"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 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 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 National News Hitting Home A Kentucky girl at heart: what to know about Nancy Guthrie's ties to the commonwealth Nancy grew up in Fort Wright, a small city in Kenton County just south of Cincinnati. "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 • 3 min read Covering Kentucky 'Crystal Rogers Act' clears committee, heads to house floor A bill inspired by failures in the Crystal Rogers investigation is one step closer to becoming law. "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 • 3 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 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
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
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
National News Hitting Home A Kentucky girl at heart: what to know about Nancy Guthrie's ties to the commonwealth Nancy grew up in Fort Wright, a small city in Kenton County just south of Cincinnati. "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 • 3 min read
Covering Kentucky 'Crystal Rogers Act' clears committee, heads to house floor A bill inspired by failures in the Crystal Rogers investigation is one step closer to becoming law. "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 • 3 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
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
