Kentucky has the second highest rate in the nation of children living with relatives or close family friends instead of biological parents, according to a report from a national foundation released Wednesday. [H-L]

Yep, just what Louisville needs, another violent shooting death. Possibility City! Compassion! [WAVE3]

Tina Ward-Pugh has it right. There is no way for Marilyn Parker to escape the heinous things she’s said in the very recent past. We pray to the flying spaghetti monster that she wins so we will have daily moments of comedy gold when she just cold, you know, is insane. [WFPL]

Louisville is at the bottom of that fancy parks list. So how does the mainstream spin it? That “Louisville Metro Parks among list of best parks according to survey.” Yeah. [WHAS11]

Here’s a shocker: the CEO of Jewish Hospital and St. Mary’s HealthCare has decided to retire. [C-J/AKN]

Family members are beginning to deal with the chilling allegations brought up in court Wednesday against William Clyde Gibson. [WLKY]

Consultants paid for by the University of Louisville are saying exactly what UofL money-drivers have been saying. Imagine that! What a coincidence. [Business First]

What? Another shooting in Louisville and this man is wanted for questioning? Even more compassionate. [84WHAS]

Hal Rogers continues to pretend that there’s some war on coal. Interesting that concern about a devastating practice (mountaintop removal) still equates to a war on every other form of mining in their feeble minds. [WKYT]

Opposition to gay marriage has hit a new low among Americans, weeks after President Barack Obama announced his support for it, according to a new poll Wednesday. [Politico]

Have you heard the latest genius (haha, okay, not genius) comments from the Kentucky Democratic Republican Chairman? [Page One]

Louisville Water began its research in January 2011 after the EPA recommended water utilities to monitor quarterly for Cr6 at the source, in the finished water and in the distribution system. Louisville Water decided to take the research a step further and examine each step of the treatment process at its two treatment plants. The scientists learned that ground water at its B.E. Payne Plant, which is naturally filtered in its riverbank filtration tunnel, has no Cr6. However, as the water moved through the treatment process, the Cr6 level increased to 0.28 ppb in the finished water, four times the level found in the finished water of the Crescent Hill Plant.

Scientists discovered a link between the chemical softening process in water treatment and Cr6. Louisville Water Company uses lime as the softening agent. Scientists learned that by moving the lime feed to the beginning of the treatment process the formation of Cr6 was significantly reduced. The absence of dissolved oxygen, the presence of ferrous ion and other reducing agents in the riverbank filtered water, such as iron sulfate, a mineral found in many nutritional supplements, also lowered the formation of Cr6.

And (Warning: External PDF Link):

Louisville Water scientists identified a practical approach to reduce chromium 6 (Cr6) in drinking water. Chromium is naturally occurring and exists in two forms: chromium 3 is important for balanced health, while chromium 6 can be carcinogenic if inhaled. The EPA regulates Total Chromium levels and Louisville’s drinking water is 90% below that level. As the EPA conducts research to determine if it will create a drinking water standard for Cr6, our scientists discovered a modification to the treatment process that reduces Cr6 levels to below 0.1 parts per billion (ppb). Louisville pure tap® meets and surpasses all EPA drinking water regulations.

However…

Since their cleaning/filtration process was causing the problem in the first place… does that mean the LWC has been intentionally/unintentionally poisoning customers for years?

Let’s merge this joint with MSD as soon as possible, folks, so we can use the cover-up processes perfected by the sewer team. Shoo.

Auditor Adam Edelen on Wednesday released an examination of the Quality and Charity Care Trust (QCCT), finding a lack of oversight of a fund responsible for annually disbursing more than $30 million in state and local indigent care money to University Hospital in Louisville.

The exam found that the board structure was not suited for proper oversight, the agreement between University Medical Center (UMC) and state and local government to administer the money is outdated, and administrative processes failed to provide sufficient details for determining compliance with the agreement. Specifically, UMC did not have sufficient recordkeeping to support its claim that indigent care costs are derived from patients who met pre-defined criteria for indigence or medically needy. Auditors found no evidence that taxpayer dollars were abused.

“I applaud University of Louisville President James Ramsey for asking us to take a look at QCCT and acknowledge the good work the University does in caring for the indigent population,” Edelen said.

Edelen ought not applaud Ramsey, as I seem to recall just a year ago when Ramsey was pressing Edelen to join the University of Louisville Foundation’s board. The hypocrisy is a bit ripe there.

But the release continues:

Questions had been raised in the media about the trust’s board, which had not been conducting regular meetings as required by its by-laws.

The trust collects about $25 million a year from the state and $7 million a year from Louisville Metro Government and uses it to help cover University Hospital’s cost of treating indigents.

“The responsibility for providing a safety-net for our most vulnerable is a critical one shared by the University, City and Commonwealth,” Edelen said. “While this audit underscores the need for modernization and reform of the governing structure, it does not provide justification for those who desire a retreat from that mission.”

The purpose of the examination was to ensure appropriate processes are in place to provide strong oversight of QCCT funds through a review of the QCCT board and UMC’s policies, QCCT board governance, University of Louisville and QCCT internal controls and financial transactions relating to QCCT.

Six of the report’s nine findings deal with weaknesses relating to the QCCT’s board structure.

Some findings highlights:

• QCCT board structure is not conducive for providing proper oversight.
• QCCT board failed to meet as required by the QCCT bylaws.
• QCCT board meetings were not effective for proper oversight.
• QCCT board lacks written policies and procedures.
• QCCT board did not have sufficient communication with the audit firm.
• QCCT board did not review or approve the annual funding calculation.
• QCCT does not have an updated agreement in place.
• QCCT funds are not accounted for at the patient level.
• Indigent Care Log does not provide adequate information for proper accountability of QCCT funds.

Click here (Warning: PDF Link) to review the entire report.

You may read the rest of Edelen’s release after the jump…

Auditors found that U of L has significant influence over the QCCT board and that because it administers the funds, this structure extends its management function rather than providing accountability. Edelen recommends appointments for the controlling number of board members be given to the Commonwealth and Louisville Metro.

Auditors also found that the board failed to meet as required by the QCCT bylaws, conducted meetings that were not effective for proper oversight, lacked written policies and procedures, did not have sufficient communication with the audit firm, and did not review or approve the annual funding calculation.

The exam found that QCCT does not have an updated agreement in place. The existing QCCT structure is largely the product of a 1983 agreement – one that has not been substantially updated despite changes in stakeholders and the merger of the Louisville and Jefferson County governments. It also doesn’t specify whether the intent is to provide funding for specific individuals or to provide funding to UMC for general use to support the indigent care program.

Edelen recommends the agreement be updated to address the current parties and all funding arrangements, require funding be applied to individual patient accounts, clarify the residency requirements, reflect that reimbursement should be based on cost and address the intent of the funding.

“It is my hope that the stakeholders sit down and draft a new agreement that better reflects the core mission of the fund, which is to provide care for our most vulnerable citizens,” Edelen said. “It should be a deal that is fair to taxpayers and an institution that carries a heavy burden of treating thousands of indigents each year.”

Auditors also found that QCCT funds are not accounted for at the patient level. The agreement does not make clear that the funds should be applied to individual patient accounts, but it does stipulate that the local government’s funding should be used to provide care for indigents who are residents of Jefferson County. Edelen recommends UMC apply QCCT funds to specific patient accounts to allow greater accountability.

In addition, auditors found that the indigent care log does not provide adequate information for proper accountability of QCCT funds. UMC did not require indigents to verify their income, making it difficult to ensure that QCCT funds were not being applied to non-indigents’ accounts.

“Indigents and individuals who have the means but fail to pay should not be lumped in the same category as it relates to the QCCT fund,” Edelen said.

• Sarah CUNNINGHAM — 4261 — 34.49%
• Amy E. SHOEMAKER — 1812 — 14.66%
• Gary DEMLING — 1253 — 10.14%
• Morgan McGARVEY — 5030 — 40.71%

All of her supporters who said she would win? Yeah. You handed the election to little Morgan, the guy you so strongly dislike.

6,716 Democrats voted against John Yarmuth and for Burrel Farnsley.

Reggie Meeks beat that teabagger girl, Wendy Caswell.

Chris Thieneman beat Dougie Hawkins.

9,237 Democrats in Louisville chose not to vote for President Barack Obama, instead choosing to remain “uncommitted.”

Republican-turned-Democrat-turned no more Wade Hurt lost his race by 478 votes or 63% to 36%.

Irv Maze narrowly beat Jim Shake and they’ll face off in the fall.

A University of Louisville professor doesn’t believe rallies will end violence. Because guess what? They won’t. [FOX41]

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is not backing down on its promise to engage in the most aggressive campaign operation in its 100 year history, despite a recent court decision that would require disclosure of secret donors behind issue ads. [Politico]

Here’s a teevee story about the Ohio River Bridges Debacle allegedly creating thousands of jobs. No mention, of course, that those jobs will eventually land in Indiana and thousands of others will move there. [WAVE3]

Nope, no one turned out to vote. So few voted, in fact, that it is embarrassing to be a Kentuckian at the moment. [H-L]

WHAS11 spent an entire 11:00 P.M. segment last night on this lady sex book called “Fifty Shades of Grey” because it is apparently big, important news on election night. [WHAS11]

What’s that? You mean the Metro Sewer District wants to raise your rates another 6.5% and they waited until election day to hide that news? Surely not! [C-J/AKN]

Bullying is a real issue, sure, even on Facebook. But targeting online bullying isn’t going to stop the violence occurring in Louisville’s streets. [WLKY]

BRAVE PATRIOT Teabagger Birther Marilyn Parker is now essentially a Louisville Metro Council member. PEE ALERT. Let’s take this trip down the crazy lane. [The 'Ville Voice]

Despite Louisville’s attempts to build a healthy culture around biking through the addition of bicycle lanes across the city and promotion of events such as last week’s Bike to Work Day, Kentucky overall has been less bike friendly, according to a new study. [Business First]

What? Metro Parks needs work? You don’t say. Louisville has scored near the bottom on a new ranking of park systems in the nation’s 40 largest cities. The city came in 38th. [WFPL]

Why the hell did it take a judge to decide it was okay for a kid to wear a gay t-shirt? [WKYT]

BRAVE PATRIOT Marilyn Parker won her race for Metro Council.

It’s a dream come true for writers like us who, you know, love batshiz crazy birthers.

COMEDY GOLD!

UPDATE!!!1!

Let’s take a trip down the BRAVE PATRIOT Marilyn Parker memory hole of craziness:

• Crazy Teabagger Running for Congress [September 2, 2009]
• Some Crazy Tuesday Winger Political Antics [September 8, 2009]
• More Marilyn Parker Political Insanity [September 11, 2009]
• More Marilyn Parker Teabagger/Birther Failure [September 15, 2009]
• Okay, Marilyn Parker Is Like a Hemorrhoid [September 16, 2009]
• An Update from Brave Patriot Marilyn Parker [September 22, 2009]
• Is Marilyn Parker Smoking Marijuana Cigarettes? [September 23, 2009]
• Marilyn Parker Said Something! [September 24, 2009]
• True Patriot Marilyn Parker Will Win [September 30, 2009]
• Brave Patriot Warrior On the Radio Tonight! [October 1, 2009]
• Brave Patriot Warrior Marilyn Parker on the Radio [October 6, 2009]
• Marilyn Parker is the New Sonny Landham [October 9, 2009]
• Let’s Play a Game: Who Would Win? Part 3 [October 22, 2009]
• Brave Patriot Marilyn Parker Makes Shiz Up [October 23, 2009]
• Marilyn Parker’s a Gift That Keeps On Giving [October 26, 2009]
• Marilyn Parker Gets Republican Competition [October 27, 2009]
• Brave Patriot Marilyn Parker Teabags Yarmuth [November 3, 2009]
• Brave Patriot Marilyn Parker Calls It Quits [January 5, 2010]
• Brave Patriot Marilyn Parker Is Alive & Well! [March 24, 2010]
• Spotted At The JCPS Tax Hike Meeting [August 24, 2010]
• Marilyn Parker A Fool? Nah, Try Idiot [September 1, 2010]
• Brave Patriot Marilyn Parker, Political Genius [September 2, 2010]
• Sometimes We Get Awesome Emails, Too [September 3, 2010]
• Political Genius Party Is Pure Genius [September 7, 2010]
• Brave Patriot Marilyn Parker Spreads The Crazy [January 11, 2011]
• Marilyn Parker: Lying Fool Or Just Embarrassing? [January 14, 2011]
• Brave Patriot Marilyn Parker Teabags The Facts [March 16, 2011]
• Brave Patriot Marilyn Parker Is Truly Batshiz [May 2, 2011]

We’ll leave it up to you, dear readers, to come up with the funniest of the crazy.

We can’t wait to get gay married to her by a Muslin just for fun! (Remember when she freaked out over that?) And can’t wait to hear more about why she thinks segregation is okay, the New World Order (seriously), why Muslims are responsible for Katrina, among other things.

From a TARC release:

TARC’s Board of Directors today approved across-the-board fare increases that will take effect July 1 to help offset a projected $4.6 million deficit.

The base fare for a one-way trip will increase from $1.50 to $1.75 and a monthly pass will cost $50 compared to the current $42 rate. One-way fare for TARC3 service for individuals with disabilities will increase from $2.50 to $3.00.

Proposals to reduce service remain under review.

Can you imagine what Louisville would be like if federal, state and local “leaders” had focused on infrastructure, transportation and the future even ten years ago?

Or somebody else: Bradford Young.

He’s a local/formerly local filmmaker who will make you proud:

THERE’S a scene early on in “Middle of Nowhere,” one of this year’s Sundance prize-winning films, when a young married couple bicker briefly in the visiting area of a prison: the room is pallid, even clammy, but the actors’ faces are vibrant and vulnerable, held full-frame. It’s a triumphant, even signature moment for the film’s cinematographer, Bradford Young.

-SNIP-

As a storyteller, Mr. Young is preternaturally drawn to marginalization; in nearly all the movies he shoots, including “Restless City,” now getting a national rollout, an outsider contends with an unkind or indifferent world. That fundamental battle — to be acknowledged, to be loved — animates his work as well as his life. Mr. Young’s grandparents were a formative influence; he left Louisville, Ky., at 15 to live with his father in Chicago (“I was a kid from a small town in the mid-South who knew there was better, you know?”), but not before internalizing his grandparents’ high standards.

-SNIP-

The product of four generations of Kentucky funeral directors (his family’s funeral home opened in 1907, and is one of the oldest continually operating black-owned funeral parlors in the country), Mr. Young eschewed the family business to study film at Howard University, where he worked with the director Daniel Williams. Mr. Young referred to Mr. Williams’s short “A Thousand Days a Year” (2000), about the desire for spirituality in the midst of chaos, as a masterpiece.

See? Good things can happen in Louisville.

Here’s a teaser of his flick:

It’s people like Young who should give the youth of Louisville a bit of hope.

The guy with the worst television commercials on earth – yes, worst than Darryl Isaacs – unfortunately had his store robbed. [FOX41]

Cultivating Fear: The Vulnerability of Immigrant Farmworkers in the US to Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment. You should go read the 95-page report. [Human Rights Watch]

According to a new census released on Monday, more Louisville families are homeless than before. [WAVE3]

Curt Morrison, in another attempt to promote Amy Shoemaker, continued a mistruth about Morgan McGarvey. McGarvey may be a child of privilege and may be the establishment pick. But he’s most certainly not the reason Amy Shoemaker was originally bumped from speaking at that event – we explained that weeks ago. And insinuating that the McGarvey Family is racist? Maybe the eye roll-worthy Denise Harper Angel would be getting kicked out of office this year if Curt put half as much effort into actually campaigning as he does pushing misinformation like this about McGarvey. [Curt Morrison]

You know why Louisville can’t have nice things? Because people like this allegedly order their four-year-olds to stab people. [WHAS11]

Louisville was ranked No. 48 out of 50 markets in a recent health and fitness survey. Which shouldn’t come as a shock to at you all. [Business First]

A man shot his wife and then killed himself. Yet another compassionate event in Possibility City. [WLKY]

Soil testing in the yards of fifty homes bordering the former Black Leaf Chemical site in Louisville’s Park Hill neighborhood has revealed levels of carcinogens in all of them. And nine of those homes had even higher levels of contamination. [WFPL]

Been wondering what’s up with the Kentucky Retirement Systems lately? Here’s a taste of the latest shenanigans. [Page One]

Seven Jeffersonville businesses in the path of the proposed I-65 bridge are expected to move. [C-J/AKN]

No, not because they paper is going to contain even more syndicated junk.

This:

We also are building two new digital sites that will be constantly updated with news, video, tweets and blogs. One will serve as a valuable resource to help you stay healthy and fit, including advice on aging well. The other will help you boost your economic intelligence and improve your standard of living.

Yep – they’re assuming a post on a blog = blogs. Blog is short for weblog. Meaning a single publication. Articles on blogs are typically referred to as posts, stories, articles, whatever. Not blogs. Because they’re not blogs themselves. They’re part of a blog.

Semantics, sure. But we all know there’s at least one bloated reporter who spends his entire life emailing us when we leave out a letter or spell a name incorrectly.

This whole push by Gannett smells… desperate, to say the least. It’s unfair to the people who work hard to continue trying to create a paper that’s worth reading. Definitely unfair to the handful of reporters who still do a solid job.