Morgan Watkins
@morganwatkins.lpm.org
Investigative reporter covering health and the environment for @lpm.org & the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting (KyCIR). Formerly w/ Courier Journal, Gainesville Sun.
Think an issue needs coverage? Email me: mwatkins@lpm.org
Think an issue needs coverage? Email me: mwatkins@lpm.org
Here's a useful rundown of a JCPS proposal to cut $142 million from the public school district's budget. @storiesbyjess.bsky.social got an early scoop on this today:
JCPS to propose cutting hundreds of positions, funding for high-needs schools
Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Brian Yearwood eyes $142 million in budget cuts.
www.lpm.org
January 14, 2026 at 10:44 PM
Here's a useful rundown of a JCPS proposal to cut $142 million from the public school district's budget. @storiesbyjess.bsky.social got an early scoop on this today:
Reposted by Morgan Watkins
If you’ve been following the reporting of @morganwatkins.lpm.org on LMPD sharing Flock camera information on immigration with the feds, this new #kyga26 bill is relevant:
January 14, 2026 at 9:26 PM
If you’ve been following the reporting of @morganwatkins.lpm.org on LMPD sharing Flock camera information on immigration with the feds, this new #kyga26 bill is relevant:
Here's what Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson, whose home was searched and property seized by the FBI today, wrote about the emotional toll of the work she did last year, fielding 100s upon 100s of tips from federal workers hurt by the Trump administration's budget cuts and layoffs.
January 14, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Here's what Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson, whose home was searched and property seized by the FBI today, wrote about the emotional toll of the work she did last year, fielding 100s upon 100s of tips from federal workers hurt by the Trump administration's budget cuts and layoffs.
UofL and UK, Kentucky's 2 biggest universities, use Flock license plate readers to monitor drivers on campus. At KyCIR, we asked for camera location records. The schools declined, then reversed course once we appealed to the KY attorney general. We mapped the locations: www.lpm.org/investigate/...
U of L, UK use Flock license plate readers to monitor drivers. Here’s where their cameras are.
The cameras capture details of vehicles around each campus.
www.lpm.org
January 13, 2026 at 8:53 PM
UofL and UK, Kentucky's 2 biggest universities, use Flock license plate readers to monitor drivers on campus. At KyCIR, we asked for camera location records. The schools declined, then reversed course once we appealed to the KY attorney general. We mapped the locations: www.lpm.org/investigate/...
Reposted by Morgan Watkins
A Kentucky sheriff who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor-level harassment charge last year will not seek re-election.
He was among the sheriffs featured in a @thecourierjournal.bsky.social investigation on KY sheriffs with criminal charges or convictions.
www.courier-journal.com/story/news/i...
He was among the sheriffs featured in a @thecourierjournal.bsky.social investigation on KY sheriffs with criminal charges or convictions.
www.courier-journal.com/story/news/i...
After pleading guilty to harassment charge, KY sheriff to leave office
Todd County Sheriff Tracy White, who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor harassment charge last year, did not file to run for re-election.
www.courier-journal.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:31 PM
A Kentucky sheriff who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor-level harassment charge last year will not seek re-election.
He was among the sheriffs featured in a @thecourierjournal.bsky.social investigation on KY sheriffs with criminal charges or convictions.
www.courier-journal.com/story/news/i...
He was among the sheriffs featured in a @thecourierjournal.bsky.social investigation on KY sheriffs with criminal charges or convictions.
www.courier-journal.com/story/news/i...
Reposted by Morgan Watkins
Despite Ford's plans to shutter its electric vehicle battery plant in Kentucky next month, workers there have officially won their contested union election, as the NLRB ruled in their favor. Workers hope Ford gives preference and rights to those who are hired back by the retooled plant in 2027.
Labor board certifies union victory for BlueOval SK employees
Despite BlueOval SK’s plans to shutter its electric vehicle battery factory in Glendale next month, workers there have officially won their union election. The National Labor Relations Board ruled Mon...
www.wkyufm.org
January 13, 2026 at 1:55 PM
Despite Ford's plans to shutter its electric vehicle battery plant in Kentucky next month, workers there have officially won their contested union election, as the NLRB ruled in their favor. Workers hope Ford gives preference and rights to those who are hired back by the retooled plant in 2027.
Reposted by Morgan Watkins
New Year’s Eve didn’t just mark the end of 2025. It was the end of an era, as Baxter Avenue Theatres — one of Louisville’s last independent cinemas — screened its final films.
www.lpm.org/news/2026-01...
www.lpm.org/news/2026-01...
A curtain call for Louisville’s independent Baxter Avenue Theatres
New Year’s Eve didn’t just mark the end of 2025. It was the end of an era, as Baxter Avenue Theatres — one of Louisville’s last independent cinemas — screened its final films.
www.lpm.org
January 5, 2026 at 2:30 PM
New Year’s Eve didn’t just mark the end of 2025. It was the end of an era, as Baxter Avenue Theatres — one of Louisville’s last independent cinemas — screened its final films.
www.lpm.org/news/2026-01...
www.lpm.org/news/2026-01...
Reposted by Morgan Watkins
Let’s take a look back at some of the “On Track” conversations that shaped 2025. www.lpm.org/news/2025-12...
On Track in 2025: Revisiting our most memorable conversations
Let’s take a look back at some of the “On Track” conversations that shaped 2025.
www.lpm.org
December 22, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Let’s take a look back at some of the “On Track” conversations that shaped 2025. www.lpm.org/news/2025-12...
Reposted by Morgan Watkins
Workers with a Louisville nonprofit have created a collection of poems and illustrations based on the stories and lived experiences of the refugee clients they serve.
How a Kentucky artist and poet document local refugees' stories
The project is a collection of poems and illustrations based on the stories of clients from Kentucky Refugee Ministries in Louisville.
www.wkms.org
December 22, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Workers with a Louisville nonprofit have created a collection of poems and illustrations based on the stories and lived experiences of the refugee clients they serve.
Dropped my final investigative report of 2025 this week, all about how some police will disclose where their license plate readers are tracking drivers and some won't. Expect more coverage of mass surveillance issues from the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting in 2026.
Nearly 200 license plate readers keep watch on Louisville drivers. LMPD won’t say where they are
License plate reader cameras are growing in popularity among police nationwide. But some local agencies refuse to disclose device locations.
www.lpm.org
December 18, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Dropped my final investigative report of 2025 this week, all about how some police will disclose where their license plate readers are tracking drivers and some won't. Expect more coverage of mass surveillance issues from the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting in 2026.
I’m SO excited to listen to to this collab between great folks from @lpm.org’s newsroom and classical music station.
Classical Host Laura Atkinson and Reporter Justin Hicks trace the American musical tradition of shape note singing from colonial America up to today in an emotional, and joyful one hour radio special. www.lpm.org/news/2025-12...
Shapes of America: A radio special about shape-note singing
Classical Host Laura Atkinson and Reporter Justin Hicks trace the American musical tradition of shape note singing from colonial America up to today in an emotional, and joyful sonic journey.
www.lpm.org
December 15, 2025 at 3:35 PM
I’m SO excited to listen to to this collab between great folks from @lpm.org’s newsroom and classical music station.
Reposted by Morgan Watkins
Classical Host Laura Atkinson and Reporter Justin Hicks trace the American musical tradition of shape note singing from colonial America up to today in an emotional, and joyful one hour radio special. www.lpm.org/news/2025-12...
Shapes of America: A radio special about shape-note singing
Classical Host Laura Atkinson and Reporter Justin Hicks trace the American musical tradition of shape note singing from colonial America up to today in an emotional, and joyful sonic journey.
www.lpm.org
December 15, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Classical Host Laura Atkinson and Reporter Justin Hicks trace the American musical tradition of shape note singing from colonial America up to today in an emotional, and joyful one hour radio special. www.lpm.org/news/2025-12...
Reposted by Morgan Watkins
You’ll hear about this a lot from me in the coming weeks and months. All of the region’s major utilities are before the Public Service Commission seeking customer rate increases. www.weku.org/the-commonwe...
New report says Kentucky's fossil fuel dependence threatens the affordability of electricity
Kentucky electricity customers could save $2.6 billion by 2050 by moving away from fossil fuels and toward more renewables and battery storage, according to the report.
www.weku.org
December 13, 2025 at 6:41 PM
You’ll hear about this a lot from me in the coming weeks and months. All of the region’s major utilities are before the Public Service Commission seeking customer rate increases. www.weku.org/the-commonwe...
Worth reading from @byrobertor.lpm.org👇
Immigrants who had received letters inviting them to a citizenship ceremony in downtown Louisville were turned away at the door Thursday. All are from countries deemed “high-risk” by President Donald Trump. www.lpm.org/news/2025-12...
Ready to become citizens, some immigrants in Louisville turned away at the door
Immigrants who had received letters inviting them to a citizenship ceremony in downtown Louisville were turned away at the door Thursday. All are from countries deemed “high-risk” by President Donald ...
www.lpm.org
December 11, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Worth reading from @byrobertor.lpm.org👇
Reposted by Morgan Watkins
Louisville history buffs, this one's for you: www.lpm.org/podcast/curi...
Curious Louisville: Were there Civil War barracks in Old Louisville?
Taylor Barracks symbolized freedom for thousands of formerly enslaved men in Kentucky.
www.lpm.org
December 11, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Louisville history buffs, this one's for you: www.lpm.org/podcast/curi...
A great rundown of what’s going to be a top issue for the Republican-run Kentucky Legislature next year: Powering AI data centers.
A year after passing tax breaks to lure AI data centers to Kentucky, lawmakers have more plans for them in #kyga26, addressing concerns related to power generation, utility bills and local opposition.
The AI data center boom is coming for Kentucky. What will lawmakers do about it?
Kentucky lawmakers plan to address data centers in the upcoming session, as utilities seek more power generation to serve them and locals fight new projects.
www.lpm.org
December 10, 2025 at 8:26 PM
A great rundown of what’s going to be a top issue for the Republican-run Kentucky Legislature next year: Powering AI data centers.
"Metro Council rarely decides to force a rezoning and for good reason: doing so opens the city up to lawsuits and accusations of infringing on private property rights." But the council might do just that for the Givaudan Sense Colour property, where an explosion killed two workers last year.
Givaudan explosion site in Louisville may be barred from future industrial use
Louisville Metro Council members are debating what the future developments should be allowed on the Givaudan Sense Colour property.
www.lpm.org
December 10, 2025 at 7:57 PM
"Metro Council rarely decides to force a rezoning and for good reason: doing so opens the city up to lawsuits and accusations of infringing on private property rights." But the council might do just that for the Givaudan Sense Colour property, where an explosion killed two workers last year.
Reposted by Morgan Watkins
The Jefferson County Board of Education just voted to remove these planned closures from tonight’s agenda. They’ve asked staff for more information about the plan before moving forward.
Good piece here from @storiesbyjess.bsky.social on which kids would be most affected by JCPS' plan to chip away at a $132M budget shortfall by closing a few schools.
JCPS’ school closure plan will have disparate impact on Black students
Black students account for more than half impacted by district proposal.
www.lpm.org
December 9, 2025 at 11:21 PM
The Jefferson County Board of Education just voted to remove these planned closures from tonight’s agenda. They’ve asked staff for more information about the plan before moving forward.
Reposted by Morgan Watkins
#BREAKING: Frankfort Police report a suspect is in custody following a shooting on Kentucky State University's south campus Tuesday. #KSU
Reports: Kentucky State University shooting leaves multiple injuries
Frankfort Police report a suspect is in custody following a shooting on Kentucky State University's south campus Tuesday.
www.wuky.org
December 9, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Had a Louisville story featured on NPR's Morning Edition today, about how our local water company tracked a spike in one type of forever chemical up the Ohio River to a West Virginia factory. You can listen here: www.npr.org/2025/12/09/n...
How a Kentucky water plant tracked the spike in a 'forever chemical'
After a water plant in Louisville, Kentucky, saw a spike in a certain "forever chemical," their quest for answers led them hundreds of miles away.
www.npr.org
December 9, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Had a Louisville story featured on NPR's Morning Edition today, about how our local water company tracked a spike in one type of forever chemical up the Ohio River to a West Virginia factory. You can listen here: www.npr.org/2025/12/09/n...
Louisville's police chief told internal investigators to check if an officer gave federal agents his login credentials for the city’s license plate surveillance database. The investigation was spurred by our reporting at KyCIR, which found the officer ran seemingly ICE-related searches.
Records show LMPD chief widened probe of officer for immigration data searches
The Louisville police chief wants to know if an officer improperly gave federal agents his login credentials for the city’s license plate surveillance database.
www.lpm.org
December 8, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Louisville's police chief told internal investigators to check if an officer gave federal agents his login credentials for the city’s license plate surveillance database. The investigation was spurred by our reporting at KyCIR, which found the officer ran seemingly ICE-related searches.
Reposted by Morgan Watkins
Premiered in 2024, Liza Lim's concerto "A Sutured World" is the 38th winner of the Grawemeyer Award in Music Composition, a top prize in the field.
LPM Director of Programming Daniel Gilliam spoke to Lim about her work and her honor. Listen in.
bit.ly/3MpiElL
LPM Director of Programming Daniel Gilliam spoke to Lim about her work and her honor. Listen in.
bit.ly/3MpiElL
Australian cello composer wins 2026 Grawemeyer Award for Music
Premiered in 2024, the winning work is the 38th winner of the award, a top prize in the field of music composition.
bit.ly
December 3, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Premiered in 2024, Liza Lim's concerto "A Sutured World" is the 38th winner of the Grawemeyer Award in Music Composition, a top prize in the field.
LPM Director of Programming Daniel Gilliam spoke to Lim about her work and her honor. Listen in.
bit.ly/3MpiElL
LPM Director of Programming Daniel Gilliam spoke to Lim about her work and her honor. Listen in.
bit.ly/3MpiElL
It's the post-Thanksgiving Giving Tuesday, and you could help the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting win our full $25,500 matching donation today! We're close to the goal. Support nonprofit, investigative news pursued in the public interest here:
KYCIR
Donate online now to KyCIR Investigative Reporting. Donations are fast, safe and secure.
donate.lpm.org
December 2, 2025 at 5:00 PM
It's the post-Thanksgiving Giving Tuesday, and you could help the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting win our full $25,500 matching donation today! We're close to the goal. Support nonprofit, investigative news pursued in the public interest here:
Dispatch from court today:
Jewish woman’s lawsuit against Kentucky abortion ban gets a new day in court
A judge heard lawyers’ arguments Monday in a years-long lawsuit brought by a Jewish woman against Kentucky’s near-total abortion ban. A ruling could happen soon.
www.lpm.org
December 1, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Dispatch from court today: