"I failed my child': A mother's mission to help other parents recognize the signs Shay McAlister September 10, 2025 – 6 min read Share this post Shay Originals New episode: the #1 killer of women (that nobody's talking about) Heart disease is the number 1 killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year. It’s a third of our mothers, sisters, friends, neighbors, coworkers- a third of the women we can’t bear to live without. So why don't we talk about this more? " By Shay McAlister • 2 min read Shay Originals In rural Kentucky, a 40 year old lifeline for mothers is about to disappear The doctor who founded Fort Logan's birthing spa says the closure breaks a promise. The mothers counting on it say it could put lives at risk. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion and By Shay McAlister • 11 min read Shay Originals Ethan’s Law was supposed to protect Kentucky’s animals. So why isn’t it being used? One year after Kentucky made the intentional torture of a dog or cat a felony, the man who fought for the law says the real battle is just beginning. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion By Shay McAlister • 7 min read Covering Kentucky The danger Kentucky parents don't see coming this spring break A Louisville-area mother's mission to save lives after losing her son in 30 silent seconds "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 • 8 min read Bardstown Cases Circumstantial Episode 5: The white car Hair similar to Crystal's. A cadaver dog hit. And the moment I learned the Houck family was talking about me on their jail calls, officials feared for my safety. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism By Shay McAlister • 5 min read Covering Kentucky She lost her son at a rural railroad crossing; now she's taking on the industry 34 states require railroads to clear vegetation, but Kentucky isn't one of them. Now, Tanya Serna wants to change that. "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 By Shay McAlister • 5 min read Bardstown Cases Circumstantial Episode 4: The family conspiracy Hidden audio devices. Coordinated phone calls. A brother who vanished for 24 hours. This wasn't one person committing murder. This was a family conspiracy. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion and clarity. Circumstantial: By Shay McAlister • 6 min read Bardstown Cases Circumstantial Episode 3: The alibi destroyed Brooks Houck's eight-page alibi fell apart witness by witness. Then the FBI revealed the technology that tracked Brooks' every move- even with location services turned off. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion By Shay McAlister • 6 min read Covering Kentucky Justice 30 years in the making: man charged in Morgan Violi's kidnapping and murder After decades of staying silent, Morgan's mother and two sisters reached out to me to open up about the day Morgan was taken, the decades of grief that followed, and their determination to find justice. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, By Shay McAlister • 17 min read
Shay Originals New episode: the #1 killer of women (that nobody's talking about) Heart disease is the number 1 killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year. It’s a third of our mothers, sisters, friends, neighbors, coworkers- a third of the women we can’t bear to live without. So why don't we talk about this more? " By Shay McAlister • 2 min read
Shay Originals In rural Kentucky, a 40 year old lifeline for mothers is about to disappear The doctor who founded Fort Logan's birthing spa says the closure breaks a promise. The mothers counting on it say it could put lives at risk. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion and By Shay McAlister • 11 min read
Shay Originals Ethan’s Law was supposed to protect Kentucky’s animals. So why isn’t it being used? One year after Kentucky made the intentional torture of a dog or cat a felony, the man who fought for the law says the real battle is just beginning. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion By Shay McAlister • 7 min read
Covering Kentucky The danger Kentucky parents don't see coming this spring break A Louisville-area mother's mission to save lives after losing her son in 30 silent seconds "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 • 8 min read
Bardstown Cases Circumstantial Episode 5: The white car Hair similar to Crystal's. A cadaver dog hit. And the moment I learned the Houck family was talking about me on their jail calls, officials feared for my safety. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism By Shay McAlister • 5 min read
Covering Kentucky She lost her son at a rural railroad crossing; now she's taking on the industry 34 states require railroads to clear vegetation, but Kentucky isn't one of them. Now, Tanya Serna wants to change that. "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 By Shay McAlister • 5 min read
Bardstown Cases Circumstantial Episode 4: The family conspiracy Hidden audio devices. Coordinated phone calls. A brother who vanished for 24 hours. This wasn't one person committing murder. This was a family conspiracy. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion and clarity. Circumstantial: By Shay McAlister • 6 min read
Bardstown Cases Circumstantial Episode 3: The alibi destroyed Brooks Houck's eight-page alibi fell apart witness by witness. Then the FBI revealed the technology that tracked Brooks' every move- even with location services turned off. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion By Shay McAlister • 6 min read
Covering Kentucky Justice 30 years in the making: man charged in Morgan Violi's kidnapping and murder After decades of staying silent, Morgan's mother and two sisters reached out to me to open up about the day Morgan was taken, the decades of grief that followed, and their determination to find justice. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, By Shay McAlister • 17 min read