Quick Hits

Snuff 'em out?: Senate President David Williams dropped a bombshell a few weeks ago when he came out in support of a statewide smoking ban similar to those in Louisville and Lexington. And while he hasn't yet filed a bill, Williams, R-Burkesville, said he is still working on it and may propose it this session. But in the meantime, Williams said he is looking into the status of smoking in the Capitol Annex, where legislators have their offices and meeting rooms. (C-J)

School makeup waiver bill gets mixed reaction: A bill that would allow school districts shuttered by last week's ice storm to waive 10 makeup days got mixed reaction from educators Friday. (H-L)

Ky. budget deal would raise tobacco, alcohol taxes: Higher taxes on tobacco and alcohol are part of a plan to balance the state budget that legislative leaders tentatively agreed to yesterday. (C-J)

Time to end Black History Month?: New York is among several states that have passed laws mandating or encouraging teachers to broaden their history classes. New Jersey was the first to do so, in 2002, after Assemblyman Bill Payne conceived and wrote the Amistad Commission bill, named after the Africans who took over their slave ship, ended up in Connecticut and won freedom in court. (Education Week)

Lawrence Summers sees fight on $40B for state, local govt: One of President Barack Obama's top economic advisers forecast yesterday a difficult struggle with Congress over Senate cuts of $40 billion for state and local governments from the administration's massive spending and tax cut package to stimulate the failing economy. (Boston Herald)

What to do when your kid provokes you into an inhuman rage. It's as if they had commissioned a study of the most effective ways to set you off and then implemented the findings with great care and foresight. (Slate)