morning cram [yoda bat edition]

Topping a list of the strangest creatures discovered this year is a bat that looks a like a George Lucas creation.

~See a photo of the creature on NPR‘s The Two Way.

KENTUCKY~ Some SIU-Carbondale students have ‘strong’ ideas on how to better Paducah’s riverfront. A newly contracted firm will be working to get rid of thousands of nuclear containers stored in Paducah. I-24′s Welcome Center is back open. After 3 years in office, Governor Steve Beshear says he’s “energized” (in time for re-election). Gubernatorial candidate Phil Moffett will fund-raise in Florida next week.

TENNESSEE~ UTM plans to erect a new radio tower. Someone drops a +$1.5k coin into a Salvation Army kettle (for a 3rd year in a row). Paris plans to build a safety shelter for severe weather. Henry County is declared an agricultural disaster zone. State sales tax revenue continues to defy predictors. In OVC Basketball.. (Men’s) UTM > Central Arkansas; (Women’s) APSU < Lipscomb.

morning cram [young guns edition]

As Republicans are expected to pick up seats in the House of Representatives, the GOP hopes that voters will give them the majority. They call themselves the Young Guns.

~NPR reports the group of ambitious conservatives know they can’t bring more of the same.

KENTUCKY~ Murray State creates a nursing doctoral program (coming 2012). A man accused of a Murray rape claims his innocence in court. Police: man left toddler in his yard as he ran from detectives. Train vs. SUV in Christian County claims 3 lives. Paducah’s mayor is slated to be the next president of the Kentucky League of Cities. High schoolers are voting in fake elections this week. Area foresters seek to burn +11k acres. Another Fort Campbell hero dies in Afghanistan. Beshear tackles nursing home abuse.

TENNESSEE~ A former Fort Campbell gun smuggler sentenced to +9 years.

SPORTS~ (football) MSU < CAU, APSU > TTU, UTM > EIU. (soccer) MSU < LTU & WMU, APSU > Valparaiso, UTM > SIUe.