Six years ago, the FBI took on a challenge: To review what it called cold-case killings from the civil rights era. The investigation into 112 cases from the 1950s and 1960s is winding down, and civil rights activists are weighing the FBI's efforts.

The review comes with word this week of the death of a man who'd been named, by a newspaper investigation, as a possible suspect in one notorious case.

The Case

A presentation given to Louisville business leaders on Friday asked the question: What useful information can be determined through credit card swipes?

The apparent answer is: Plenty.

Data analysts from JP Morgan Chase gathered information through 2012 on how their credit card holders spent money in the 40202 zip code—downtown Louisville, essentially. The analysts said the numbers can be used as a sample of how people are spending money downtown, a longtime focus for development for city officials.

Marcheta Sparrow will retire at the end of this month as the Secretary of Tourism, Arts and Heritage. Sparrow was named secretary in 2007 and was one of the original members of Gov. Steve Beshear's cabinet.

In a statement, Beshear praised Sparrow for the recent growth in tourism, which was up 4.4 percent last year.

The secretary oversees many departments in addition to tourism, including parks, fish and wildlife and others related to the humanities.

Beshear says he will name a new secretary soon. 

Despite a less-than-ideal post position draw, Kentucky Derby winner Orb remains the solid favorite for tomorrow’s  Preakness Stakes, the second leg of thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown.

Orb is coming off a two-and-a-half length Derby victory and trainer Shug McGaughey says he “couldn’t  be more pleased” with the colt’s workouts over the past two weeks.

Here are the topics covered in this edition of Byline (full audio available below):

At the top - Hearings have begun on Capitol Hill into the IRS targeting of tea party and other conservative groups that were applying for tax exempt status. We discuss who has been affected by the scandal here in Kentucky with WFPL Political Editor Phillip M. Bailey and Kentucky Public Radio’s Kenny Colston.

Independent state house candidate John-Mark Hack released a 10-point platform aimed at making Kentucky's government more accountable and transparent.

Hack is running for the 56th House District seat covering Woodford County, including parts Frankfort and Lexington vacated by former state Rep. Carl Rollins, who resigned.

The three-way special election also features Republican Lyen Crews and Democrat James Kay, and is being closely watched due to the close party margins in the state House, where Democrats hold the majority by just a 5-seat margin.

The proposals unveiled by Hack's campaign on Friday include withholding the salaries of state lawmakers if they fail to pass a budget, creating a non-partisan commission to draw legislative district lines and eliminating annual sessions.

Hack says the proposals are about changing the political culture of "arrogance and self-interest" in Frankfort.

Check them out:

The tragic deaths of 29 coal miners in a massive explosion in 2010 have provided new evidence of a resurgence of the disease known as black lung.

There's a lot to love about biking to work: the exercise, the fresh air, the cost savings and the benefits for the environment.

But does it make you healthier?

That's a question that's not as easy to answer as you might think. But since today is Bike to Work Day, we'll give it a try.

A series of readings of authors affiliated with Spalding University’s Master of Fine Arts in Writing program begins Saturday. The university’s bi-annual Festival of Contemporary Writing is the state’s largest reading series and is an integral part of Spalding’s Master of Fine Arts in Writing Program residency, which the university hosts every spring and fall. This year’s festival runs through May 25.

(Disclosure: I am a 2004 graduate of Spalding's MFA program.)

The latest on the IRS'  targeting of Tea Party groups for extra reviews, the Louisville Metro Animal Services director leaves after less than two years on the job, Kentucky Derby winner Orb vies for a Preakness Stakes win and much, much more—today on Byline.

WFPL's Phillip M. Bailey and Kentucky Public Radio's Kenny Colston will give the IRS/Tea Party situation.