Q: why is a progress bar under my launchpad icon that i cannot get rid of

Are you downloading an App? An update from the Mac App Store?

If you are not downloading an app, open the the Launch Pad then press the Option key then click the X next to the app icon with the progress bar.

Mac Basics: Launchpad is the fast way to find and open your apps

Sounds like a graphics glitch that I've seen every now and again. Have you restarted your computer since you first saw it?

I had the same thing today.  When I open launchpad and clicked option I could see one had been paused.  Once I clicked on the application that showed pause, it needed my password in iTunes to finish loading and update.