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]

Walter Blevins, Jr. has decided not to seek re-election. Eastern Kentuckians aren’t happy about it. [Ruh Ro]

The local press in the Fourth District is paying close attention to Thomas Massie’s candidacy to replace Geoff Davis in the U.S. Congress. [Ashland Independent]

Poor people in the United States pay way more for care insurance than the wealthy. Don’t act like you’re surprised in the least. [HuffPo]

Mitch McConnell’s new revisionist history is about the worst we’ve seen out of him in a long time. [TPM]

One of the sad things about Greg Fischer’s lack of any sort of experience is watching EMS workers like this guy suffer the consequences. [The 'Ville Voice]

Did you know that February is EARTHQUAKE AWARENESS MONTH in Kentucky? The more you know, kids. [SoS]

The Cabinet for Health and Family Services received a $600,000 federal grant – handed over by the Governor’s Office of Electronic Health Information – to connect behavioral health and primary care providers. We can’t help but wonder if those funds wouldn’t be better spent making sure social worker caseloads weren’t outrageous. [Press Release]

Will Warshington do the right thing and stop insider trading by lawmakers? [The Consumerist]

Dear Kenny Coleslaw: You should have included quotes from Steve Beshear saying we WOULD NOT consider tax reform in Kentucky. That would maybe prove he’s lying his ass off about flip-flopping. And it’s not just now that people are talking about this. [WFPL]

Former Rand Paul staffer Chris Hightower filed today to run for the State House. Mainstreamers are clamoring for the opportunity to interview him so they can dredge up the Paul campaign history. They likely won’t mention that all of the shenanigans were caused by David Adams and will attempt to lay all blame at the feet of Hightower. [Page One]

Can you hear them now? The Federal Reserve is making its views heard loudly and clearly. [The Economist]

Remember the McDonald’s incident in 2004 where a crank caller talked a manager into forcing an employee to strip? There’s a film about it. It premiered at Sundance. [Sundance]

A hearing over redistricting maps will be held Monday. So the filing deadline has officially been put on hold in Kentucky. [Ryan Alessi]

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]

Greg Fischer is getting his butt handed to him by Ed Hart and Bruce Lunsford at the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance. It’s a real shame Fischer and Jennifer Moore are trying to play pat-a-cake with campaign finance law with people who actually, you know, know campaign finance law. [The 'Ville Voice]

Redistricting political games are most certainly still being played in Frankfort. You can bet some folks are getting rich off the mess. [Ronnie Ellis]

Don’t miss Comment on Kentucky tonight on KET at 8:00 P.M. Eastern. Scheduled guests: Jack Brammer, Joe Gerth, Greg Stotelmyer. [KET]

Greg Stumbo isn’t merely “elusive” on redistricting. He’s playing pat-a-cake. All the Democrats are just too afraid to call him out. [WLKY]

David Williams – the guy with the talky box – filed for Congress in the 2nd District today. [Greaaaat]

Who pussed out today? That’s right, Papaw Steve Beshear pussed out today. His goal in 2008 was to hang Kathy Stein out to dry and today he accomplished that goal. She never should have believed him when he promised her a judgeship. [Page One]

Taxiing the rich in America. The wealthy need to pay more but is there a need to raise their income tax rates? [The Economist]

Kentucky education officials are working to prevent public school students from being restrained or confined alone in small rooms after citing two schools for violating the rights of three disabled students subjected to such treatment, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. [H-L]

Mittens Romney has parked millions upon millions of dollars in offshore accounts. ABC News

Meanwhile, adulterous skank Newt Gingrich paid a 32% tax rate in the year 2010. [WaPo]

More than two-thirds of Americans would consider voting for a third-party presidential candidate, while nearly half of all voters think a third-party is needed, a new poll shows. [Politico]

Here’s a look at how property taxes climb even if your home’s value plunges off a cliff. [NPR]

Eastern Kentucky electeds are beginning to make noise in protest of using coal severance funds to make the University of Pikeville a public school. [C-J/AKN]

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]

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]

Told ya Richie Farmer was dumber than a rock and more corrupt than Keith Hall, Ruth Ann Palumbo and Jim Gooch combined. Nearly $500,000 worth of equipment is MISSING from the Department of Agriculture. You won’t believe the list of equipment. Take a look. [H-L]

Wait for it, wait for it. Now Jim Ramsey is calling for a review of the Quality and Charity Care Trust (indigent care board) at the University of Louisville. This is precisely why it would have been a bad idea for Adam Edelen to take a seat on the UofL Foundation board while a candidate. [FOX41]

Ron Paul is apparently the most dangerous man in the Republican Party. [WaPo]

Wait, maybe he’s just a dilemma for Republicans? Most can’t stomach his desire to kill all kinds of federal agencies. [Reuters]

Greg Stumbo and pals are now getting into personal squabbles over redistricting. That’s what a hot mess it is. Flustercuck, truly. [Ronnie Ellis]

Rand Paul gave $500,000 of his U.S. Senate budget back to the gubmint. [WAVE3]

Hold on to your panties, everyone, because Republicans are mad about a debt ceiling increase that they already agreed to. [Wonkette]

Laughter, tears and fond recollections filled Gatewood Galbraith’s memorial service. [H-L, WTVQ, C-J/AKN]

Patrick Leahy, author of the controversial PROTECT IP anti-piracy bill now says “more study” is needed. Which says to us that he didn’t actually write it. Maybe he’s bought and paid for like everyone else. [WSJ]

President Barack Obama is seeking greater power to shrink the federal government. Somehow, though, the teabaggers will find a way to freak out about this. [HuffPo]

Urgent breaking news: sometimes when it snows in the winter? It gets slick. But 99% of the population forgets. Every year. [WKYT]

Stephen Colbert is now toying with a run for the presidency in South Carolina. Not only would it wreak havoc on politics? It’d help point out how corrupt campaign finance has become. [Politico]

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]

Ron Paul correctly observed that Newt Gingrich is a massive wimp. The more you know. [Wonkette]

It’s just a shame that Ron Paul’s SuperPAC didn’t mention what Santorum actually is in its parody video. [WaPo]

Goodness gracious. Sexytime Herman Cain has turned into the new Sarah The Quitter Palin. Now he’s going on a fancy bus tour. [Politico]

Louisville’s Metro Councilcritters are now just calling Greg Fischer out with challenges and demands in press releases. [The 'Ville Voice]

Kentucky is receiving $9.5 million in additional federal dollars for LIHEAP. So what’s Steve Beshear’s office do? Send out a press release giving Beshear credit for “Authoriz[ing] Funding for Heating Crisis Program”, of course. [Press Release]

America offers less economic mobility than Canada and much of Western Europe. [NYT]

We can’t believe there’s an adult store in Knox County. And who robs a joint like that and only takes cash, incense and potpourri? [H-L]

The United States Enrichment Corporation has told federal officials that it is considering pulling out of a uranium enrichment facility in Paducah because of questions about power prices, demand for the product and its future mission. [C-J/AKN]

Isn’t it wonderful watching the Republican field freak out over campaign finance nightmares that THEY created? [HuffPo]

Five people died in four separate crashes on Kentucky roadways from December 30 through January 2. [KSP Release]

Who knew we would need to start protecting our white women from SECRET MEXICAN State Senator Jimmy Higdon? He’s stealing Dougie Hawkins’ thunder. [Page One]

President Barack Obama is getting ready to pitch to gay voters. Will they catch? [Politico]

Will Katie Stine run for Geoff Davis’ seat in the KY-04 Congressional district? That’d further divide the teabaggers and the Davis people with Massie and Webb-Edgington. [Deep KY-04 Thoughts]

A year ago we wrote about the Douglas Fir-lough Tree spotted around Frankfort. Hasn’t anyone seen it this year? [Page One Flashback]

Budget battles and a stagnant economy greet America’s soldiers as they return from Iraq and Afghanistan. [The Economist]

This happened a few days ago but it illustrates perfectly how teabaggers refuse to understand anything that’s common sense for most. [Politico]

Poverty of children demands attention. Unfortunately, neither Warshington nor Frankfort want to pay the matter any attention at all. [The Hill]

The government is running late with rules for disclosing drug company payments to doctors. So late, in fact, that they conveniently won’t even apply until well after the upcoming election. [Pro Publica]

Brazil’s forest policy could undermine its climate goals and the rest of the world has to pay the damn price. [WaPo]

Owsley Brown Frazier just threw a $25 million cash donation to the University of Louisville. It’ll be used to improve academic, research and athletic programs. [H-L]

We’d just like to remind you that Greg Fischer is allowing Bud Schardein, the guy responsible for the nightmare at Louisville’s Metro Sewer District, to remain on until “retirement.” Even after that scathing audit. All so he can get a sweet payday. [WFPL]

People still believe orange man John Boehner should be trusted with anything. That blows our minds. [Wonkette]

Michele Bachmann and her big ole gurl of a husband were confronted by gay rights supporters in Iowa. [HuffPo]