Joseph Lawson appears well enough to attend sentencing next week Shay McAlister September 09, 2025 – 3 min read Share this post Bardstown Cases Where was Nick Houck the day Crystal Rogers disappeared? The question at the center of his perjury case It comes down to one question about the day Crystal Rogers disappeared, asked six times before a grand jury. For months, one question has hung over Nick Houck's perjury case: what, exactly, is he accused of lying about? This afternoon in Nelson Circuit Court, we got the answer. By Shay McAlister • 9 min read Bardstown Cases Will Steve Lawson’s lawyers get to argue his appeal in court? The judges now have an answer. When Steve Lawson’s appeal was assigned to a panel of judges last month, there was an open question: would the lawyers get to argue the case out loud? We now have the answer, and it tells us something about how the judges are By Shay McAlister • 5 min read Bardstown Cases One of three Crystal Rogers convictions is now in front of appeals judges The Crystal Rogers appeals are moving at different speeds. Steve Lawson's just got a panel. 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 • 5 min read National News Hitting Home Kentucky’s 6th District: The race that could set the tone for election night With Andy Barr leaving the seat and polls closing early, the Alvarado-Dembo race could be one of the first signals of a national wave. 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 • 2 min read Covering Kentucky 'I hate you'; After 30 years, Morgan Violi's family faces her killer Robert Froberg pleaded guilty to kidnapping and murdering 7-year-old Morgan Violi in federal court Monday. He will spend the rest of his life in prison. BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Before they walked into federal court, Morgan Violi's family held on to each other and prayed outside the By Shay McAlister • 9 min read Photo by Luke Michael / Unsplash Covering Kentucky Early voting is surging in Kentucky, up more than 30% since the last midterm Kentucky voters are showing up to cast their ballots, resulting in a nearly 30% increase since 2023. 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 Covering Kentucky Before you vote: Louisville’s mayoral candidates answer the same five questions I asked both candidates for Louisville mayor the same five questions. Questions I don't think anyone else has asked. Here's what they said. I'm Independent Journalist Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed. I believe some stories are too important to stay behind a By Shay McAlister • 8 min read Before you vote: meet the candidates in Louisville's small-city mayor races Louisville has 84 mayors, and most voters only hear about one race. I asked every candidate in a contested small-city race for 10 minutes on Zoom. This is who said yes. I'm Independent Journalist Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed. I believe some stories are too By Shay McAlister • 18 min read Shay Originals Recap: Shay Informed Live Town Hall Thank you to everyone who joined us live for last night's town hall! We had great questions and conversation. I'm especially thrilled my 8-month-old, who sleeps in the room next to my office, did not make a peep! She is our little redhead and By Shay McAlister • 7 min read
Bardstown Cases Where was Nick Houck the day Crystal Rogers disappeared? The question at the center of his perjury case It comes down to one question about the day Crystal Rogers disappeared, asked six times before a grand jury. For months, one question has hung over Nick Houck's perjury case: what, exactly, is he accused of lying about? This afternoon in Nelson Circuit Court, we got the answer. By Shay McAlister • 9 min read
Bardstown Cases Will Steve Lawson’s lawyers get to argue his appeal in court? The judges now have an answer. When Steve Lawson’s appeal was assigned to a panel of judges last month, there was an open question: would the lawyers get to argue the case out loud? We now have the answer, and it tells us something about how the judges are By Shay McAlister • 5 min read
Bardstown Cases One of three Crystal Rogers convictions is now in front of appeals judges The Crystal Rogers appeals are moving at different speeds. Steve Lawson's just got a panel. 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 • 5 min read
National News Hitting Home Kentucky’s 6th District: The race that could set the tone for election night With Andy Barr leaving the seat and polls closing early, the Alvarado-Dembo race could be one of the first signals of a national wave. 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 • 2 min read
Covering Kentucky 'I hate you'; After 30 years, Morgan Violi's family faces her killer Robert Froberg pleaded guilty to kidnapping and murdering 7-year-old Morgan Violi in federal court Monday. He will spend the rest of his life in prison. BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Before they walked into federal court, Morgan Violi's family held on to each other and prayed outside the By Shay McAlister • 9 min read
Photo by Luke Michael / Unsplash Covering Kentucky Early voting is surging in Kentucky, up more than 30% since the last midterm Kentucky voters are showing up to cast their ballots, resulting in a nearly 30% increase since 2023. 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
Covering Kentucky Before you vote: Louisville’s mayoral candidates answer the same five questions I asked both candidates for Louisville mayor the same five questions. Questions I don't think anyone else has asked. Here's what they said. I'm Independent Journalist Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed. I believe some stories are too important to stay behind a By Shay McAlister • 8 min read
Before you vote: meet the candidates in Louisville's small-city mayor races Louisville has 84 mayors, and most voters only hear about one race. I asked every candidate in a contested small-city race for 10 minutes on Zoom. This is who said yes. I'm Independent Journalist Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed. I believe some stories are too By Shay McAlister • 18 min read
Shay Originals Recap: Shay Informed Live Town Hall Thank you to everyone who joined us live for last night's town hall! We had great questions and conversation. I'm especially thrilled my 8-month-old, who sleeps in the room next to my office, did not make a peep! She is our little redhead and By Shay McAlister • 7 min read
