What was that, again, about the Legislative Ethics Commission not being under the direct control of the good old boys in Frankfort? [John Cheves]

Bob Gunnell needs to focus on paying back the $400,000 or whatever he stiffed the IRS for. Maybe focus on his bankruptcy and walking out on Peritus – which is fighting to get what it’s owed from him, apparently – before he tries to keep it up with this bit of killing sidewalks on Brownsboro Road. And opponents declined to go to the forum last week not because the project is moving forward but because Bob got his ass handed to him and he has egg all over his face. [FOX41]

Oh, look, it’s Claudia Coffey doing a story about the Brownsboro Road sidewalk. Wouldn’t it be a good idea for her to disclose the fact that she knows Bob Gunnell personally when doing a slanted story like this? [WHAS11]

Will Jeffersonville ever stop flushing all of its poop into the Ohio River? [WFPL]

Lonnie Napier can’t read or use the Google so there’s no way for him to realize that welfare drug testing doesn’t work. What does work, though, is testing legislators for drug use. Someone needs to file that as an amendment ASAP. [WKYT]

Have you seen how much money taxpayers pony up for silly “studies” every year? Millions upon millions. [Page One]

You can’t even go to St. Matthews without cold getting robbed. Better pack your pepper spray, meemaw. [WAVE3]

Actors Theater opened some downtown apartments for visiting artists. This will be a good thing for Louisville, right? [Business First]

Here’s more on that large drug ring that was arrested in J-town last week. [WLKY]

David Whitlock is proof that Louisville doesn’t need outdated constables, right? [84WHAS]

Frankfort has turned into a literal cesspool. Now everyone is peeing all over everybody else when it comes to Congressional redistricting. [H-L]

Steve Beshear was apparently one of the worst persons in the world on Friday. Not for bungling gambling for four years straight but for the Ark Park. [Page One]

Black and Latino students are performing at levels of 30 years ago. Is anyone paying attention to this? [HuffPo]

Is MSD really making big changes after that scathing state audit from Crit Luallen? [FOX41]

Work on the Sherman Minton is expected to be completed before the March 2 deadline. [Business First]

Jefferson County Public Schools needs consistent curriculum policies and the audit identified several areas for improvement. [WAVE3]

Work on a pedestrian bridge connecting elevated plazas downtown is moving forward. [Broken Sidewalk]

Okay, let’s get serious: There’s an accident involving a JCPS bus nearly every day, right? Come on, people, stop hitting school buses! [WHAS11]

Here’s more on those ten recommendations put forth by the Jefferson County Public Schools curriculum audit. [WFPL]

You’ll roll your eyes really hard at this story. Anyone who believes their 14-year-old hasn’t heard of blowjobs? Uh, yeah, maybe they have bigger problems than a piece of literature to worry about. [WLKY]

People are still freaking out about Rand Paul’s Nashville airport incident yesterday. [84WHAS]

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]

The Kentucky Retirement Systems nightmare rages on while Frankfort ignores it 100%. Don’t forget that Greg Fischer’s top guy is part of the mess there. [Page One]

Jefferson County Public Schools wants a longer school year with more days off. [FOX41]

KFC is laying folks off at both its corporate headquarters in Louisville and at its restaurants. [Business First]

These drug folks drove a Bentley, a Hummer and a Porsche in that neighborhood and thought no one would notice something strange was up. [WAVE3]

Do you think Greg Fischer has a clue that a major Louisville-Detroit drug ring was broken up? [WLKY]

An historic warehouse on Broadway is under threat. Part of this situation just doesn’t make sense. [Broken Sidewalk]

Crime is apparently on the rise in the Highlands so you better warn your meemaw who lives there. Make sure she’s locking her doors and carrying a taser. [WHAS11]

Papaw Governor Steve Beshear has a transportation plan that stresses widening I-65 and the bridges project. Will either actually see the light of day? And a tip for those rarely leaving the city: 64 is already pretty wide between Louisville and Frankfort. Theres not a ton of traffic between Louisville and Lexington to warrant widening 64. [WFPL]

Will Allan Cowen be able to help the University of Louisville build its downtown presence or will his past behavior with the Fund for the Arts sour everything? $100,000 a year isn’t a bad salary for the school to shell out if he can make things happen. [WFPL]

Two Metro Police officers who saved the life of Erica Hughes have been awarded for their actions. [FOX41]

Doesn’t this story sound really familiar? About Chinese billionaires, J. Bruce Miller and the NBA? Wonder where it’s played out before? The NBA is not coming to Louisville any time soon, folks, so get over it. Beyond reading about it here first, it’s full-on reminiscent of the nightmare that played out in Lexington over the PeckerPointe tower. Some mysterious investors never materialized and then there were all kinds of excuses and a massive, empty green field in the middle of downtown. [C-J/AKN]

No one around here can understand why everyone is so bent out of shape over a contest in a magazine foodies don’t even read. And it’s for the south – a region Louisville certainly isn’t a part of. What does Louisville get if it wins? [Consuming Louisville]

And the wall came tumbling down? Moody’s put Louisville’s arena authority on a bond rating watch list. [WAVE3]

Economists are right. Casinos are not a cure-all for state budget nightmares. They’re just a bit of a needed boost. [Bluegrass Politics]

But here comes the gambling spin. It’ll save the day with its $1.7 billion alleged economic impact, right? [Business First]

At least Jefferson County Public Schools leads the nation in something. Could be worse than having the most hybrid buses. [WHAS11]

The State Senate judiciary committee is so afraid of opposition it refused to allow anyone with a bone to pick to speak during a three-hour hearing last week. That’s how money talks in Frankfort. [Page One]

Apparently the Holiday World folks don’t realize that the state still owes Ed Hart more than $4 million he spent trying to reopen Kentucky Kingdom. [WLKY]

Wondering why Greg Fischer gets away with nearly everything he bungles? Because 90% of people are likely as out-of-touch with reality as this individual who doesn’t think it’s a big deal to charge $20 to hear a mayor’s annual State of the City Address. [The 'Ville Voice]

It’s time for a reality check on the meth problem in Kentucky. If we’re gonna get a handle on this issue, we at least need to keep the facts straight. [Page One]

Today at noon, the Louisville Forum will focus on public charter schools. There will be all kinds of boring arguments. Hal Heiner will likely chap Brent McKim’s rear. [Fun Times]

Charter schools aren’t going to happen in Kentucky this legislative session. The Hal Heiner push is a total waste of secretive money. Until those folks realize this isn’t a partisan issue and stop pushing only the conservative bits and pieces, it’s dead and the water and should remain dead in the water. [H-L]

Louisville residents are putting up a “stink” over delayed trash pickup because it’s the first thing that directly impacts them from Greg Fischer. Every other nightmare he’s sat at the helm of is out of sight, out of mind in their world. [C-J/AKN]

Demolition is set to begin at the nearly-vacant Sheppard Square. Will this turn into a good thing? [WAVE3]

Michigan’s treasurer says that Detroit will run out of money by May. Will Greg Fischer learn anything while he’s there? Or will he return from Detroit to make out-of-touch remarks about that city, comparing it weirdly to Louisville? [Reuters]

Free parking around Fourth Street? Haha, right. Louisville can’t get Fourth Street right. Why are we still pretending that we can? [FOX41]

A new report shows that Kentuckians are frequent binge drinkers. That may have something to do with their quality of life. [Business First]

We won’t be wasting much time on rehashing this latest LMAS story (it’s not new) because there are much bigger problems. We can think of a million things more important than a woman trying to get money from taxpayers because two nasty people treated her poorly. [WHAS11]

Tom Owen’s concern over trash pick-up has fired more than a handful of people up. Meanwhile, MSD is getting swept under the rug. [The 'Ville Voice]

Maybe you can safely have a vehicle in St. Matthews again. Police made arrests in 30 car break-ins. [WLKY]

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]

And you thought the hospital merger discussion was over. Nope. They’re still going to find a way to try that mess again. [WHAS11]

Rather than write a story about Councilwoman Attica Scott begging Greg Fischer to tour the First Metro Council District, it wrote a story about how he’s joining her. But only after a lot of pressure and a press release sent by the majority caucus director. [Deep Council Thoughts]

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]

Louisville is woah fat and some people are trying to find out why. Why is Louisville fat? “‘I don’t know,’ says Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt, director of Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Welfare. ‘Most likely it’s a confluence of factors.’ She points to high rates of sedentary work, higher crime rates, and limited public transportation as possible causes.” [Click the Clicky]

Yes, you should be checking out Julius Caesar at the Walden Theatre. Michelle is right about it being one of Louisville’s gems. [Consuming Louisville]

How will Kentucky and Indiana pay for the bridges? Kentucky still has no idea, outside of massive tolls. Which is going to be awesome for the metro area, you know. Really affordable and all that. [WAVE3]

Betting on horse racing in the United States jumped 17.88% in December. But we’re still supposed to believe that horse tracks deserve a constitutional right to own casino licenses in Kentucky without allowing an actual free market approach. [Business First]

Want to adopt a pet but don’t want to deal with the flustercuck that is Metro Animal Services? Or you’re one of the many people sitting for several hours to be assisted? Consider heading to Frankfort to help alleviate problems caused by a rash of animal hoarding. [WLKY]

Is it a shame that the Hyatt was allowed to further erode public space on Fourth Street? Or is it a shame that people only complain after it’s too little, too late about crap like this happening in Louisville? You get what you pay for when it comes to elected officials like Jerry Abramson and Greg Fischer. Maybe it’s time for people to start paying more attention to planning and development in this city. Because this is becoming the norm – cars, cars, cars. Pedestrian spaces are becoming afterthoughts. [Broken Sidewalk]

Aww, how sad. Greater Clark County Schools won’t renew Stephen Daeschner’s contract. The man who wreaked havoc in Louisville won’t get his sweet payday after all. [C-J/AKN]

Seems like there are a lot of commonalities between Louisville’s Metro Sewer District and the Kentucky Retirement Systems. And a whole lot of corrupt financial shenanigans. [The 'Ville Voice]

Don’t worry, there’s nothing to see here with the “resignation” of this social services commissioner in Frankfort. [H-L]

You can’t even go to the Bashford Manor Walmart without getting robbed at gunpoint and kidnapped these days. [FOX41]

North End Cafe has finally opened its Highlands restaurant in the old Club Grotto location on Bardstown Road. [Consuming Louisville]

Robert White’s going away party brought out plenty of memories and emotion. All of the people there were holding back their true feelings, though. All you have to do is look to the rank and file of LMPD to find out how people feel about the man. [WAVE3]

Kentucky is among the ten least health states in the country. Which obviously comes as no shock to anyone living in the Commonwealth. [Business First]

This crazy guy downtown has given new meaning to beating a dead… er… fiberglass horse. [WHAS11]

It’s a real shame Louisville doesn’t have a light rail plan that could bring the city into at least the 20th Century. Here’s a look at what could have been. [Broken Sidewalk]

Now Greater Clark County Schools are on the hunt for a new superintendent. Maybe this time they’ll find someone who isn’t overpaid and all hype. [WLKY]

Kentucky really does need to consider a tax-free weekend each year for school and educational-related purchases. It’d be a boon for Kentucky businesses and a much-needed bit of relief for the average taxpayer. [Page One]

How big is the blank stare you now develop when you read about the ridiculous fight between the Louisville Orchestra and its musicians? [C-J/AKN]

Wait, now Occupy Louisville is protesting sexism, racism, classism and homophobia. We tend to support them but what on earth? Pick an issue so meemaw and poppop can understand what’s going on. [WLKY]

That Merck lawsuit? It’s still going to be a nightmare for Jack Conway. [Page One]

Let’s make predictions about how long it will take this latest Cordish development to fail downtown. [WFPL]

The Commonwealth’s Attorney is investigating/reviewing the unnecessary constable who shot a woman in the face. Maybe this city can finally rid itself of an unnecessary position that allows untrained crazy asses to shoot people in the face. [FOX41]

You should be giving back by taking part in the Free Coat Exchange on November 25. [Consuming Louisville]

Woah, Jeffersonville is just cold turning into a disaster zone or something. Or maybe all the bad news bears are moving from Nawbny over to Jeff? [WAVE3]

Just be careful not to get shot when you go to have funtimes on the new ice rink Jeffersonville is opening downtown for the holiday season. [Business First]

Oh, wait, there’s been a “slaying” off Fegenbush Lane. Maybe Jeffersonville isn’t alone. [WLKY]

We know it’s sad to lose an animal but what on earth do you expect to happen when you tie your dog up to a bench and then LEAVE IT ALONE FOR TEN MINUTES? [WHAS11]

Really, classifying pizza as a vegetable. And you wonder why your kids are so unbelievably obese. [84WHAS]

Why is that crazy? Because Cordish – and Metro Government – allowed a tenant at 4th Street not to pay rent for two years, an amount of about $400,000. And we’re still going to throw TIF funds at them!

Abramson/Fischer/Cordish have been foaming at the mouth for a while about how terrific things are at 4th Street Live. It’s so successful. Puppies and rainbows. And one tenant owes $400,000 in back rent. Another owns no telling how much.

The real story isn’t that Red Tavern closed, it’s that the Cordish deal is failing despite obfuscation from the company and Metro Government itself. Literally flushing hundreds of thousands of dollars (okay, millions) down the drain and Metro Government is going to give them even more property downtown.

Now that Jerry Abramson has been elected Lieutenant Governor, how much do you think he’ll do for Cordish on the state level? Hope you’re all ready to bend over and take it.

Today, John Yarmuth will lobby for the Louisville Zoo to get free polar bears. He’ll ask Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to allow displaced polar bears to be placed in accredited zoos. [Press Release]

Of course Jefferson County Public Schools should reorganize its central office. And maybe start firing about 50% of those people in that office building making more than $100,000 per year. [C-J/AKN]

Yes, we all want to melt our brains because Karen Sypher is “writing a book” while she serves out her time in prison. [WKYT]

Just deserts (no, not desserts)? Poor access to fresh food is a solvable health problem. That’s something we know a lot about in Louisville. [The Economist]

Lexington is freaking out about not having enough hotel rooms downtown (it has a downtown?). Probably should visit Louisville to see how to deal with that problem because we have far too many hotel rooms that cost too much for the average Kentuckian to use. [H-L]

It’s going to cost umpteen zillion dollars to restore the Whiskey Row buildings. [C-J/AKN]

Of course LG&E is defending its coal sludge processing plant. Of course it’s attacking facts and science. Of course Metro Government and Frankfort will defend it. [FOX41]

How hard is Greg Fischer’s staff working to try to keep the negative news about the Cordish failure out of the mainstream? We think that disaster should be paying for increased patrols. [WAVE3]

Papa John’s is reporting a jump in third quarter profits. Revenue rose to $305.7 million from $273.1 million a year ago. [Business First]

We’re really supposed to believe Robert White was aggressively recruited by Denver and that he had absolutely nothing to do with them finding out about his desire to leave? Pro-tip: Don’t say you’re staying in Louisville if you’re actually job shopping. [WHAS11]

Local LMPD officers are relieved that White is moving away from Louisville. [LMPD.com]

You’re likely familiar with the Catholic lobby in Louisville. What you may not know, though, is that it’s spending tons of cash in Frankfort every year. All stemming from a desire to control women, of course. [HuffPo]