [Politico]

Woah, are we finally seeing proof that sex education fails in mouth-breather-dominated areas of the country? [MSNBC]

How likely is it that the filing deadline won’t be moved again? Highly unlikely. Since Frankfort is a literal disaster. [Kenny Coleslaw]

A new University of Kentucky report says that the Commonwealth should broaden its tax code to include services. [H-L]

Bill Adkins filed to run as a Democrat in the 4th Congressional district. Which means a Republican is still winning. [NKY Losing?]

Of course child abuse secrecy in Frankfort is only designed to protect officials appointed by Steve Beshear. [C-J/AKN]

Mouth-breathers in this country will never cease to amaze you. Now they’re trying to ban abortions based on race and gender. Because abortion is all they thing about. [Wonkette]

No only is Michele Bachmann clueless about being married to a gay guy… she believes she was the perfect candidate. [HuffPo]

SuperPACs are altering the dynamics of the presidential race and it is turning into a primary about money. [The Economist]

Of course congressional earmarks are sometimes used to fund projects near lawmakers’ properties. Like that airport Hal Rogers had built for himself that sits empty. [WaPo]

A million dollar lottery ticket was sold in Frankfort. Probably to some dirtbag legislator who will use it to buy more hookers and coke. [H-L]

Steve Beshear says the gambling amendment is a done deal. Princess Damon Thayer says it’s merely close. [C-J/AKN]

Alison Lundergan Grimes has some sort of slogan contest poll thing going on. Don’t pick something stupid. [SoS]

Sam Sifton, national editor for the New York Times will be at Bellarmine on the 9th to discuss presidential campaign coverage. [Press Release]

Get a grip, bar owners, and quit it with the racist crap. You may not be a racist but what you do and say can most certainly be racist. [Curt Morrison]

On top of the earlier story about 27 people getting indicted in Franklin county, 15 were arrested in Lee County. The pill problem isn’t going away like Jack Conway says it is. [H-L]

State House Democrats say the Congressional redistricting map is very close. Which means more cat fights are on the way. [CN|2]

Senate Bill 21 was okayed today. It’s maybe a good move. Would allow school districts to stay open on election days if no schools are being used as polling locations. [Deep Senate Thoughts]

You know these new stem cell research developments are going to drive the mouth-breathers so insane they can’t stand it. [The Economist]

The Cabinet for Health and Family Services is soliciting nominations for the Governor’s Volunteer Awards. [Click the Clicky]

Are fewer people seeking unemployment aid because the job market is improving or because their benefits are running out and they have to stop looking for work? [WKYT]

• Anne Braden Institute – UofL
• Bridgehaven
• CASA
• Center for Women and Families
• Crane House
• Elderserve
• Family and Children’s Place – Child Advocacy Center
• Family Scholar House
• Harbor House
• Home of the Innocents
• Jewish Community of Louisville
• Kentucky Center Governor’s School for the Arts
• Kentucky School of Art
• KET Commonwealth Fund
• The Library Foundation
• Louisville Fund for the Arts
• Louisville Urban League
• Louisville Zoo
• Maryhurst
• Muhammad Ali Center
• NAACP
• Simmons University
• United Way
• Volunteers of America
• Youth Build Louisville

“With our economy in recovery, a lot of really wonderful organizations are being forced to cut already lean budgets,” Yarmuth said. “I am very fortunate to be in a position to offer this small assist as these groups work so diligently and effectively to enrich the Louisville community.”

Yarmuth, for whatever reason, never releases the amounts given to each group.

Go get involved today.

Democrats will poo poo this in 3, 2…

Is 2012 going to be a bumpy ride? Ronnie Ellis thinks so and he explains why. [Ashland Independent]

Ron Paul finally manned up (this time) to admit he had some responsibility for those ridiculous newsletters. [The Hill]

Leave it to the faux “family” folks in North Carolina to usurp Kentucky when it comes to hating the gays. Using sniper crosshairs to attack the gays. Cute. [HuffPo]

Here’s your first taste of the reality that even if a gambling amendment passes? The legislature may not be supportive of constitutionally guaranteeing gambling licenses to race tracks. [H-L]

Regardless of what happens today with the University of Louisville Hospital merger decision, Kentuckians will still be screwed. You already expect it, we know. [FOX41]

You’ve seen the corruption Greg Stumbo admits publicly he’ll do nothing about, right? Because it involves his friend, Keith Hall? The guy Crit Luallen fingered in a massive audit? The guy Jack Conway refuses to investigate? The guy the Ethics Commission fined and spanked? Yeah. [Page One]

Fresh off of making it clear that he’s protecting his friend, Keith Hall, Greg Stumbo decided to discuss the 2012 legislative session with the teevee folks. [WYMT]

Frankfort is still living in the dark ages, believing their pseudoephedrine legislation will solve the meth problem. Something that’s only really an issue in ten counties. And wouldn’t be if more than 30% of doctors and pharmacists actually used systems that already exist. But that’s the Kentucky way – raising costs to Medicaid, killing tax revenue and playing to fears. [C-J/AKN]

HAHA, are you still laughing over Michele Beard Bachmann’s staffers coming out of the closet for Overlord Ron Paul? She’s so crazy that the Paulbots can’t even back her. [Wonkette]

Don’t miss Comment on Kentucky tonight at 8:00 P.M. Eastern on KET. Scheduled guests: Ryan Alessi, Joe Arnold, Jack Brammer. Should be loosely entertaining, even though Ronnie Ellis won’t be there. [KET]

Students can’t afford real educations these days and they’re flocking to for-profit schools. So rather than actually help those folks, Jack Conway poked his head out of the turtle hole when it was politically beneficial for him. Now he’s back to not investigating Democrats and hating his critics. [HuffPo]

Crit Luallen isn’t running for the U.S. Senate and she isn’t going to run for governor. Her own current/former staffers say she’s just toying with things. [Ryan Alessi]

The New York Times knows what’s important and this Christmas it was focused on Kentucky bourbon. Though, don’t go ruining it with things like apple brandy or a cinnamon stick, wtf. Glad to see Maker’s 46 getting some mainstream attention. [NYT]

Ron Paul took credit for his controversial newsletters in a 1995 video interview. Now he’s backing away from them. [HuffPo]

Dennis Keene says the legislature can pass gambling during the General Assembly. Theoretically, the legislature can do a lot of things. [Enquirer]

Remember when we brought up the UNITE conference at Disney World, oh, weeks and weeks ago? Joe Gerth apparently caught on. [Ryan Alessi]

People in Morehead aren’t exactly happy about being ignored as a prominent university in Eastern Kentucky. [The Morehead News]

And no one sees Paul Patton’s decision to leave the chairmanship of the Council on Post-Secondary Education as a positive while he’s trying to rob the state of hundreds of millions of dollars. [WKYT]

Jim Wayne has been calling for comprehensive tax reform in Kentucky for years and years. Who wants to bet every single idea he’s got will be ignored in Frankfort? [H-L]

Gambling proponents think now may be their best shot. Unfortunately, their best shot was about four years ago. [C-J/AKN]

A fancy old man in a bejeweled golden hat warned of Christmas Glitter. What a sinful pursuit. [Wonkette]

Don’t worry, everything is puppies and rainbows with the world economy. Everything is perfect. There’s nothing at all to be concerned about. [HuffPo]

This is why Kentucky can have nice things. Because people always show up to help those less fortunate when they’re needed. [FOX41]

Here she is with Louisville Fire Department Chief Gregory Frederick and Bob Cross, a Kentucky Toys for Tots leader:

“During this season of gratitude and celebration, we must remember to share our time and blessings with those who are facing hard times,” Mrs. Beshear said. “Toys for Tots is an outstanding organization that helps citizens share the holiday spirit by giving gifts to children who may otherwise not have any presents to unwrap this season. I’m pleased to support this program’s efforts and encourage all Kentuckians to take the time to donate a gift to a child in need.”

This is why Kentucky can have nice things.

This is an actual headline: “Barney Frank’s Nipples Steal The Show During House Address”. [HuffPo]

Julie Denton says Janie Miller should resign. Tom Burch says there’s nothing to see here, move along. Maybe Tom just has no clue what’s going on because he’s always in Indiana or because he refused to hold hearings on child abuse deaths until he had egg on his face. [H-L]

It’s hilarious that anybody would consider Jack Conway for the U.S. Senate in 2014. Everybody’s pushing Crit Luallen to run. But if Mitch really decides to run again, here’s betting she loses, as she’ll surround herself with the likes of people who will only be helping her to try to get rich. [Ryan Alessi]

The public is being encouraged to weigh in on the Ohio River Bridges Debacle. Which, loosely translated, means the hundreds of thousands of comments already provided don’t matter and any new comments won’t matter, either. [FOX41]

Orange Man John Boehner and all of his friends are super-angry at Mitch McConnell over the payroll tax extension. [WaPo]

Some losing teabagger racist has called for the assassination of President Barack Obama and his family and doesn’t think it’s a big deal. And you wonder why there’s a difference between teabagger and tea partier. [Wonkette]

A Lexington company is giving the gift of heat. It’s why Kentucky can have nice things. [WKYT]

Haha, aww, it’s so cute that these people think they’re going to be able to make public pensions as open as public salaries in Kentucky. [John Cheves]

How long will it take these anti-abortion folks to try the same stunt in Kentucky? Until then, we believe all children should be aborted and/or sold to pay down the deficit. [HuffPo]

An overturned tanker in Eastern Kentucky started leaking. The region just can’t catch a break in 2011. [WLEX18]

Somebody has finally been indicted for that Eastern Kentucky University arson case. [Richmond Register]

What did the makers of America believe about god and religion? The subject is stirring the very rancor they wanted to avoid… for the mouth-breathers. [The Economist]

Mitt Romney got permission to destroy 150 boxes of records during the final weeks of his governorship. Sounds like something we’re going to experience in Kentucky in a few years. [Reuters]