The internal strife of the mayor's office will soon hit the national media again, as it became clear Wednesday that a former mayoral aide has sold a story to Salon.com.

At a morning hearing today, Jackson County Judge Ann Mesle  stated that she had received a faxed letter from Joe Miller,  the mayor's former communications director and a longtime KC journalist, asking her to lift her trial publicity order so he could publish a story he has sold  to Salon.com about his time in the mayor's office.

Miller said the story addresses not only Gloria Squitiro's role in the office but the Bates discrimination case. The story was scheduled to run last Friday but had to be delayed because of the publicity order.

Now, he also faces a delay in receiving payment for the story. Miller noted he struck the deal for the story before any order was issued.

Mesle issued the trial publicity order directing parties in the case, city officials and others, including Miller, not to make statements that might prejudice a jury.

On Wednesday, attorneys discussed in a hearing before Mesle whether to support lifting the order.

Mesle quipped from the bench about the high media interest in the case: "The fact that one person has sold their story is indication of that."

Mesle's order keeps the trial publicity order in place until at least 5 p.m. Friday. That means Miller's story likely won't be published until the following week.