A study finds that – yet again – Fox News viewers are the least informed of all. You’re so shocked, we know. [HuffPo]

Two top U.S. financial regulators said on Tuesday the issues around the initial public offering of Facebook should be reviewed, putting fresh pressure on the company, its lead underwriter, Morgan Stanley, and the Nasdaq stock exchange. [Reuters]

The UofL Indigent Care Board got its ass handed to it in the latest audit by Adam Edelen. [The 'Ville Voice]

Wonder why Republicans are having trouble with Hispanics this cycle? Maybe because they’re comparing immigrants to dogs. [Politico]

How rural America got fracked. The environmental nightmare you know nothing about. [Mother Jones]

You should check out the comments from this school psychologist. Nope, not racist at all. And you wonder why America is effed up the goat butt. [Wonkette]

The Kentucky State Police will add a new tool to help solve crimes and analyze crash scenes. [WKYT]

Pakistan has sentenced the doctor who helped the United States find Osama bin Laden. And the U.S. continues to throw millions at that jacked up country of awful. [HuffPo]

Let’s take a look at the conservative fantasy history of civil rights. Yes, mouth-breathers, this means you. [NY Mag]

Mittens Romney versus Liberty Christ Rand Paul in 2016? Rand wishes. He believes he is the chosen one. [NPR]

The US could fall off a “fiscal cliff” if tax rises and spending cuts due to take effect at the end of 2012 are not avoided, auditors have said. [BBC]

Four in ten Democratic voters chose someone other than President Obama on Tuesday in primaries in Arkansas and Kentucky. [The Hill]

Comment on Kentucky will likely be a bit boring tonight on KET at 8:00 P.M. Eastern. But you should consider watching it anyway. Scheduled guests: Joe Gerth, Donna Groves, Amanda Van Benschoten’s replacement. [KET]

Can you imagine Steve Beshear – a man who can’t even say the word “gay” – doing this? Kansas Governor Sam Brownback apologized on Thursday to blacks for segregation in his state in the last century as he marked the anniversary of a ruling that struck down segregation in schools. [Reuters]

This is what you have to look forward to in the Fourth District, Kentucky! A candidate whois so embarrassingly ill-informed that a KET host has to school him and a candidate who wouldn’t know what hypocrisy was if it slammed into her special interest-driven face. [Page One]

The renewed focus on President Barack Obama’s controversial pastor is reviving the issue that neither presidential campaign wants to discuss directly: race. But the differing reactions Thursday from Obama aides and Romney officials to revelations about a planned ad campaign linking Obama to Rev. Jeremiah Wright shows that Obama has more to gain than Romney if race enters the 2012 campaign. [Politico]

Could this be the counter revolution? Fusty old retail banking faces its biggest shake-up in 200 years. [The Economist]

While you’re spending thousands of dollars on vacation this summer? Don’t forget those in Kentucky – especially children – who need your immediate help to avoid hunger. Yes, this is a real and serious problem in the Commonwealth. [FOX41]

This is the first story the Herald-Leader has run, really, about the 4th District Congressional race. And you wonder why voter turnout is going to be abysmal. [H-L]

Some obese white guys are freaking out over where President Barack Obama was born. Again. Because why not? [Wonkette]

Louisville makes this list of the most religious cities in America. Northern Kentucky also makes the list, kinda. [HuffPo]

One of Greg Fischer’s legacies will be the failure of Louisville Metro Animal Services. The latest embarrassing move (out of thousands – literally) only solidifies that. [The 'Ville Voice]

Let’s pretend this isn’t a complete waste of time and taxpayer dollars. Starsky, from Starsky & Hutch, was busted for having gross weed in Bowling Green. [WKYT]

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]

Aww, Michele Beard Bachmann decided to flip-flop and withdrew her Swiss citizenship or whatever. Funny how that works. [Wonkette]

Where was Greg Stumbo months ago when ARH officials reached out to legislators about a certain Medicaid manager? Nowhere to be found. [Chicago Tribune/H-L]

Here’s Mittens Romney hating the gays at Jerry Falwell’s little school. [NPR]

Here’s Mittens Romney being a homophobic prick all the way back in the 1960s. [WaPo]

Let’s talk about how Mittens Romney has flip-flopped left and right about whether or not he hates the gays or loves them. [Wonkette]

Oh, look, it’s the head of the Republicans pretending that the gays haven’t faced persecution, crimes and discrimination. [Politico]

The fates of the American economy and the presidency of Barack Obama are inextricably linked, and both of them hit a bump in April. [The Economist]

Teachers in Boone County have decided to forgo raises in order to keep 46 positions from being cut. [H-L]

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden honored 34 police officers at the White House on Saturday for “extraordinary acts of bravery,” including two cops from Los Angeles who halted a shooting and one from Chicago who intervened during an armed robbery. [Reuters]

U.S. lawmakers have been unusually silent about federal regulators’ decision to allow a Chinese bank to take over 13 bank branches in New York and California, suggesting that they think American banks have much to gain. [The Hill]

Looks like Michele Beard Bachmann’s glittery husband’s line of work is under major scrutiny. [HuffPo]

Haha, so, funny story… A Kentucky Newspaper’s telephone system didn’t even work after it recklessly and confusingly announced paywalls and subscription price increases. Also, Wes Jackson is pushing the paper because of it’s “coupon savings.” These folks are doing a real disservice to the hardworking people employed by the paper and the community in general. [C-J/AKN]

We’re not sure how horses have anything to do with Mother’s Day but whatever. The newspaper seems to think it’s a big deal. [H-L]

Don’t miss Comment on Kentucky tonight at 8:00 P.M. Eastern on KET. Scheduled guests: Russ Cassady, Bill Estep, Tom Loftus. Sure to be a great show with Cassady – the editor of the Appalachian News-Express. [KET]

Steve Nunn’s attorney, Warren Scoville, finally ditched him. Could it be the recent national media attention? Or the lack of cash? [H-L]

This bootlegger story is one of the dumbest things we’ve read in a long time. Locking people up for having alcohol in a dry county. It’s 2012! [WKYT]

This foreigner maybe stole all of Jim Higdon’s Cornbread. This is why America can’t have nice things. [Daily Herald]

The legacy of unemployment will haunt the United States’ economy for years to come. [NYT]

Gay-hater Vernie McGaha endorsed Republican mark Polston to be his replacement in Frankfort. [WKYT]

You can’t even let your kid ride a bike in Richmond these days without it getting hit by a car. [Richmond Register]

Afghan commanders have refused more than a dozen times within the past two months to act on U.S. intelligence regarding high-level insurgents, arguing that night-time operations to target the men would result in civilian casualties, Afghan officials say. [WaPo]

KSP Commissioner shares a touching story about fallen trooper Mack Brady in honor of National Police Memorial Week. You should probably give this a read. [Rodney Brewer]

What the hell are these teabaggers going on about these days? Something about killing each other? The Paul Family and their pals sure are wonky. [Wonkette]

Yep, Linda Breathitt was appointed to the Public Service Commission to replace Charlie Borders. [Press Release & H-L]

What doesn’t smell right about Steve Beshear “promoting” the bourbon industry in Taiwan? [C-J/AKN]

Former Congresscritter Ron Lewis endorsed Gary Moore in the 4th District race for the U.S. Congress today. [Releases & Such]

How dare Mittens Romney hire a known homosexual to do campaign work! The shame! Horror! [HuffPo]

Calumet Farm finally sold for $36 million. Guess the claims that it wasn’t being sold were flat-out lies. [H-L]

Have you ever wondered how a police agency chooses their police vehicle? The answers vary and obviously depend on the needs of the agency regarding the type of service delivery and geographical terrain that they routinely patrol in. [Rodney Brewer]

How crazy is it that a truckload of Jim Higdon’s Cornbread Mafia was STOLEN? Hoo boy. [Crumbled Cornbread]

Adam Edelen isn’t mincing words when he discusses Richie Farmer or his corrupt former appointees who put thousands of lives at risk. [Ryan Alessi]

Today Papaw Beshear appointed John Phillips to the Horse Racing Commission, replacing John T. Ward. [Press Release]

Months before Barack Obama knew Mitt Romney would be his political opponent in 2012, the president knew the identity of his foremost literary challenger: Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David Maraniss, who had been reaching out to Obama’s old friends, classmates and lovers for the past several years. [Politico]

From Bear to Lehman: Documents reveal an alternate history. [PBS]

The Securities and Exchange Commission seems to think that it has done a much better job of investigating financial crisis wrongdoing than the Justice Department. And it’s true. But it’s like being proud that you’re the “Dumb” of “Dumb and Dumber.” [Pro Publica]

These green innovations aim to feed a world of 9 billion people. The United States should take note. [Reuters]

U.S. alcohol retailers find law changes are hard to swallow. The US consumes more bottles of wine than any other nation in the world. But almost 80 years after the end of Prohibition, buying a drink can still be tricky. [BBC]

Ugh, two people died in an Eastern Kentucky house fire. We wish the region could receive some good news for once. [WYMT]

Lookit:

Bridge navigational lighting was the main topic of discussion on the opening day of public hearings Monday in the Eggners Ferry Bridge incident. The hearings were convened by the United States Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and were held in the Paducah City Hall city commission chambers.

-SNIP-

Representatives of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet were questioned about the maintenance of the navigational lighting on the bridge in the months preceding the Jan. 26 incident. Thomas Hines, KYTC District 1 transportation engineer supervisor, testified that the bridge lighting system began experiencing problems following an allision with a vessel Nov. 15. That incident knocked one of the green navigation channel lights loose, but did not break it, he said. KYTC crews subsequently went out to the bridge “two or three times” to reset the breakers because the lights were off, Hines stated.

On Jan. 23, Hines said he received notice that all lights were out on the bridge. He decided to check it out himself, he stated, and was not able to get the breakers to hold. He then informed the Coast Guard of the lighting issue and scheduled work for the following morning. On Jan. 24, the crew was able to get the lights on the upstream side of the bridge – the side from which the Delta Mariner approached – working. Lights on the downstream side remained off, and Hines stated he informed the Coast Guard of the conditions. Work was scheduled to resume on Jan. 27, due to rainy conditions expected for Jan. 25-26, which could have been hazardous to the road crew.

-SNIP-

Coast Guard investigators questioned Hines about the proper configuration of lights on the bridge. According to Coast Guard lighting plans presented, the Eggners Ferry Bridge was to have red lights on both sides of five piers, as well as green lights above the four navigable channels. In addition, there were to be three vertical white lights over the main channel, used mostly by commercial vessels. Hines testified that he was not aware that the white lights were required until after the Jan. 26 incident, and that to his knowledge, the white lights had never been working in the entire time he had been in his position, which was at the time of the crash, a little less than a year.

A letter from the Coast Guard District 8 bridge administrator to Hines dated Dec. 15, 2011, raised concerns about the state of the lighting on the bridge, and noted that several complaints about the state of the navigational lighting had been received. The letter included the lighting plan, as well as direct mention of the requirement of having the three white lights. Hines said that he “must have missed it” when he read the letter. He added that Coast Guard officials had never specifically asked him about the white lights when he spoke with them in conversations over the phone.

Evidence was also presented that the monthly night time inspection of the lights on the bridge was not conducted in December 2011

-SNIP-

Steven Smith, highway traffic technician superintendent, stated that he was made aware approximately 18 years ago that the white lights existed and were supposed to show the main channel.

Click here to read the entire piece.

Still think the Commonwealth will get off without a hitch?

“[M]ust have missed it.” Riiiight.

And you wonder why the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is hands-down the most corrupt agency of state government.

Heads-up to a KYTC “Information Officer” – personally attack me (Jake) or anyone raising legitimate questions about this again and see how quickly the web stretched from Junior Stotts’ driveway to Jack Dice to George Justice to Steve Beshear unwinds. You will not like it. I’ve been sitting on the story for several months. Just waiting for a slow news day/reason to waste my time. Consider this a promise because you corrupt SOBs have done enough damage to the state while the rest of Frankfort looks the other way.

Or maybe I could write about your involvement with a highway contractor in charge of painting? You know, the one ripping the state off with the assistance of KYTC personnel? The one who got caught by the Kentucky State Police thanks to a company whistleblower? Yeah. I’m sure you’d love for me to write about that before the case gets to court. Whoopsiedaisy.

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]

We hear that Keith Hall freaked out today and asked that his office in Frankfort be immediately relocated. He also wanted his wife to be monitored during the final days of the legislative session. What the hell kind of crazy crack is the man smoking these days? [Deep Frankfort Failures]

Kentucky mothers who lost children to abuse are going public to help prevent future deaths. [Debby Yetter]

Dick Cheney has a new heart, and is ready to tell the world of the darkness that is inside it. [Wonkette]

You can’t even live in Lexington these days without getting shot inside your own home. [H-L]

Why are the feds cracking down on marijuana in states that allow it? We don’t support weed but it seems silly even to us. [The Economist]

Have you ever listened to what Allen West has to say? If not, it’s highly entertaining. He’s like Bill Cosby mixed with Dick Cheney Mixed with about ten teabaggers mixed with Michele Bachmann’s denial mixed with a hateful meemaw. Lawwwwwwwd, he is crazy. [HuffPo]

At the Americas Summit, allies nudged the United States to change direction. This won’t make too many people happy. [NPR]

It would be highly entertaining watching Jim Gooch try to explain how Iceland may be able to harness the power of its volcanoes for energy exportation. [BBC]

We extended the Cornbread Mafia contest an additional day because of all the interest. This is your final call to jump in. [Page One]

The people in Cincinnasti wrote a story about Trey Grayson and his family. Something about how they’re just getting started in politics. [Business Courier]

When Mitch McConnell visited Laurel County to survey tornado damage, he didn’t bother mentioning his effort to hold disaster relief hostage last year. [Think Progress]

Americans get wiser with age. Japanese are wise from the start. This is sure to piss a lot of people off. [The Economist]

Thomas Massie has $230,000 (we’re not sure what the exchange rate is for Ameros) to spend in the primary. While he says he wants to run a positive campaign, his folks are already pushing toward a negative race. Will he get into a slap fight with Alecia Webb-Edgington? The world may never know… because no one cares. [WKYT]

Despite the death of the casino bill in the General Assembly in February, Kentucky electronic gambling revenue continues to grow. In March, Kentucky Downs in Franklin posted 19.75 percent increase in wagering on Instant Racing, a slots-like game where players bet on previously run races. [H-L]

Kentucky Retirement Systems continues to burn to the ground while Jack Conway plays pat-a-cake. Guess it’s official. Campaign contributions talk and corruption walks. [Page One]

You would be forgiven for thinking that it would be FUCKING MORONIC for the Right to be all in an uproar because President Ignatius Q. Muslin uses the phrase “freedom of worship” sometimes instead of exclusively saying “freedom of religion.” [Wonkette]

Guess what doesn’t matter in Kentucky. Yep, the Presidential Primary. Yet another wasted Associated Press story. [C-J/AKN]

Police made critical errors early in the Trayvon Martin case. Which means fat wingnuts in Kentucky are going to foam at the mouth again. [HuffPo]

Phillip Bailey unfortunately and unintentionally furthered the myth that Alecia Webb-Edgington missed major votes in Frankfort because the legislature wasn’t originally scheduled to be in session on those days. How innocent of Alecia! But, uh, she scheduled her fundraisers long after those days were posted as “you might have to get your ass to Frankfort”/alternate days in early February. So her excuse falls flat on its ass. Note: Ryan Alessi didn’t mention the alternate date calendar, either. [WFPL & Ryan Alessi]

President Barack Obama and his family celebrated Easter. So you know wingnuts are going crazy trying to claim he’s a Muslin. [Politico]

The National Review has fired columnist John Derbyshire over a web posting in which he wrote that black people are hostile to whites and that white people should stay out of black neighborhoods and away from black crowds. We can think of a ton of folks in Kentucky who should be fired for spouting similar tripe. [Reuters]

Very important breaking news: police arrested a naked man in the restroom of a Corbin truck stop. [H-L]

Isn’t it cute watching Republicans continually try to “save” Medicare and “fix” health care? [Reuters]

Like you really need to read ten reasons that the rest of the world thinks the United States is nuts? [HuffPo]

The Executive Branch Ethics Commission has cleared the way for the incoming executive director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and his wife to continue training and racing horses outside of Kentucky, but says doing so inside the state would be a conflict of interest. Woo, Kentucky hypocrisy at its finest. [C-J/AKN]

Too much risk, not enough reward. Investors are betting that high returns from equities will pay for decent pensions but they’re kidding themselves. [The Economist]

This absolutely will not come as a surprise to any of our regular readers. Perry County Clerk Haven King has not repaid nearly $30,000 in expenditures that he shouldn’t have made with public money, according to an audit released Monday. [H-L]

Rick Santorum is all about the freedom of religion as long as it’s just for gay-hating “christians.” Not moooslins, buddha people or Jews allowed, amen. [Wonkette]

Wait, how dumb is Rick Santorum? So dumb that a business publication is attacking him. [Business Insider]

This is a nice victory for cancer stick opponents. A federal appeals court has upheld a law requiring new, bigger graphic warning labels on cigarette packs. [WKYT]

Of course the mouth-breather birthers are complaining that Binack Nobama, the muslin Kenyan, is a bigger deal than Watergate. [HuffPo]

Louisville got a new police chief today. The reign of Jerry Abramson’s favorite is over. Now it’s time for Greg Fischer’s favorite to be, you know, worse. [FOX41]