Bardstown Cases Circumstantial Episode 8: "This man is guilty of murder" The judge laid out the entire case against Brooks Houck. The defense asked the jury to send him home to his son. And behind the scenes, attorneys debated whether to dismiss a juror who slept through the evidence. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an By Shay McAlister • 6 min read
Covering Kentucky Kentucky passed a lot of laws this session. Here's what actually matters. Kentucky lawmakers are currently on a break while Governor Andy Beshear signs or vetoes bills sent to his desk. "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 By Shay McAlister • 8 min read
Photo by Artem Beliaikin / Unsplash Covering Kentucky You're not overreacting- Louisville has some of the worst allergies in the country Allergies in Kentuckiana are no joke. Here's what a Louisville doctor says you should actually do to help 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 By Shay McAlister • 2 min read
Brooks Houck's attorneys- Steve Schroering and Brian Butler Bardstown Cases Circumstantial Episode 7: The defense strikes back A cell phone expert says Steve and Joey weren't on the Bluegrass Parkway. A psychologist identifies 300+ coercive police tactics, calling witness testimony 'useless' and Brooks' sister takes the stand in her family's defense. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is By Shay McAlister • 7 min read
Photo by Annie Spratt / Unsplash Shay Originals Vanished: Kentucky's hidden crisis of missing children in state custody When the state promises to protect vulnerable kids but can't keep track of where they are, families are left searching- and the system offers few answers. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion By Shay McAlister • 10 min read
Bardstown Cases Circumstantial Episode 6: "Shave her head, pull her teeth and the hogs would do the rest" The most horrific testimony of the trial. The witnesses who corroborated it. And the defense that nearly tore it all apart. "I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion and clarity. Circumstantial: The Crystal Rogers Trials By Shay McAlister • 6 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 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 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? 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. 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 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