Have you seen the funny segment on Jay Leno where he asks random clueless people questions about current events? The Herald Leader did something similar Sunday with a story in which they made up questions, supposedly from the "man on the street" and then provided answers.
The topic was the government takeover of Kentucky American Water Company. Great way to start a rumor. Here's the question:
Q: Yeah, I heard that a Middle Eastern country was going to buy it. Is that right?
What a ridiculous stunt. I would expect as much from the editorial page, but this was from a reporter.