Festivals, foliage and all things fall in Kentuckiana Shay McAlister September 05, 2025 – 4 min read Share this post Photo by Annie Nyle / Unsplash Photo by Element5 Digital / Unsplash Covering Kentucky JCPS opens its doors Thursday- with a smaller budget and a long road back What families need to know for opening day, and what's still unresolved beneath it. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion and clarity. Are you new here? Sign up for the free weekly By Shay McAlister • 4 min read Covering Kentucky "We felt like we were in the dark": Prosecutor explains the process behind the Ronald Exantus release Commonwealth's Attorney Kelli Kearney explains the 202A process, the limits of confidentiality law, and why a 20-year sentence rarely means 20 years. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion and clarity. This By Shay McAlister • 9 min read Covering Kentucky "She's declining": Family fights for medical care as Louisville woman sits in ICE custody A week after her arrest at Louisville's airport, Sarafinah Bukirwa's family says her condition is worsening- and they're still waiting on answers. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion By Shay McAlister • 5 min read Bardstown Cases Nick Houck's trial Is leaving Bardstown- now comes the hard part A judge approved a change of venue Thursday, gave attorneys three weeks to agree on a location, and made clear he's not waiting around. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion and clarity. By Shay McAlister • 8 min read National News Hitting Home Kentucky's organ donation network faces federal decertification over safety failures Agency cites years of unresolved safety failures; Network for Hope says it will appeal and warns thousands of transplant patients could be affected. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion and clarity. Are you new By Shay McAlister • 3 min read Bardstown Cases Nick Houck expected back in court Thursday: What to expect A possible motion to change venue, an extraordinary evidence list, and the next chapter in the perjury case against Brooks Houck's brother. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion and clarity. Are you By Shay McAlister • 4 min read Bardstown Cases Attorney General pushes back on Steve Lawson's bid to overturn Crystal Rogers case conviction The Commonwealth's response leans on Lawson's own recorded admissions to argue he- not prosecutors- broke the immunity deal. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion and clarity. This story is a By Shay McAlister • 4 min read Photo by Element5 Digital / Unsplash Covering Kentucky JCPS opens its doors Thursday- with a smaller budget and a long road back What families need to know for opening day, and what's still unresolved beneath it. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion and clarity. Are you new here? Sign up for the free weekly By Shay McAlister • 4 min read Shay Originals What Kentucky is getting right: Inside the state's fight against childhood cancer I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion and clarity. I believe some stories are too important to stay behind a paywall. That's why I'm making this piece free to read for everyone. By Shay McAlister • 11 min read
Photo by Element5 Digital / Unsplash Covering Kentucky JCPS opens its doors Thursday- with a smaller budget and a long road back What families need to know for opening day, and what's still unresolved beneath it. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion and clarity. Are you new here? Sign up for the free weekly By Shay McAlister • 4 min read
Covering Kentucky "We felt like we were in the dark": Prosecutor explains the process behind the Ronald Exantus release Commonwealth's Attorney Kelli Kearney explains the 202A process, the limits of confidentiality law, and why a 20-year sentence rarely means 20 years. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion and clarity. This By Shay McAlister • 9 min read
Covering Kentucky "She's declining": Family fights for medical care as Louisville woman sits in ICE custody A week after her arrest at Louisville's airport, Sarafinah Bukirwa's family says her condition is worsening- and they're still waiting on answers. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion By Shay McAlister • 5 min read
Bardstown Cases Nick Houck's trial Is leaving Bardstown- now comes the hard part A judge approved a change of venue Thursday, gave attorneys three weeks to agree on a location, and made clear he's not waiting around. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion and clarity. By Shay McAlister • 8 min read
National News Hitting Home Kentucky's organ donation network faces federal decertification over safety failures Agency cites years of unresolved safety failures; Network for Hope says it will appeal and warns thousands of transplant patients could be affected. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion and clarity. Are you new By Shay McAlister • 3 min read
Bardstown Cases Nick Houck expected back in court Thursday: What to expect A possible motion to change venue, an extraordinary evidence list, and the next chapter in the perjury case against Brooks Houck's brother. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion and clarity. Are you By Shay McAlister • 4 min read
Bardstown Cases Attorney General pushes back on Steve Lawson's bid to overturn Crystal Rogers case conviction The Commonwealth's response leans on Lawson's own recorded admissions to argue he- not prosecutors- broke the immunity deal. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion and clarity. This story is a By Shay McAlister • 4 min read
Photo by Element5 Digital / Unsplash Covering Kentucky JCPS opens its doors Thursday- with a smaller budget and a long road back What families need to know for opening day, and what's still unresolved beneath it. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion and clarity. Are you new here? Sign up for the free weekly By Shay McAlister • 4 min read
Shay Originals What Kentucky is getting right: Inside the state's fight against childhood cancer I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion and clarity. I believe some stories are too important to stay behind a paywall. That's why I'm making this piece free to read for everyone. By Shay McAlister • 11 min read
