Concerns about private prison operations got a boost last month when two Pennsylvania judges were indicted on charges of taking kickbacks for steering juveniles to a privately operated detention centers. According to a statement by the US Attorney, the judges closed a state-run facility in order to force the county to use the private company, and sentenced kids to serve time in detention even when prosecutors recommended against it, knowing that they benefited financially from every juvenile admitted.

The indictment, which spells out the allegations in some detail, is worthwhile reading. It is a reminder that sometimes we just aren’t paranoid enough when examining and reporting on public officials. Such forms of corruption don’t typically seem possible. But, obviously, they are.

HB853 HD1 is moving forward in the House. The bill would require members of the legislature to file annual financial disclosures before the end of January. Currently, disclosures don’t have to be filed and made public until after the legislative session is over. The bill was amended by the Legislative Management committee and sent to Judiciary, where it is pending. The bill was part of the ethics package.

Meanwhile, it looks like all the bills submitted as part of the Office of Elections package are dead. Is that a message to the current chief elections officer?

None of the bills in the Good Government package are moving yet, but many have only single committee referrals and so there’s still time. All are Senate measures.

You can browse through the various interest group packages of bills to see how each is faring by going to the “Bill Status and Documents” page on the capitol web site, then scrolling down a bit until you see the “2009 Regular Session Bill Packages”.

Did you see that the Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild is planning a meeting next week to discuss a possible employee takeover of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer?

And the Seattle newspapers are asking legislators for a tax break to help them stay afloat.

Blethen said a state tax break wouldn’t fix all that ails newspapers, but it would help them preserve jobs.

The loss of advertising revenue, mixed with the current economic climate, has put weekly and daily newspapers in the state under “tremendous financial pressure,” he said.

“Some of us, like The Seattle Times, are literally holding on by our fingertips today,” Blethen said.

From the Nieman Journalism Lab, a challenge to newspaper unions to step up and propose future directions, which has drawn some long comments and responses.

Despite a new Obama administration, there’s obviously trouble ahead with his agreement to escalate military action in Afghanistan.

A new United Nations report disputes U.S. estimates of civilian casualties.

Meanwhile, Sen. Fritz Hollings asks why we’re in Afghanistan?

I keep asking the question, “Why are we in Afghanistan?” No one has a good answer. A few without television respond, “To get Osama.” But everyone agrees that he is somewhere in Pakistan. Then the answer is: “As President George W. Bush said, ‘to spread democracy.'” The Brits tried to spread democracy for years. The Russians tried to spread communism for years. But democracy must come from within. I helped liberate Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, sixty-eight years ago and they have yet to opt for democracy. We liberated Kuwait eighteen years ago and they have yet to opt for democracy. In the Muslim world more important than freedom and democracy is tribe and religion. We have made the good college try for over seven years and now should realize that we are not going to teach warlords to like democracy and grow cotton instead of poppies.

There’s lots of critical thought and commentary out there. The news media has to do a better job than it has in the past to expose the American people to it.

Meanwhile, there’s watching the sun rise while walking on the beach in the morning. I feel sorry for the people driving past on the way to work who aren’t able to stop and enjoy the moment.

And so it goes on this Thursday morning. Tomorrow–Friday Felines. I promise.