morning cram [healing edition]

President Obama yesterday paid tribute to victims of the Arizona mass shootings, urging Americans to change the nation’s caustic public dialogue by talking in a way that heals instead of wounds.

NPR has extensive coverage.

KENTUCKY~ A bid to build McCracken County’s jail expansion comes in over $1mil under estimates. Kentucky State Police are investigating fund misappropriations by two recently fired McCracken County School employees. USEC is haggling with TVA over a new power contract for Paducah’s Gaseous Diffusion Plant. House Speaker Stumbo wants to ban smoking in cars with kids. KCTCS is participating in a new nationwide accountability program. A federally-subsidized work program employed 400 last year. Gov. Beshear says politicos should calm down. Since Secretary of State Trey Grayson is leaving for Harvard, Bowling Green’s Mayor will finish out his term.

TENNESSEE~ Austin Peay issues a campus warning after receiving a threatening letter from an ex-student.