It appears the federal grand jury investigation of Ross Harris' contributions to Debra Lambert's campaign has stalled. But it's not over, according to my sources.
Harris is the eastern Kentucky businessman who funneled illegal contributions to the judicial campaign of Pulaski County judge Debra Lambert and others.
The question is whether Harris was trying to curry favor with Lambert's husband, Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice Joseph Lambert. Joe Lambert's former chief of staff, Jim Deckard took the fifth in front on the federal grand jury in Lexington, according to my sources. But that was more than two months ago. There's been very little movement on the investigation since then. Harris is undergoing treatment for some form of cancer so the feds may be hoping for a post-cancer conversion or death bed confession from Harris to jump start the probe. But again, I'm told, it's not over.

What happens if Chief Justice Lambert does get tied up in the Ross Harris mess? Who becomes Chief Justice if he steps aside?

Steve Henry is busy traveling the state of Kentucky with his wife, Heather French Henry, who's talking about her pet project....veteran's issues. Folks across Kentucky say the Henrys' pitches always include a note from Steve to "remember me in 2007", a clear reference to his desire to run for Governor. Henry tells me he's not telling folks he's running for Governor because then he would have to set up a formal campaign committee. He's running, if he can find a way to get the Medicaid fraud cloud away from his doorstep. Henry could get some help with that soon. I can't divulge how that might happen but stay tuned.

Jack Conway had lunch with Former Democratic Party Chairman and continuing powerbroker Terry McBrayer a few weeks ago. The two men apparently talked about the 2007 Governor's race. McBrayer is trying to convince Conway to run for Lt. Governor on a ticket with Ben Chandler. That would be an unbeatable ticket if Congressman Chandler backs off his plan to go back to Washington and that's it. The ticket would bring together the handsome young lawyer from Louisville (who's getting married this year), and the Woodford County Democrat who lost the 2003 Governor's race to Ernie Fletcher only because he's a Democrat.

Louisville businessman Charlie Owen is telling friends that he plans to run for Governor. Owen denies being that definitive.

Wouldn't it be funny if former Louisville Alderman Beverly "Bebe" Melton wins the Democratic primary and faces Dana Seum Stephenson for the House seat currently held by retiring Rep. Denver Butler? What's so funny? Seum-Stephenson might consider challenging the residency of Melton who has "resided" in and out of her district over the past few years. She and husband George Melton have spent time living in Shelby County while both of them recuperated from various health problems. Seum-Stephenson challenging the residency of anyone would be fun political theatre. For those of you who don't follow Kentucky politics, Seum-Stephenson won a State Senate seat, then lost it in court because she hadn't lived in Kentucky for the required six years before the election. Melton is facing Tim Firkins in the Dem. primary