The hair of the dog. Does a bit more debt keep the economic recovery on track? [The Economist]

The Indianapolis stadium deal is souring and you can bet it’s only a matter of time until Louisville faces a similar, though smaller, problem with its arena. [Bloomberg]

This failing museum in Lexington – the Explorium – owes money to the city and its director is stepping down. Would you expect less from a joint that bills itself as Kentucky’s only children’s museum? Since, you know, that’s not remotely accurate? [H-L]

The economic impact of the stimulus is unclear and highly debated. But one thing is for sure: it’s done more to promote government transparency than any piece of legislation in recent memory. But that’s still just scratching the surface. [Governing]

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer today announced his top five finalists to be the new Metro Police chief. [The 'Ville Voice]

Now that Roseanne Barr is running for the presidency as a Green Party candidate, that’s someone you can finally get behind, right? [Politico]

Work on the collapsed bridge at Kentucky Lake is on hold while the Coast Guard awaits a plan of action. [WKYT]

Testimony describes the differences in how states report and review child fatalities as a result of abuse. [H-L]

Jamie Comer finally fired the friend of Richie Farmer’s girlfriend. We’re still waiting on someone to stage a Richie Farmer Intervention, amen. [C-J/AKN]

Donald Trump isn’t just endorsing Mittens Romney for being rich, he’s also starting a cemetery at his fancy golf course or something. [Wonkette]

Don’t miss Comment on Kentucky tonight at 8:00 P.M. Eastern on KET. Scheduled guests: Ronnie Ellis, Roger Alford, Janet Patton. When Ronnie’s on, you know it’s good. [KET]

The Supreme Court is beginning to drop hints about its looming health care reform decision. [HuffPo]

Here are two more stories about the major drug indictment operation in Franklin County. [State-Journal & More State-Journal]

Looks like Kentucky is going to get a No Child Left Behind waiver. [WFPL]

Is this really one of Steve Beshear’s top priorities or is he merely trying to save face with disabled people in Kentucky? [Page One]

Today House Republicans in Warshington earned their salary by worrying about strip clubs. [Wonkette]

Mittens Romney literally said he is “not concerned about the very poor.” That’s how your mormon cultist overlord feels about a huge swatch of the United States of America. [WaPo]

Quietly, the U.S. is moving to block lawsuits filed by military families over medical malpractice. [The Atlantic]

Ruh ro, here comes everybody freaking out about the Republicans they have to pick between. [NPR & Politico]

We still can’t believe it requires legislation to keep some uptight homeowners association from freaking out over a child’s playhouse. The House panel rejected the bill. [WKYT]

A for-profit college regulator bill is proceeding to the State House. Remember when Jack Conway was feigning concerned about this when he was in the fight of his life? [H-L]

Aww, look how concerned Denise Harper Angel got over her new Democratic opponent, Curt Morrison. [The 'Ville Voice]

What was that, again, about Greg Fischer saving Louisville Metro Government money? Look what Metro Council had to deal with and look at the excuses offered by Fischer’s office. [C-J/AKN]

Oh, look, how Republicans in Warshington are having journalists arrested. Sounds like something Kentucky Democrats would try to pull. [HuffPo]

The office of State Treasurer needs to be abolished. Democrats are costing this state tons of money by voting against it. If Todd Hollenbach is in Jake’s neighborhood every day at random hours, there’s not a snowball’s chance in hell there’s work that he’s actually doing. Especially when he’s spotted at Kroger with… people… [Bluegrass Politics]

It’s time for the rest of the pain clinics in Eastern Kentucky to get raided. Rowan and Morgan Counties are loaded down with shady medical providers that allow doctor shopping and pharmacies that willingly comply. [WKYT]

Damon Thayer has taken his princess hat off for a bit and is trying to help Papaw Beshear fail at gambling for the fourth year in a row. [Ronnie Ellis]

Steve Beshear says an agreement has been reached on language for the gambling bill. But he’s still only spoken with Damon Thayer and maybe two other legislators. Hasn’t even bothered to conference with his own party’s members. [C-J/AKN]

No one can figure out if Michele Bachmann is going to run for Congress again. The world will be sad without her and her gay husband on television all the time. [Wonkette]

The Mine Safety and Health Administration has cited three Kentucky coal mines for safety violations. [WFPL]

American banks are apparently now only able to cheer for their own survival. It wouldn’t make sense, apparently, for them to do much else. Yay America. [The Economist]

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund says that the global economy is deeply in the danger zone over risks from the euro crisis. [BBC]

Unions in Louisville are unhappy with the way Greg Fischer is trying to “save” the city from overtime costs. He has no idea that all it takes is proper management and he wouldn’t be wasting umpteen millions of dollars per year. [FOX41]

Don’t queen out like you’re a run-of-the-mill meth head in the state capitol and you won’t get your ass arrested. [Bluegrass Politics]

Niger and El Salvador beat the United States when it comes to freedoms of the press. Your country dropped 27 places in just a year, thanks to harsh treatment of reporters covering protests. [Slate]

The U.S. Conference of Mayors quietly led efforts to coordinate responses to protests. Oh, what? You’re shocked? [HuffPo]

More older Americans than ever before are employed because they can’t even afford to buy cheap cat food and dog food to eat. [WaPo]

Kentucky’s child protection system is in shambles and no one responsible wants to try to resolve problems. Social workers face retribution, they’re forced to sign documentation prohibiting them from acting as whistleblowers and messes continue to unfold. [H-L]

We’re still waiting for someone to tell us what the benefit to the community versus the cost is for this “Workforce Ready” program is. [Click the Clicky]

Ronnie Ellis takes on the crazy ass cat fights going on in Frankfort these days. [Ashland Independent]

Don’t miss Comment on Kentucky tonight at 8:00 P.M. Eastern on KET. Scheduled guests: Kenny Coleslaw, Greg Hall, Phil Pendleton. Ferrell will have to carry the humor load this week but it should still be interesting. [KET]

Whaaaaat?! Chris Christie told Oprah he was a doughnut burglar?! This is too much for Gays With Decent Taste to handle. [Wonkette]

President Barack Obama is seeking greater power to shrink the federal government and consolidate duplicative services. Naturally, the teabaggers are melting down over it. It’s a secret muslin commie takeover attempt, obviously. [HuffPo]

Just what Kentucky needs. Those Amish folks are taking their buggy case to the Kentucky Supreme Court. [WKYT]

There’s not gonna be any trash pick up in Louisville on Monday so you can bet tensions will rise even further in the river city. [C-J/AKN]

The State Senate Judiciary Committee failed everybody in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This sort of behavior is as bad as that of Greg Stumbo and Keith Hall. [Page One]

Mittens Romney’s tax play proposes a whopping $600 billion bet with America. Because it’s the Republican way to push the country further into debt while lowering taxes for the mega wealthy. [Wonkette]

It’s hilarious that Jerry Abramson says the inaugural fund has $500,000 left over. Only to have little Matt Erwin come along to say there’s no money left over. [H-L]

Speaking of Mayor McCheese… have you seen the mess he left Louisville in? At all? Parks, MSD, Housing, LMAS, Public Works, LMPD, Fire, Cordish. REALLY? We really want him – of all people in the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky – to lead the tax reform effort? HAHAHA. [C-J/AKN]

Don’t miss Comment on Kentucky tonight at 8:00 P.M. Eastern on KET. Scheduled guests: Tom Loftus, Jack Brammer, Ronnie Ellis. You know it’ll be a good one. [KET]

Mitch McConnell is continuing to try to lay blame for the country’s economic troubles at President Barack Obama’s feet. Without, of course, admitting that he is personally probably 50% to blame for everything that’s gone wrong in the United States of America (and the rest of the world) for the last 10 years. [Richmond Register]

We’ve been telling you all along that Jim Ramsey is still pushing for that University of Louisville Hospital merger. He’ll likely get what he wants. Taxpayers and general public be damned. [Business First]

Of course Kentucky legislators are uneasy about redistricting. They ought to be nervous as hell. [FOX41]

Since Jake isn’t here to stop us from talking about it this evening, take a look at the latest in the ongoing Louisville Orchestra-Musician battle. [WFPL]

KET’s Renee Shaw offers her thoughts on the legendary Gatewood Galbraith. Be sure to give this a read. [KET]

John Huntsman has denounced that nasty, jingoistic video allegedly made by Ron Paul supporters. Will the Pauls denounce it? [HuffPo]

Rand Paul is just too busy spreading the Santorum on thick to worry about doing anything in Warshington or Kentucky these days. He’s got his daddy to help. [H-L/AP]

Papaw Beshear forgot to take his videurtape outta the cam-ree today so we couldn’t share his weekly address earlier. [Papaw Got Lost]

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]

A whopping 17% of Americans are satisfied with the current direction of the United States and its jacked up elected officials. [Politico]

The nation’s economy grew at a 1.8 percent annual rate in the third quarter, the Bureau of Economic Analysis just reported. [NPR]

Mark Miller, Louisville’s chief labor negotiator for metro government, died today. [Greg Fischer]

Is the government reimbursing companies facing legal actions by whistleblowers? [WaPo]

Laaaawd, everybody is trying to run for the 4th District Congressional seat these days. This is going to be a full-on teabagging teabaggery of crazy. [CN|2]

A lack of autopsies after elderly die is concealing health care flaws. Doesn’t help matters that suspicious elder deaths are rarely investigated. [NPR & ProPublica]

Don’t miss Comment on Kentucky tonight at 8:00 P.M. Eastern because it may not suck. Scheduled guests: Ryan Alessi, Joe Arnold, Jack Brammer. [KET]

Another deal with Louisville’s Metro Sewer District doesn’t smell quite right and this one involves State Senator Gerald Neal. [Page One]

This is how bad things are in Warshington right now: Even Mitch McConnell says Congressional Republicans are jacked up for screwing around with the payroll tax. And then, bam, they caved. [H-L]

Hold up – has the craziness officially spread from Clay County all the way to Harlan County? Now people just cold jump off bridges when the cops approach them? [WKYT]

And you wonder why the gays roll their eyes 24/7 when a Catholic priest makes a remark about the gay community. [HuffPo]

And just like that, heads started to roll at Louisville’s Metro Sewer District. Funny how that works. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer bunch of people. [The 'Ville Voice]

It’s time for the real work to begin in Frankfort but don’t hold your breath that anything is actually going to happen. [Ronnie Ellis]

Don’t miss Comment on Kentucky tonight at 8:00 P.M. Eastern. Scheduled guests: Bill Bryant, Joe Gerth, Jamie Lucke. It’ll be rather boring because they’re not having Dan Klepal on to discuss the scathing MSD audit. [KET]

A winter adventure weekend has been planned at Carter Caves State Resort Park for January 27 through January 29. Trust us when we say you should get on that like white on rice. It’s only $25 for adults. [CLICK THE CLICKY]

Yet another we-told-you-so moment: Kentucky has been denied – yet again – Race to the Top funding. [Toni Konz]

Corn dogs are not safe around Rick Perry. And he sure is askeerd of the gays for some reason. [Wonkette]

Woah, it’s always the closet case Republicans who get caught buying sexytime toys at gay sex shops when they get audited. [HuffPo]

Jefferson County Public Schools just can’t catch a break. Teddy Gordon has filed another suit – this time over alleged bullying. [FOX41]

Law enforcement folks are reacting negatively to Steve Beshear’s latest move. Particularly in Bell County. [WKYT]

A year of living pigheadedly? America will apparently be a tad more cheery than Europe in 2012. But that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be woah better. [The Economist]

Let’s be sure to kill all the Sandhill Cranes this weekend. Can’t be having any wildlife in Kentucky. [WFPL]

Changes in the economy leave workers scrambling. You can’t count on Warshington to try to improve the situation at all. [NPR]

If all children were aborted, we wouldn’t be having this discussion. So let’s abort all children. [HuffPo]

Republicans refuse to tax millionaires fairly. Millionaires don’t object. Imagine that. [NPR]

Police may not like being filmed but they better get used to it. Technology and civil liberties go hand-in-hand. [The Economist]

There are still too many lingering questions about what’s going on at Kentucky Retirement Systems. [Page One]

Jim Gray decided to just cold move his fancy Christmas tree outside city hall. Hahaha. [H-L]

None of us here think Alison Grimes’ transition team warrants an entire story so we’re just going to link to one about it. But really – Julian Carroll and Teresa Isaac handling the budget?! HAHAHA. [WFPL]

What was that, again, about hospice not being a booming, money-making industry? [Bloomberg]

23 double-dippers in New Jersey are pocketing millions of dollars. The same thing is happening in Frankfort. [NJ Watchdog]

Ben Chandler finally decided to wake up and he’s asking questions about the potential closure of the Lexington post office. [WLEX18]

According to a poll from the Harvard Institute of Politics: Young Iowa voters are less excited and passionate about the 2012 election than they were in 2008. [Press Release]

With a whopping 60% of death penalty cases in Kentucky getting overturned, you’d think it would be common sense to suspend this murderous practice. [Ronnie Ellis]

There’s a lot from Louisville today regarding Greg Fischer and the disastrous Metro Animal Services. A former employee speaks up about Fischer’s bogus claims, the director says something stupid about the press and a Republican on Metro Council shows some real leadership. Can you imagine what a disaster Fischer would have been if he were elected to the United States Senate? [The 'Ville Voice Here, Here & Here]

The Herald-Leader finally realizes that Steve Beshear has an ethical problem on his hand by allowing his son to handle state business. But they neglected to mention many of Beshear’s top friends and employees are getting rich off this India deal. We’ve written about it for, what, years? But whatever. Ethics are ethics and you have to take what you’re dealt when you’re an elected official or a relative of an elected official. [H-L]

Don’t miss Comment on Kentucky tonight at 8:00 P.M. Eastern on KET. Scheduled guests: Ryan Craig, Ronnie Ellis, Debby Yetter. It’ll be a great show with Ronnie & Yetter! Tune in. [KET]

This may or may not be why the Republican Party bucked Mitch McConnell on the payroll tax. [Politico]

Sexytime Herman Cain says his wife didn’t know about payments to the woman alleging she had an affair with him for 13 years. So. Uh. Right. You don’t tell your wife about it because you’re humping her, plain and simple. Still not as gross as John Edwards, though. [WaPo]

The number of families collecting cash welfare benefits rose during the longest and deepest economic downturn in the United States since the Great Depression, the U.S. Census said on Thursday. [Reuters]

As U.S. and European budgets get hacked to death, pensions are getting sliced apart. It’s only a matter of time until Kentucky’s disaster of a pension system falls apart. [NPR]

Oh, wait, here’s a horrible story about how Kentucky is the worst of the worst when it comes to businesses threatening to leave. [The Economist]

Documents reveal the TSA researched proposals to body-scan pedestrians and train passengers. That should make you feel really awesome. [Forbes]

Really, Kentucky, it’s just time to get rid of all constables. It’s a waste of time and money. They either shoot people in the face or they’re perverts. [WKYT]

We have no idea why anybody would want to attend a church that rejects interracial couples. Such racism has no place in American society. It’s crap like this that continues to hold Eastern Kentucky back. Since these folks are discriminating on the basis of race, we think they should lose any right they have to be considered non-profit. [H-L]

Just when you think Sexytime Herman Cain is batshiz crazy and dumber than all the other candidates, Michele Beard Bachmann trots her butt back out to do something crazier than before. She still doesn’t know he marriage is a sham. [Wonkette]

We’re beginning to believe Louisville Metro Animal Services really will be Greg Fischer’s downfall. [The 'Ville Voice]