• Anne Braden Institute – UofL
• Bridgehaven
• CASA
• Center for Women and Families
• Crane House
• Elderserve
• Family and Children’s Place – Child Advocacy Center
• Family Scholar House
• Harbor House
• Home of the Innocents
• Jewish Community of Louisville
• Kentucky Center Governor’s School for the Arts
• Kentucky School of Art
• KET Commonwealth Fund
• The Library Foundation
• Louisville Fund for the Arts
• Louisville Urban League
• Louisville Zoo
• Maryhurst
• Muhammad Ali Center
• NAACP
• Simmons University
• United Way
• Volunteers of America
• Youth Build Louisville

“With our economy in recovery, a lot of really wonderful organizations are being forced to cut already lean budgets,” Yarmuth said. “I am very fortunate to be in a position to offer this small assist as these groups work so diligently and effectively to enrich the Louisville community.”

Yarmuth, for whatever reason, never releases the amounts given to each group.

Go get involved today.

Jon Meyer, Greg Fischer’s inaugural fund treasurer, says one thing in the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance response about Ed Hart and Bruce Lunsford (via Jennifer Moore, Fischer’s attorney):

“Mr. Morrison’s claim is not true. As treasurer for the inauguration account, I have reviewed all of the checks received for the inauguration. Mr. Hart and Mr. Lunsford never made contributions to the inauguration account, and no contribution made to the inauguration account was ever diverted or used for any other purpose. I have attached Mr. Hart’s and Mr. Lunsford’s checks…

As you can see from Mr. Hart’s checks … it is clear that Mr. Hart intended to contribute to the general and primary election accounts. Each check is made payable to “Fischer for Mayor”…

But Ed Hart and Bruce Lunsford say another (as do the series of emails Ed Hart has in his possession): that Tommy Elliott and crew pulled a bait and switch. You can read about it in Dan Klepal’s stories, if you wish.

Never mind that there are emails backing up that the Fischer crew came back to Hart after contributing to the inaugural fund asking him to change his contribution to read to “Fischer for Mayor” with no indication or explanation that their contributions would not be used for the inauguration. In fact, their names were still listed in the inaugural program as sponsors. They were consistently told their contributions, if unused to pay for the event (so up to 2,000 citizens could attend for free), would be directed to charity.

Guess it’s time for Ed Hart to release those emails and to send a supporting letter and documentation to the KREF.

And, finally, after years of us calling him out, Fischer’s folks finally admit that his companies have, indeed, made contributions to his campaigns:

I have reviewed the reports submitted to the Registry by the inaugural, general and primary campaign accounts and note that the contribution and use of the website should have been reported and attributed to the LLC’s “individual members according to their respective ownership interests,” as set forth in the Advisory Opinion. Accordingly, I will amend all appropriate reports to reflect this personal contribution by Mayor Fischer, and will communicate with your office to ensure the amended reports are comlpleted on or before February 7, 2012.

Despite the past protestations from Fischer and his campaigns that no such contributions occurred, they’re finally admitted it. We expect Fischer to amend all of his U.S. Senate and mayoral campaign finance reports.

Meyer goes on:

As treasurer, neither I nor anyone I am aware of has violated any campaign finance law, nor have we intended to do so.

Unfortunately, he and the entire crew are aware. They’ve been aware for years. Particularly about using company resources for Fischer’s campaign benefit. We’ve written about it, Fischer’s talked about it, other outlets have covered it.

It’s also really a shame Morrison decided to meddle in this. I made him aware prior to filing that plans were in the works for a complaint to be filed by a legal team with campaign finance experience and he still felt it was a good idea. While loosely well-intentioned (he’s running for political office, remember), it now makes it unlikely that any campaign finance attorneys at the disposal of Hart and Lunsford will come to his aid.

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]

Pro-tip to to Patti Swope: Stop spamming us and everyone else with unsolicited press releases. Or get a new PR agent who takes your business relationships more seriously. [Come On]

WHAS11 explores the lives of 3 transgendered women living in Louisville. And, of course, that exploration pushes nothing but stereotypes. Come on, Gene. [WHAS11]

As I explained to Curt Morrison at the time, and he apparently didn’t take to heart, the person who solicited inaugural funds from Ed Hart and Bruce Lunsford was Tommy Elliott, not Christy Brown. I know because they told me so and have email trails to back it up. Even KREF is ignorantly placing blame in her lap. Christy may be the River Fields frenemy everybody loves to hate but she wasn’t involved in that mess of Greg Fischer’s. Maybe every other mess, but not that one. That’s all Tommy Elliott, Jim Mims and Bill Bardenwerper. Hopefully Christy will finally learn her lesson about trying to play power broker for her favorite little boy, Greg. [Curt Morrison]

Oh, look, the Ohio River Bridges Debacle talking points are spreading amongst the loyal. Thank goodness Kentucky has no money and won’t be able to build a downtown bridge. [Business First]

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]

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]

Sorry, WAVE, you didn’t have an exclusive on Senate Republicans meeting with Steve Beshear on gambling. Every outlet with a reporter in Frankfort or covering Frankfort had the story and interviews. [WAVE3]

We can’t decide if this story makes Greg Fischer look disconnected or just a bit confused when it comes to the economy. [NYT]

Here’s a history nerd look at vintage buses of Louisville’s transit past. Remember when Louisville had transit dreams? [Broken Sidewalk]

The New York Times knows what’s important and this Christmas it was focused on Kentucky bourbon. Though, don’t go ruining it with things like apple brandy or a cinnamon stick, wtf. Glad to see Maker’s 46 getting some mainstream attention. [NYT]

NuLu is getting some major love from an EPA grant and will receive a neighborhood design consultation. [Press Release]

A whopping 16 people have applied to take Robert White’s position as chief of the Louisville Metro Police Department. [FOX41]

The Associated Press piece about the applicants is apparently such a big deal that it was also published in the Herald-Leader. [H-L]

We’re still shocked that no one tried to shine green lasers at Santa Claus over the weekend. [C-J/AKN]

Merry Christmas! Someone got killed in Old Louisville over night. Great way for their family to round out the holidays. [WAVE3]

The Humana Foundation gave $200,000 to eight Louisville nonprofit organizations. Center for Women and Families, Coalition for the Homeless, ElderServe, The Healing Place, St. John Center, St. Vincent De Paul Society, Volunteers of America, Wellspring. [Business First]

Louisville on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is a lot like Any Small Town, USA on Friday at 5:00 P.M. Everything is closed and the world nearly comes to an end. [Consuming Louisville]

Don’t forget that not everyone has it as good as you. Around 600 meals were served at the Salvation Army Center of Hope on Christmas. [WHAS11]

Jim Ramsey’s massive pay raise – from $478,939 to $600,000 – just his base pay – got comfortably hidden in a Friday afternoon news dump. [WLKY]

Our phones exploded all weekend with calls about the Metro Sewer District and Gerald Neal. We had no idea how widespread the corruption was or how badly people were pissed. [Page One]

Despite a petition from the president of the Louisville Metro Council, the city is still pursuing its lawsuit against the LIFE Institute. [WFPL]

Kentucky State Parks offer tons of New Year’s Eve fun and you should make note of what’s available in your own back yard. [Page One]

Congressman John Yarmuth’s press secretary, Trey Pollard, is leaving the job on Thursday to become the deputy press secretary for the Sierra Club. Stephen George becomes the new spokesperson. [Press Releases]

Ishmon Burks was named interim chief of police yesterday. [Press Release]

The editorial board wants you to call 311 if you know anything about the missing scales of justice. We want you to call 311 if you find Greg Fischer’s balls. [C-J/AKN]

Sexytime Herman Cain’s sexytime lady is sharing creepy new details about their creepy sexytimes. To think this all started in Louisville. [HuffPo]

Really? A rally is being held for Stephen Daeschner in Southern Indiana? What kind of jacked up are people in Indiana to believe the man is worth the mountain of cash they’re paying him? Wow. [FOX41]

Seriously – this is the equivalent of Sheldon Berman conning people into rallying for him. It’s the funniest thing we’ve seen in weeks. [WLKY]

Greater Louisville Inc.’s president and CEO, Joe Reagan, is a finalist for a similar job in St. Louis. Will GLI change and actually serve small business? Don’t hold your breath. [Business First]

Do you feel safe with MSD protecting you from the raging floods? [WAVE3]

Just a reminder that five pedestrians and cyclists were killed and one badly injured on Louisville streets in just ten days. [Broken Sidewalk]

Something tells us it’s not a happy week at Masterson’s now that 60 people who ate their food got violently ill. [WHAS11]

Could MSD corruption bankrupt Louisville? Probably not likely but you should definitely see what we’ve uncovered. [The 'Ville Voice]

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]

Some hoodlum has stolen the Scales of Justice from Metro Gubmint! [Click the Clicky]

Oh, get a grip, people. Maker’s Mark IS cheap. That’s a good terrific thing. Maybe the best you can buy for the money. $25 is cheap for magical bourbon like that. Don’t play. And Maker’s 46 is worth every penny of it’s $40-ish price tag. [H-L]

That fireworks ban was so stupid that Metro Council is going to consider lifting it. After it only passed, what, two weeks ago? [WFPL]

Oh, look, here’s a six-page glowing review of Robert White from the paper. Never could have expected that. You’d think an actual news outlet get a few interviews with some officers who actually work in the community to find out what the deal really is with LMPD. They’re glad the man is leaving. [C-J/AKN]

Heard of this RAMP thing? Rockin’ Appalachian Mom Project? There’s a benefit being held on December 10 at The Green Building and Claudia Coffey is involved. It’s a good thing! [CLICK HERE]

It’s so foreign to see actual progress in a Kentucky city. Nope, it’s not Louisville. It’s happening in Lexington and nobody is being corrupt and nasty about it, either. [H-L & More H-L]

Louisvillians are discussing what they want in a new chief for the Louisville Metro Police Department. [FOX41]

Metro United Way has raised $24.5 million for its annual fundraising campaign. [Business First]

The sister of Sexytime Herman Cain’s alleged mistress is talking to Louisville teevee stations. This is definitely worthy of a pee alert. [WAVE3]

We’re trying really hard not to laugh about the lady who drove her car into Longhorn Steakhouse in J-town. Yes, we realize it could have been much worse. [WHAS11]

Of course Greg Fischer’s merger “task force” was a farce. You really expected otherwise? [WFPL]

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]

What do you think about Lexington’s mail sorting moving to Louisville? We smell a big ruh ro coming. [H-L]

Basically, it’s time to bend over and grab your ankles. You’re going to be subjected to non-stop news about flipping David Camm – again – if you bother to turn on your television. [FOX41]

If you can’t Dine Out for Life this Wednesday, then go ahead and support your favorite charity. [Dining Out for Life]

HAHAHA! Forgive us for nearly passing out from laughter. Stephen Daeschner may get his rear end handed to him by his new Southern Indiana school district. [WAVE3]

No, Kentucky isn’t tops in the nation for business as the Democrats (and sometimes Republicans) would have you believe. It’s merely 25th on the Forbes list. [Business First]

Sometimes Ron Crimm has good ideas. Sometimes he has bad ones that end up costing the state money. Like state-supplied signage for tattoo parlors. [WHAS11]

Maybe Representative Crimm can redeem himself by trying to stop wage theft from happening in Kentucky. [WFPL]

Don’t forget what’s really going down at Louisville Metro Animal Services. Even the overpaid and inexperienced director is letting the truth slip out. [The 'Ville Voice]

Waterfront Park won’t have a skating rink but Jeffersonville’s got a temporary one. Who knew this was such a big deal? [WLKY]

You should go to the Bobby Ellis memorial vigil tonight at 7:00 P.M. Plymouth Community Renewal Center. 1626 West Chestnut.

Walk six blocks with Dare to Care in remembrance of Bobby, the nine-year-old who died from malnutrition, sparking the Dare to Care movement.

If you can’t go, then consider making a contribution to the food bank of your choice.