the morning cram [What he really hates is the stuff that gets carried out in his name; Wars. Bigotry. Tebowing.]

Quick, get to your nearest football field and take a knee! It actually works…

NPR reports Denver pulls out an upset over the Pittsburg Steelers. And yoga classes everywhere incorporate their newest pose: downward facing Tebow.

Kentucky~  Rand Paul is hosting a town hall meeting in Murray. MSU remains undefeated! Two fires break out near USEC Paducah. The University of Pikeville proposal slows under technical scrutiny.   Instant racing is paying off at Kentucky Downs. Gatewood Galbraith’s public memorial has been announced. The new House redistricting plan hit a road block.

Tennessee~ Lamar Alexander wants to express himself.

the morning cram [the good doctor edition]

Walmart wants to start offering medical services through Medicare.

NPR reports that shortly after announcing it would not be providing healthcare benefits for new part-time employees, Walmart wants to be the nation’s largest provider of healthcare services.

Kentucky~ Catch up on all the election news here. Expect a return to normalcy tomorrow, when there’s not an election.

Kentucky 2011 General Election Returns

     2011 Kentucky General Election Returns

RETURNS REPORTED AS OF 10:30 AM CST, Wed. 11/9:

See the graph below for election returns.

From The Associated Press: Ky.’s Beshear Re-Elected; States Mull Ballot Items

2011 Election Results Are In, Democrats Win Big
Tuesday was a good election night for Kentucky Democrats. Of the six statewide races, only one went to a GOP candidate, Republican James Comer defeating Democrat Bob Farmer for the position of Commissioner of Agriculture. Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear will remain his post for the next four years in a big win over Republican Senate President David Williams and Independent Gatewood Galbraith. Click here to read the article.

Holllenbach Wins Treasurer in Close Race
In one of the closest races of the evening, incumbent Democrat Todd Hollenbach won re-election as Kentucky treasurer over GOP challenger K.C. Crosbie.

Auditor Candidate Declares Victory
In Frankfort this evening, Democrat Adam Edelen declared victory over Republican John Kemper. With 58 of precincts reporting, Edelen had 59 percent of the votes, to Kemper’s 41 percent.

AP Calls Att. Gen. Win for Conway
Associated Press calls win for Attorney General Incumbent Democrat Jack Conway wins beating Hopkins County Republican Todd P’Pool.

AP Calls Ag Comm. Race for Comer
Associated Press Calls win for Republican Candidate for Agriculture Commissioner James Comer, who beats Louisville Democrat Bob Farmer.

AP Calls Lundergan Grimes Winner in SOS Race
Dem. Alison Lundergan Grimes wins Ky. secretary of state race over Bill Johnson, a West Kentuckian. With 51 percent of precincts reporting, Grimes had 269,193 votes or 64 percent, to Republican Bill Johnson’s 150,997 votes or 36 percent.

AP Calls Beshear Victor
The Associated Press is calling incumbent Governor Steve Beshear the victor in tonight’s Kentucky General Election.

Voter Turnout in Question

Projected Turnout: 25%

It’s Election Day in Kentucky, but officials say more people will avoid polling places than vote. The projected turnout is about a quarter of registered voters. University of Kentucky political scientist Ernie Yanarella says low numbers favor incumbent Governor Steve Beshear. And Yanarella notes the election still comes down to the state’s political makeup, which features more registered democrats than republicans. Yanarella predicts Senate President David Williams will come in 2nd today with Independent Gatewood Galbraith 3rd. But Yanarella says he wouldn’t be surprised if Galbraith receives as much as nine percent of the vote.

Sources: KY Secretary of State, Kentucky Public Radio, Associated Press

GRAPHS

From the Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office:

Registered Voters: 2,944,603

Ballots Cast: 844,927

Voter Turnout: 28.69 %

Precincts Partially Reported: 0 of 3572

Precincts Completely Reported: 3572 of 3572

Precincts : 100.00 %

the morning cram [friendly fires edition]

Local governmental agencies don’t know how to treat the occupy protesters.

NPR reports Mayors across the country are trying to balance respect for the plight of protesters occupying public land and the greater welfare of their cities.

Kentucky~ KYTC wants to tell you about widening KY 68/80.  It looks like most people are avoiding the polls today.  A Kentucky native has been charged with espionage.  Romney wants some of that Kentucky green.

Illinois~ SIU: Teachers gotta eat too.

Tennessee~  Haslam tosses around the idea of school vouchers.

the morning cram [the airborne toxic event]

The EPA has a ‘watch list’ of toxic air polluters that’s longer than you might think.

NPR reports a newly revealed watch list of toxic polluters shows air pollution is still a huge problem, over 40 years after the passage of the Clean Air Act.

OVC Scores…

Kentucky~ There are more Murray State students than ever. The Fonz is comin to Kentucky (Aaay!!).  Beshear is pullin for dems. University Hospital in Louisville wants to keep some things private.

Missouri~ There’s fertile land in Bird’s Point now.

Tennessee~ There’s a Union City safe room. There’s a video to teach you how to get a picture ID.

the morning cram [crowded house edition]

The Human population just hit seven billion this morning.

NPR reports just two centuries after the world population was 1 billion, we’ve now hit the 7 mark. Some are worried about overpopulation while others contend many hands make light work.

Kentucky~     Some local Amish really don’t like that orange warning sign. Fulton is trying to take out the trash.   OVC football scores are in. The Department of Education wants to track alternative schools. Gubernatorial candidates face off in their last debate tonight.

Tennessee~ The state is trying to figure out what to do with wild hogs (the animal, not the movie).

Illinois~  SIU is hosting Native American life and culture celebration. Elementary Schools are improving across the state.

the morning cram [millionaires gotta eat too]

New York Governor Cuomo thinks Millionaires need a break.

NPR reports the NY millionaire tax is set to expire, and most New Yorkers are not happy about it.

Kentucky~    Half of the Paducah Convention Center embezzlement gang pleads not guilty. Galbraith says he’s the man! The unemployment rate fell in September.

Tennessee~ A Fort Campbell soldier is being presented with the Silver Star posthumously. Town hall meetings are being held across the state to address the voter I.D. law.

Illinois~  Massac County is hard up for cash. Quinn wants to know who voted for absent lawmakers in a recent session.

the morning cram [10 years of Patriot Act edition]

Ten years after it’s signing, the Patriot Act is still controversial.

NPR reports that on the tenth anniversary of President George W. Bush’s Patriot Act, Americans still disagree about whether or not it violates their right to privacy.

Kentucky~ Paducah property taxes go up (a little bit). Paducah Middle’s Walker moves to the district office under scrutiny. The 101st deals with budget cuts. Records show no evidence of David Williams sexual abuse. Beshear is well in the lead with money to blow.

Tennessee~ The Legislative Black Caucus wants in on redistricting.

the morning cram [political four-wheelin' edition]

President Obama’s tour bus will run across rough political terrain in North Carolina this year.

NPR reports the Obama campaign tour starts in North Carolina, but may meet more resistance this time than last.

Kentucky~ Two hung juries fueled frustration in the western part of the state.  Employment offices will match you to your job. Floridian doctors are feeding the pill problem. Beshear is pushing for other democratic candidates. Beshear beating Williams in state employee race.

Illinois~ Gov Quinn says catching up on bills will help the state economy.

Tennessee~ A Clarksville man was killed standing in the road looking at a cell phone. You need a permit to burn till next summer. The state will give money for energy efficiency.

the morning cram [Namibian conservation edition]

Imagine the US Government told the people living around Yellowstone that wildlife conservation was their job. That’s what’s going on in Namibia.

NPR reports that in an effort to conserve wildlife, the Namibian government handed responsibility over to farmers, and its working.

Kentucky~ Police busted a Chicago drug dealer in Paducah. More Amish are refusing to use triangles. Special crops are getting state money. Fort Campbell remembers fallen this week.  Gubernatorial candidates are coming to Paducah. Conway is getting a money boost.

Tennessee~ AARP hopes to clarify voter ID law.