Butchertown stench: The Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control Board today imposed a $47,800 fine on Swift Co., the Story Avenue pork plant that has long been the source of gag-inducing odors. In response, the company now says it will spend $250,000 on new equipment to reduce the noxious fumes.

Big three bailout: A U of L economist says the proposed $25 billion bailout of the American auto industry is not the solution. Instead, he believes it’s time for the companies to renegotiate their union contract, suggesting wages are too high. Needless to say, local auto workers strongly disagree.

Alaska going blue?: The votes have finally been tallied and the winner is … not Ted Stevens. The longest-serving Republican in Senate history lost his seat to Democratic Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich. Given Stevens recently was convicted on seven felony counts of failing to disclose more than $250,000 in gifts, the race really shouldn’t have been this close.

Cabinetry: Rumors still are flying about whether president-elect Barack Obama will tap former foe Sen. Hillary Clinton for secretary of state. In other cabinet news, Obama did ask former Democratic Senate Leader Tom Daschle (of Ricin recipient fame) to become secretary of Health and Human Services.

Al-Crazy: In al-Qaida’s latest video, the terrorist group’s second-in-command insults Barack Obama, referring to him in a demeaning way that suggests he simply does the bidding of whites, and that he does not represent change. Assholes.