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]

Is Janie Miller the dumbest person in state government? Here’s her statement from last night: “The Cabinet is pleased that Judge Shepherd has agreed that the identity of innocent victims can remain confidential as the Cabinet releases its records of child fatalities and near fatalities cases. The Judge recognized that the public’s interest in determining whether the Cabinet did its job is not compromised by respecting the confidentiality of those children who survived grievous injury and those citizens who come forward to report abuse or neglect. The Cabinet is currently weighing its options on the Judge’s award of attorney fees and penalties and other issues, but certainly with today’s ruling, it is clear that when weighed against the Cabinet’s efforts to protect children from unwarranted invasions of their privacy, it was definitely well worth the price.” Daniel Mongiardo is right – craaaazy. Still making excuses for doing a horrible job. [Press Release]

Food stamp recipients wish critics would spend some time in their shoes. You’ll never see something like that with folks in Frankfort, though. [HuffPo]

Even Mitch McConnell recognizes that the online piracy bits of legislation are a complete joke. [Roll Call]

Media in Eastern Kentucky spin the University of Pikeville push with headlines like this: “UPike needs funds to become a public university.” [WYMT]

Ahahaha. CNN number-reader John King did manage to really get the amoral jewelry-debt piglet Newt Gingrich in full squeaking rage because, boo hoo, somebody asked Newt about his endless adultery and divorcing and banging other ladies while he’s married. [Wonkette]

Here’s more on the shenanigans with Newt Gingrich and his open marriage or whatever. [HuffPo]

Can the Kentucky Senate essentially kick out Democratic Sen. Kathy Stein of Lexington — and disenfranchise the 26,593 voters who chose her to represent them — by moving her district to another part of the state? [John Cheves]

You can’t even drive around in West Liberty these days without getting randomly hit by some lady. [WLEX18]

Active-duty soldiers are taking their own lives at a record rate. The Army also reported a 30% increase in violent sex crimes. [NYT]

Some guy named Rick Perry dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed an amoral cheater. That’s how those Texas Republicans operate. [Reuters]

So, who wants to help Kathy start castrating people for trying to get rid of her State Senate district? [H-L]

Yep, this is how campaign finance works and it’s part of the reason the loopholes ruin politics nationwide. Stewart & Colbert illustrating the coordination loopholes is just icing on the cake. [HuffPo]

Eastern Kentucky is abuzz with news from Papaw Beshear that he’s including $35 million in his budget to deal with Maxey Flats. [Ledger Independent]

Now the University of Pikeville talking point is that making it a state school will create jobs. [WYMT]

The State House approved a bill allowing advertisements on the side of school buses. Will it float? [C-J/AKN]

Kentucky child-protection workers describe hostile work environment. Imagine that. [H-L]

Oh, oh, wait for this! Rick Santorum created something called the “Creamcup Trust” with a male friend. [Wonkette]

Lexington is still burning to the ground. Literally everything is on fire or will be on fire. [WLEX18]

ABC News is set to air a “bombshell” interview with the ex-wife of Newt Gingrich. This could get pretty exciting. [HuffPo]

Smart ammunition is about to make things a lot more dangerous for guerrillas fighting regular troops. [The Economist]

Let’s see how high college tuition can get as presidents and college executives continue to pocket monstrous, multi-million dollar pay raises. [WFPL]

Remember the woman that crazy ass constable shot at a Walmart location? She’s been arrested for allegedly shoplifting at Kmart. [FOX41]

Or is the fact that he says the state is withholding too much information about child deaths a good thing when it comes to his potential decisions? [H-L]

The truth about the Keystone XL pipeline? Doesn’t look like the McConnell-Republican claim of jobs is based in reality. [HuffPo]

Kentucky ranks sixth in the United States when it comes to overdose deaths. Yet another statistic for the Commonwealth to be proud of. [WKYT]

Kentucky obtained $47 million to help clean up abandoned mine sites left prior to 1982. So how many mines will the state claim were abandoned after 1982? It’s been a common practice in Frankfort to claim something is much newer than it is to avoid responsibility. [H-L]

Gasoline prices jumped a whopping 40 cents over night and Jack Conway isn’t batting an eye. Price gouging? What? [WLEX18]

Economists are predicting only modest growth in state revenues. But the only thing they’re really certain of us more uncertainty on all fronts. [Ronnie Ellis]

Are charter schools really holding up their end of the bargain? Some are, some aren’t. You can go ahead and assume the right-wing ark park-type aren’t. [HuffPo]

Officials are split on a hands-free ban for drivers nationwide. Because that is clearly the most important issue facing this country. Cell phones. [Reuters]

This is truly the American way. Presiding over and knowing about the theft of millions of millions of tax dollars and getting rewarded with bonuses and raises worth millions. [Page One]

Your flourishing economy has contributed to the slowest population growth rate since the 1940s. Nothing to see here, though! Everything is puppies & rainbows. [NY Times]

300 Fort Knox soldiers have returned home to Kentucky for the holidays. Check out the slideshow. [FOX41]

The paper in Frankfort is pretending to be so excited about the inauguration that it’s borderline eye-roll worthy. But here’s a good story with lots of details. [State-Journal]

You can “express” yourself all you want, up until the cops/nervous mayors/freaked out bank executives decide your face would look a little more friendly to them with pepper spray in it. [Wonkette]

Republicans in Warshington are 100% obstructionists. That’s all they are. Nothing more. Starting with Mitch McConnell. [HuffPo]

If you’re racist or want to say racist things about people? You probably shouldn’t be a professor at Berea College. [H-L]

Kentucky power plants yet again ranked among the nation’s worst polluters. [WFPL]

A new report seems to indicate that Kentucky is getting shortchanged on child poverty funding. “Moving across the Ohio River shouldn’t mean putting your children’s future at risk. We are counting on Congressman Geoff Davis, who chairs the U.S. House committee responsible for TANF, to deliver for Kentucky’s children on this issue,” said Terry Brooks, Executive Director of Kentucky Youth Advocates. [First Focus & Press Release]

American households have taken the biggest hit since 2009. Household wealth is basically non-existent. [HuffPo]

A judge is set to inspect the University of Louisville Hospital merger records. Will Irv Maze do the right thing? [C-J/AKN]

California and Nevada are joining forces in this mortgage fraud probe. Jack Conway is nowhere to be found. [LA Times]

Everybody was freaking out over some boombooms in Louisville yesterday. So take a look at some photos of the funtimes at Fort Knox that caused all the fear. [FOX41]

Seems like Eastern Kentucky just can’t catch a break from bad news this year. Particularly when it comes to death and traffic accidents. [WKYT]

A preliminary Environmental Protection Agency report on apparent groundwater contamination in Wyoming from the gas drilling method called hydraulic fracturing could shake up the battle over federal regulation of the practice. [The Hill]

HAHA! We will all love watching this teabagger guy named Ricky Hostetler try to run against Damon Thayer next year. [H-L]

Want to know why Kentucky can’t have nice things? Because the attorney at the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance does a half-assed job. I said it. Others can back me up. She dragged her ass and did next to nothing when Steve Henry committed crimes – private citizens had to push for action. And now she’s playing pat-a-cake with corruption in Louisville. [WLKY]

Ruh ro! Looks like the copy editors at A Kentucky Newspaper screwed up the Greenville paper by including the word “fuck” – which is awesome. Looks like they’re as adept at screwing up other papers as they are the AKN. [Jim Romenesko]

A free military contracting forum to explain the process for obtaining contracts at Fort Knox is planned for December 12 at the Pritchard Community Center in Elizabethtown. [Press Release]

Steve Beshear now says a constitutional amendment to expand gambling in Kentucky is more likely than a change in state law. [C-J/AKN]

Who will replace Mike Cherry in the state legislature? He’s leaving Frankfort after his seven-term tenure. [WPSD]

Not only has Steve Beshear not met with David Williams to discuss gambling – he’s not met with ANYBODY ELSE to discuss it. He’s once again pissing away an opportunity. [CN|2]

Dear Jack Conway: Remember when you switched your position on corrupt bank deals after I called you out? We’re proud of you for doing the right thing – despite, of course, acting like you were doing the right thing all along. Here’s another tip to help you figure out how to do the right thing. [Business Insider]

Michele Beard Bachmann is not just an idiot – she’s also a clumsy thief! Typical teabagger behavior, though, to steal email lists and illegally spam them. [Wonkette]

Oh, look, now Papaw Beshear is saying he’s open to stand-alone casinos in Kentucky. Funny how that works after three huge failures. [H-L]

These silly Republican voter ID laws aren’t just a full-scale attack on black voters. They’re a full-scale attack on older and poorer voters, as well. [HuffPo]

What was that, again, about Steve Beshear “balancing” the budget umpteen times? Because some state agencies are facing more and more cuts. This is a problem. [Ronnie Ellis]

How long will it take Steve Beshear’s law firm to hit back now that Mike O’Connell has sued the University of Louisville over the proposed and silly hospital merger? [C-J/AKN]

Pushing Hal Rogers to raise hell with John Boehner? Haha, riiiiight. That’s definitely the funniest thing we’ve read this week. [The Hill]

The Supreme Court hearing on health care reform legislation is set to enrich lobbyists and ruin your lives. [Wonkette]

The U.S. Senate voted to allow the military to detain Americans indefinitely. Because that’s the American way, kids. [HuffPo]

Replacing Rupp Arena would cost twice as much as renovations to the facility that would already serve the University of Kentucky’s needs. A common sense approach, unlike the one in Louisville, is necessary. [WKYT]

The Environmental Protection Agency published a secret watch list that included chronic polluters. This is freaking mouth-breathers out. [CPI]

Not only do billionaires pay next to nothing in taxes, they’re not even reporting mountains of cash to the IRS. [Bloomberg]

Now that the Medicare chief has resigned after a political stand-off, will things improve? Haha, of course not. Don’t be silly. [Reuters]

How the hell do you forget your baby in a shopping cart? Is there something in the water in Jessamine County? [WLEX18]

Have you anti-mountaintop removal types taken note of this guy running for congress in Tennessee? He’s the lead sponsor of a state senate bill to kill the practice. You well-moneyed types should look more closely. [Click the Clicky]

Despite an earmark ban, lawmakers in Warshington are trying to give money to hundreds of their pet projects and friends. [WaPo]

Mark our words: this cost-cutting move by Gannett to use Facebook for commenting on all of its newspaper stories will end up costing the company millions more than they think they’re going to save. It’s also a silly, disastrous move on the front of giving up control of its product(s). It’ll be fun to watch this mess. This is another HUGE indication of financial meltdown. [C-J/AKN]

The repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell seems to be going more smoothly than expected, according to top Marine brass. [HuffPo]

Really? You mean you really thought the Euro zone would last? Come on. That whole single currency thing was bound to fail eventually. [The Economist]

Uh, how is Steve Beshear’s victory over someone who is absolutely hated in Kentucky a playbook for how to win conservative states? Alex Isenstadt has to be more disconnected than Dave Catanese, who took his talking points directly from his friend at the DGA. Even Joe Gerth thinks that’s bogus. [Politico & Joe Gerth]

Here’s an embarrassing story about whistleblower laws that makes Kentucky look absolutely ridiculous. [Reuters]

Mitch McConnell may not be unhappy with the failure of the supercommittee? You don’t say! [H-L]

You, like us, cringe a little when you read the headline, New details in Kentucky’s “No Child Left Behind” application for exemption. Not because NCLB isn’t a joke but because any time education in Kentucky gets mentioned, the story ends badly. [WKYT]

Lexington is the place you go if you want to get shot. Louisville is the place you go if you want to get run over by a vehicle. [WHAS11]

Haha, last week Barack Obama pardoned Liberty and Peace while Civil Rights and Economic Security made their final stops at a slaughterhouse. [Wonkette]

You’re not remotely shocked that secret fed loans gave banks an undisclosed $13 billion. [Bloomberg]

Sam Brownback is acting like Jack Conway and Steve Beshear. He’s going after a girl who dared criticize him. [HuffPo]