morning cram [ramble edition]

An NPR poll predicts a difficult road ahead for Democrats to thwart Republican gains in the House this November.

KENTUCKY~ McCracken Judge Executive Newberry will draft a letter to County Clerk Jeff Jerrell advising he revise his policies. A Calloway County man gets a life sentence for murder. Good advice: Don’t sleep with bed bugs. WIC participants are encouraged  to use Farmer’s Markets. Chances thin for the state to win federal Race to the Top money without charter schools. Rand Paul defends his certification group.

TENNESSEE~ Montgomery County passed a budget on time (for once).

ILLINOIS~ The Pentagon: aspiring politician Mark Kirk isn’t acting properly.