Politics

For over 30 years, Betty Winston Bayé wrote an op-ed column in the Louisville Courier-Journal until a round of layoffs last year ended her stint.

"I think what really hurt was I never really got a chance to say goodbye to my readers," she says.

But Bayé is still writing, and putting her views on the table—whether people agree or disagree—in radio and television.

Besides becoming a motivational speaker, she was recently inducted into the National Association of Black Journalist’s Hall of Fame and has plenty to share about African-Americans in media.

Bayé stopped by to talk about leaving C-J, the state of journalism and why it's important to teach the Civil Rights era as living American history.

Former Kentucky Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo is considering a run for governor in 2015.

Mongiardo is among several Democrats—including current Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson, Attorney Jack Conway and former State Auditor Crit Luallen—who are rumored to be running in three years.

The Hazard, Ky. physician exited public life two years after two failed bids for the U.S. Senate and being dropped by Governor Steve Beshear as his running mate for re-election.

But as the Lexington Herald-Leader's Jack Brammer reports, Mongiardo is searching for a entry point back into Frankfort politics.

From The Herald-Leader:

Mongiardo said Friday he is enjoying his life as an ear, nose and throat surgeon in Hazard with his wife and two children. "Stepping out of politics for a while has given me the perspective of what many people not in politics see," he said. "People are frustrated with the lack of progress and compromise in government."

Is now the time for the General Assembly to address expanded gambling? (Again.) With just more than a month before the 2013  session begins, observers of the Kentucky legislature are wondering.

A few new factors are at play: First is the governor’s continued interest in the topic. Second expanded gambling's chief opponent, David Williams, is gone.

Louisville Metro Councilman Dan Johnson is joining a panel discussion in downtown Friday on bringing an NBA team to the city.

The roundtable will feature Jefferson County Judge Executive Bryan Matthews and attorney J. Bruce Miller, who has been an advocate for bringing professional basketball to the city.

Mayor Greg Fischer has also been a vocal proponent of bringing the NBA to Louisville, but he's faced criticism from University of Louisville officials. Supporters are optimistic, but a study by a pair of media executives outlined how the cost of the NBA outweighs the benefits.

From WHAS-11:

A new study from Cambridge Economic Research showed a relatively unfavorable impact that an NBA team could have on Louisville.
 
It concluded that Louisville could not sustain a pro franchise.