"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 From foster mom to fighting for change: a Louisville mom's battle to reform Kentucky's child protection system Armed with child fatality records, a lawsuit, and a proposed bill Jen Mortenson is demanding accountability from Kentucky's child protection system. "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? By Shay McAlister • 11 min read Shay Originals New episode: why your New Year's resolutions are failing (and what to do instead) Something like 80% of New Year's resolutions fail by February. Why? Because we're making promises to impress other people instead of changes that actually serve us. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with By Shay McAlister • 2 min read Mulac as Special Agent Patrick Mullaney; CREDIT: DMW Covering Kentucky He chose family over Hollywood. Then Hollywood came to Louisville. How Kentucky's film tax incentive brought a major motion picture- and local dreams- to life. "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 Bardstown Cases From Bardstown to Bowling Green: my new podcast covering the Crystal Rogers trials New podcast Circumstantial: The Crystal Rogers Trials- launches exclusively for Shay Informed subscribers February 17th. "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 newsletter or By Shay McAlister • 6 min read National News Hitting Home Immigration policy creates confusion for Kentucky families in the midst of international adoption Adoption is timely, stressful and almost always requires a stroke of luck. But now families are facing a new hurdle- mixed messages from the White House about who is allowed in the country. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to By Shay McAlister • 6 min read Credit: Rand Paul Facebook National News Hitting Home Kentucky Senator demands independent investigation into fatal federal shooting in Minneapolis Sen. Rand Paul said during a Wednesday interview that nobody who has watched the videos believes the protester was assaulting police when the shooting happened. "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 CREDIT: Louisville International Airport Covering Kentucky Louisville International Airport announces three new non-stop flights Breeze Airways is expanding service to include three new cities, making non-stop flights to 41 destinations. "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 newsletter By Shay McAlister • 2 min read Covering Kentucky Animal abusers in Kentucky face almost no consequences. Advocates head to Frankfort to demand better. Kentucky ranks 47th for animal protection laws, allowing abuse and neglect to fester across the commonwealth. "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 newsletter By Shay McAlister • 5 min read Photo by Krista Bennett / Unsplash Covering Kentucky Dangerous cold grips Kentucky, as thousands remain without power The snow and ice are done moving through our area, but the bitter air left behind can pose even bigger threats. "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 By Shay McAlister • 3 min read
Shay Originals From foster mom to fighting for change: a Louisville mom's battle to reform Kentucky's child protection system Armed with child fatality records, a lawsuit, and a proposed bill Jen Mortenson is demanding accountability from Kentucky's child protection system. "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? By Shay McAlister • 11 min read
Shay Originals New episode: why your New Year's resolutions are failing (and what to do instead) Something like 80% of New Year's resolutions fail by February. Why? Because we're making promises to impress other people instead of changes that actually serve us. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with By Shay McAlister • 2 min read
Mulac as Special Agent Patrick Mullaney; CREDIT: DMW Covering Kentucky He chose family over Hollywood. Then Hollywood came to Louisville. How Kentucky's film tax incentive brought a major motion picture- and local dreams- to life. "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
Bardstown Cases From Bardstown to Bowling Green: my new podcast covering the Crystal Rogers trials New podcast Circumstantial: The Crystal Rogers Trials- launches exclusively for Shay Informed subscribers February 17th. "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 newsletter or By Shay McAlister • 6 min read
National News Hitting Home Immigration policy creates confusion for Kentucky families in the midst of international adoption Adoption is timely, stressful and almost always requires a stroke of luck. But now families are facing a new hurdle- mixed messages from the White House about who is allowed in the country. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to By Shay McAlister • 6 min read
Credit: Rand Paul Facebook National News Hitting Home Kentucky Senator demands independent investigation into fatal federal shooting in Minneapolis Sen. Rand Paul said during a Wednesday interview that nobody who has watched the videos believes the protester was assaulting police when the shooting happened. "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
CREDIT: Louisville International Airport Covering Kentucky Louisville International Airport announces three new non-stop flights Breeze Airways is expanding service to include three new cities, making non-stop flights to 41 destinations. "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 newsletter By Shay McAlister • 2 min read
Covering Kentucky Animal abusers in Kentucky face almost no consequences. Advocates head to Frankfort to demand better. Kentucky ranks 47th for animal protection laws, allowing abuse and neglect to fester across the commonwealth. "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 newsletter By Shay McAlister • 5 min read
Photo by Krista Bennett / Unsplash Covering Kentucky Dangerous cold grips Kentucky, as thousands remain without power The snow and ice are done moving through our area, but the bitter air left behind can pose even bigger threats. "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 By Shay McAlister • 3 min read