BluegrassReport.org will cease to exist on Monday, according to founder and editor Mark Nickolas. Nickolas says he's been unable to strike a deal with anyone to buy the rights to his website so he's essentially shutting it down. The former democratic party consultant and 2003 campaign manager for Ben Chandler has moved to Montana and will start a new, regional democratic blog for that area. It's RockyMountainReport.com. and will cover politics in eight western states, according to Nickolas.
Nickolas says folks who click on BluegrassReport.org will be redirected to his new site.
Gov. Ernie Fletcher is probably glad to see the web site shut down. Nickolas was harshly criitical of the Fletcher administration, even suing Fletcher for blocking state computers from accessing his website and other political sites.
Nickolas was also chased by investigators from the Kentucky Revenue Department who claimed he owed back taxes. Nickolas admitted he wasn't up to date on his state taxes and paid them off. A Franklin County Grand Jury refused to indict him.