Another grocery store in the poorer end of Bowling Green has closed. The food deserts are growing all over the state. [BGDN]

A bunch of Kentucky’s school districts are run by absolute brainless whackadoos, as we’ve proved here time and again. So leaving the drop-out age up to school districts? Really? Well, you get what you pay for. [CN|2]

How long have we been yelling about Frankfort not doing enough to promote the bourbon industry in Kentucky? [H-L]

Remember William Shackleford? He’s got a documentary coming out about black metal called Out of the Black. [Site & Video]

The more things play out in Frankfort, the less likely a gambling bill that will pass seems realistic. Primarily because Steve Beshear still has not met with legislators. [C-J/AKN]

Do America’s infrastructure problems go beyond crumbling roads and bridges? [HuffPo]

How can a police chief in a city the size of Georgetown be “relieved” of his duties without an explanation? [H-L]

Because it seems this story is about to spiral out of control unless some folks in Georgetown start talking about what went down. [WKYT]

A forum is being held on Monday, February 6 from 10:00 A.M. to noon in Booth Auditorium at the University of Pikeville to discuss its potential move into the state system. [News-Express]

Rick Santorum, the political genius, says you will have health care if you stop buying iPads and such. Because you have money for that and all. [Wonkette]

He really is a genius, warning of America’s demise and scaring meemaw and poppop half to death. [HuffPo]

Publisher of A Kentucky Newspaper, Arnold Garson, is retiring on March 2. You knew this was just a temporary dumping ground for him. Did he even bother putting Kentucky plates on his vehicle? [Deep Newspaper Thoughts]

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]

Naturally, he took no responsibility for anything he’s done while in Washington.

Our nasty economy is obviously the new guy’s fault – 100% – and the folks who have been in Washington for decades have nothing at all to do with it.

Penguin poop, Miss Kentucky,

Okay, so we made the “stellar” bit up.

HEAD – DESK.

Growing inequality, environmental decline and “teetering” economies mean the world must change the way it does business, a UN report concludes. [BBC]

KC Crosbie isn’t running for re-election in Lexington. Will she try running for something else at the last minute? [H-L]

How would Steve Beshear know if there are 23 needed votes for a gambling amendment? He hasn’t spoken to legislators. [WFPL]

Hurry and put up that pay wall, Gannett, so your first quarter earnings can fall another 33%.Hurry up! [C-J/AKN]

Some people are trying to “occupy” Mitch McConnell again because it got them so far the first… 10,000 times. [Press Releases]

Rand Paul isn’t the only U.S. Senator to return unused portions of his office funds to the federal government. He’s not even the first. [Politico]

Damon Thayer claims he’s a man of the people. So why won’t he name his clients in the horse industry as he takes part on the push for casino gambling – which most of us actually support? Transparency would go a long way. But Damon doesn’t have the balls. [John Cheves]

Rick Santorum wants everything he does to be illegal for everyone else. That’s how it works in his mind, apparently. [Wonkette]

Ralph Baze killed these two law enforcement officers 20 years ago. But giving him death is the easy way out. Why shouldn’t murderers be kept alive so they have to actually suffer for what they have done? [WKYT]

Almost half of U.S. households are just a single crisis away from the bread line. [HuffPo]

A former employee of Louisville Metro Animal Services spoke out yesterday against a letter that appeared in A Kentucky Newspaper. Naturally, the paper wouldn’t publish her response. [The 'Ville Voice]

There was an altercation outside Senate chambers today when supporters of Kathy Stein shook their fingers at people. Bob Stivers says it was Kathy’s fault and that she may be disciplined. Meanwhile, Keith Hall gets to go free with absolutely zero discipline from his legislative chamber. And you wonder why Kentucky is routinely effed up the rear with the rusty knife of corruption. [Frankfort Failure]

Sorry, there’s no way Kentucky legislators are going to consider the health impact of coal. [H-L]

Did you see WATB Mitch McConnell today? Ole gurl was hollering about President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address and he hadn’t even read it. [WATB Alert]

Look, here he is having his “Nuh uh, Honey!” moment:

Speaking of “Nuh uh, Honey!” faces, did you see Monty Webb last night? [The 'Ville Voice]

The University of Kentucky got upset with the WKU Herald’s editorial and left us a big comment. [We Get Comments]

The glass is half empty. That’s why businesspeople are so gloomy about America. [The Economist]

Is THIS why the Kentucky Lottery is polling online lottery options lately? Several states are pushing plans to offer lotteries on the internets. [NPR]

Tonight President Barack Obama will give the State of the Union Address and most folks expect it to be the beginning of the presidential race. [Reuters]

Oh, look, it’s Newt Gingrich playing fancy tax games. Maybe the press needs to attack him a bit instead of yelling about Mittens Romney all the time. [Forbes]

Oh, look, Indiana is having problems with its child protection agency, too. Maybe Janie Miller and crew have spread their disease of incompetence. [Indy Star]

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer isn’t just constantly turning a blind eye to campaign finance law and, well, his job. Now he’s using a private email account to skirt Kentucky’s open records law. [The 'Ville Voice]

Crit really us a corruption fighter by Kentucky standards. But that’s a really low bar by any other standard.

Either way, it’s a good idea to read her op-ed from Sunday:

As I look back on my eight-year tenure as Kentucky’s Auditor of Public Accounts, it is my hope that the legacy of those years lies not in the series of controversial audit results we released, but in a heightened sense of accountability on the part of those who hold the public’s trust across the commonwealth.

I leave office proud of the record we established and with deep respect for the outstanding professional staff of the Auditor’s Office, who stepped up to every challenge with diligence and integrity. We learned valuable lessons along the way.

In the area of local government audits, our work resulted in 35 criminal prosecutions of public officials or employees across the state. That is not a number I am proud of as a Kentuckian, because it means there are still pockets in the state where a culture of corruption has hampered progress. We took seriously our responsibility to help break that cycle.

What are the lessons learned from those troubling local audits?

Really is a good read. Especially when you remember that her budget gets cut every five seconds and she’s still tasked with protecting your tax dollars.

One quote really stuck out at us:

And we learned what a vital role the media can play in exposing the need for change.

She’s got that right. Here’s hoping Adam Edelen doesn’t forget that and that his staff don’t forget the old and new media relationships built by Luallen and her former communications director. They were key in change the face of state government.

BUT. This is a big but. Crit’s remark about the media directly contradicts the gag order she essentially approved for the Kentucky Retirement Systems trustees, barring them from talking about corruption with media. And it doesn’t help that she came down against banning placement agents, only recommending that they register as lobbyists. Kind of a major conflict of interest. Even with that KRS-Conway-Riddle mess… there likely won’t be a better auditor than Crit any time soon.

Lookit how many people are freaking out over Hal Rogers’ home county maybe getting split in half. But not really. Because the Republicans won’t allow that to happen. [Joe Gerth]

And here’s even more information about proposed redistricting from Ronnie Ellis. [Ashland Independent]

It’s obviously the American way for the White House and Congress to cut heating assistance just in time for the dead of winter. [HuffPo]

GROSS! Sexytime Herman Cain has launched a personals website. Gross gross gross. He is going to try to sexytime every woman, forever. At least, that’s what we think he’s doing. [Wonkette]

Willie Nelson on the death of his friend Gatewood Galbraith. The Commonwealth never realizes what it has until it’s too late. [WHAS11]

It’s always interesting to see how the Steve Beshear and Jim Ramsey crews spin things for the mainstream. The latest claim that the University of Louisville Hospital merger meeting with the governor was only an hour. Despite the fact that Ramsey was all over the Capitol Annex on both Wednesday and Thursday. [C-J/AKN]

How much faith do you have that Kentucky will actually see comprehensive tax reform? [H-L]

Come on, people, it’s time to quit threatening presidents and elected officials with physical harm. [FOX41]

What is it with Republicans like Newt Gingrich who constantly bring up non-whites and food stamps at every opportunity? [HuffPo]

Three days ago we ran a story about owner-surrenders at Louisville Metro Animal Services not being the nightmare that its administrators claimed. And they’re still foaming at the mouth about it. [The 'Ville Voice]

Are there encouraging economic signs from state and local governments? Are things really less of a drag? Not in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. [The Economist]

Jim Gray is hosting a press conference this morning to address fire department issues. Is a hot mess of you-know-what about to hit the fan at 10:15 A.M.? [WLEX18]

Some of the projects that are eligible, according to a release:

The cabinet is seeking proposals involving renewable energy and energy efficient applications that can include the following type projects:

Purchase and installation of photo-voltaic cells and/or solar thermal systems on buildings;

Projects to conserve energy in new and existing buildings, manufacturing facilities, mobile homes, modular buildings, including efficient lighting, appliance efficiency improvement projects, and weatherization projects;

Funding of agricultural and forestry sector use and production of renewable energy and carbon sequestration;

Implementation of projects to improve energy efficiency or renewable energy projects at water treatment and wastewater treatment plants; and

Projects that implement or expand smart grid technologies.

Projects that install cogeneration units (wherein a single fuel source simultaneously produces electricity and useful heat) at industrial manufacturing plants or institutions such as universities, hospitals, prisons and military bases.

A half hour later, here’s what Dick Brown sent out (emphasis & color his):

EDITORS – Please do not post the news release sent earlier this morning concerning the above topic. The release was sent prematurely. We will notify you when the release is ready to go. Many apologies.

Uh, whoops?

Seems like it was just yesterday Dick was on a stage trashing bloggers and journalists for pointing out mistakes in state government.