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
Season 3 of Dig, KyCIR's award-winning podcast, is out today. @storiesbyjess.bsky.social investigated how Louisville leaders mishandled child sex abuse allegations against 2 coaches. Hear from the women who say they're fighting for the girls they were then... and for the girls who come after them.
Dig, Season Three: The Girls
A podcast revealing KyCIR's 19-month investigation into allegations of child sex abuse by former high school football coaches, Ronnie and Donnie Stoner.
www.lpm.org
November 11, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Season 3 of Dig, KyCIR's award-winning podcast, is out today. @storiesbyjess.bsky.social investigated how Louisville leaders mishandled child sex abuse allegations against 2 coaches. Hear from the women who say they're fighting for the girls they were then... and for the girls who come after them.
A colleague of mine got up early today to get the latest updates on yesterday's UPS crash. Good PSAs for folks in Louisville here:
UPS plane crash continues to impact Louisville Wednesday
Resources for residents and victims of Tuesday’s UPS plane crash.
www.lpm.org
November 5, 2025 at 4:15 PM
A colleague of mine got up early today to get the latest updates on yesterday's UPS crash. Good PSAs for folks in Louisville here:
Our newsroom is reporting on the UPS plane crash in Louisville. Will keep posting updates with the latest @lpm.org.
Louisville asked to shelter in place following UPS plane crash
Details about casualties are not yet available after the Federal Aviation Administration said a UPS plane crashed in Louisville on Tuesday.
www.lpm.org
November 5, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Our newsroom is reporting on the UPS plane crash in Louisville. Will keep posting updates with the latest @lpm.org.
Law enforcement are running immigration-related searches on data collected by Louisville Metro Police Department's license plate reader cameras. The practice could violate a local law.
NEW story from me and my colleagues @lpm.org & the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting:
NEW story from me and my colleagues @lpm.org & the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting:
Louisville police share data with national immigration dragnet
Louisville Metro Police collect data through license plate readers and share it with thousands of law enforcement agencies.
www.lpm.org
November 3, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Law enforcement are running immigration-related searches on data collected by Louisville Metro Police Department's license plate reader cameras. The practice could violate a local law.
NEW story from me and my colleagues @lpm.org & the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting:
NEW story from me and my colleagues @lpm.org & the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting:
Reposted by Morgan Watkins
FYI we have a court update but I'm not really sure what this will mean for folks in the short term. Judge is requesting a plan/timeline on Monday and we have no sense at what point benefits will actually go out to states to distribute from those emergency funds
www.lpm.org/news/2025-10...
www.lpm.org/news/2025-10...
October 31, 2025 at 8:00 PM
FYI we have a court update but I'm not really sure what this will mean for folks in the short term. Judge is requesting a plan/timeline on Monday and we have no sense at what point benefits will actually go out to states to distribute from those emergency funds
www.lpm.org/news/2025-10...
www.lpm.org/news/2025-10...
LPM's @justinhicks.lpm.org wrote a computer program to see how much Kentuckians will have to pay extra in premiums if they get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace (Kynect in KY). Prices going up b/c GOP-run U.S. gov. hasn't extended ACA tax credits.
Many Kentuckians to pay hundreds or even thousands more for health insurance next year
Kentucky Public Radio analyzed quotes from the state’s health insurance marketplace and found premium increases ranging from 60% to 600% compared to 2025.
www.lpm.org
October 31, 2025 at 6:35 PM
LPM's @justinhicks.lpm.org wrote a computer program to see how much Kentuckians will have to pay extra in premiums if they get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace (Kynect in KY). Prices going up b/c GOP-run U.S. gov. hasn't extended ACA tax credits.
Reposted by Morgan Watkins
Missed pay and loss of benefits from the federal government shutdown could further strain Southern Indiana families’ food options. www.lpm.org/news/2025-10...
Nonprofits worry about food insecurity in Southern Indiana as government shutdown continues
Missed pay and loss of benefits from the federal government shutdown could further strain Southern Indiana families’ food options.
www.lpm.org
October 28, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Missed pay and loss of benefits from the federal government shutdown could further strain Southern Indiana families’ food options. www.lpm.org/news/2025-10...
Louisville GOP politician tossed off epithets like “coddled americunts,” “party whores” and “damn sloots” in an old post he wrote about “millennial females” that he now says was mainly dating advice.
Yeah, you’ll wanna read Sylvia’s article.
Yeah, you’ll wanna read Sylvia’s article.
Latest from me: The Jefferson County Republican party has selected a candidate for a special election in Louisville’s South End that railed against the women of his generation through online posts, using vulgar epithets. www.lpm.org/news/2025-10...
GOP candidate for Kentucky Senate defends, then deletes ‘rant’ against millennial ‘skanks’
The Jefferson County Republican Party has selected a candidate for a special election in Louisville’s South End that railed against the women of his generation through online posts, using vulgar epith...
www.lpm.org
October 24, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Louisville GOP politician tossed off epithets like “coddled americunts,” “party whores” and “damn sloots” in an old post he wrote about “millennial females” that he now says was mainly dating advice.
Yeah, you’ll wanna read Sylvia’s article.
Yeah, you’ll wanna read Sylvia’s article.
Reposted by Morgan Watkins
Latest from me: The Jefferson County Republican party has selected a candidate for a special election in Louisville’s South End that railed against the women of his generation through online posts, using vulgar epithets. www.lpm.org/news/2025-10...
GOP candidate for Kentucky Senate defends, then deletes ‘rant’ against millennial ‘skanks’
The Jefferson County Republican Party has selected a candidate for a special election in Louisville’s South End that railed against the women of his generation through online posts, using vulgar epith...
www.lpm.org
October 24, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Latest from me: The Jefferson County Republican party has selected a candidate for a special election in Louisville’s South End that railed against the women of his generation through online posts, using vulgar epithets. www.lpm.org/news/2025-10...
Reposted by Morgan Watkins
In Louisville, people filled the streets for this year’s second mass protest against Trump. lpm.org/news/2025-10...
‘No Kings’ draws hundreds to downtown Louisville for peaceful demonstration
In Louisville, people filled the streets for this year’s second mass protest against Trump.
lpm.org
October 19, 2025 at 6:30 PM
In Louisville, people filled the streets for this year’s second mass protest against Trump. lpm.org/news/2025-10...
Sarah does great reporting on health policy and issues for Kentuckians. Supporting her work spreads quality local journalism!
Tomorrow marks three years (!) I've worked at @kentuckylantern.com.
I get the chance every day to do meaningful work in a supportive company. I'm so thrilled to be here and excited for the future.
If you value my/our work, I hope you'll consider supporting us.
kentuckylantern.com/donate/
I get the chance every day to do meaningful work in a supportive company. I'm so thrilled to be here and excited for the future.
If you value my/our work, I hope you'll consider supporting us.
kentuckylantern.com/donate/
Donate • Kentucky Lantern
kentuckylantern.com
October 17, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Sarah does great reporting on health policy and issues for Kentuckians. Supporting her work spreads quality local journalism!
Our Arts, Culture, Etc. newsletter is resurrected for Halloween! Hear our Arts & Culture reporter @g-nizzle.bsky.social talk about what's happening in Louisville and join the newsletter so future roundups appear like a specter in your inbox👻
Arts, Culture, Et Cetera: Getting into spooky season around Louisville
Here’s a look at what’s going on in arts and culture around Louisville this October.
www.lpm.org
October 17, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Our Arts, Culture, Etc. newsletter is resurrected for Halloween! Hear our Arts & Culture reporter @g-nizzle.bsky.social talk about what's happening in Louisville and join the newsletter so future roundups appear like a specter in your inbox👻
Really nice interview here for @lpm.org's classical music station about the piece "Considering Matthew Shepard," which artists performed in a Louisville production last weekend:
"Considering Matthew Shepard" comes to Louisville
A fusion-oratorio retells the horrific hate crime, but finds moments of hope along the way
www.lpm.org
October 14, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Really nice interview here for @lpm.org's classical music station about the piece "Considering Matthew Shepard," which artists performed in a Louisville production last weekend:
Public meeting alert, Louisville: People get 2 chances this month to discuss the city's notorious "stink" with staff at MSD, the utility that runs our sewer system. Learn what they're doing to mitigate the sewers' contribution to the stench. Info here:
Let’s talk about stink: Utility hosts forum on Louisville’s odor problem
The notorious Louisville “stink” remains an issue, especially in the West End. People can talk to utility staff about it at community meetings this month.
www.lpm.org
October 13, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Public meeting alert, Louisville: People get 2 chances this month to discuss the city's notorious "stink" with staff at MSD, the utility that runs our sewer system. Learn what they're doing to mitigate the sewers' contribution to the stench. Info here:
Good dive by @derekparham.bsky.social into a letter Kentucky's GOP attorney general wrote asking EPA to ditch its legal basis for regulating greenhouse gas emissions ... and how the AG's letter rejects decades of scientific research on how emissions fuel climate change and endanger public health.
Kentucky attorney general pushing for EPA to repeal federal carbon emission regulations
In an 88-page letter to the EPA, Attorney General Russell Coleman is encouraging the agency to move forward with a proposal to rescind the 2009 Endangerment Finding.
www.lpm.org
October 10, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Good dive by @derekparham.bsky.social into a letter Kentucky's GOP attorney general wrote asking EPA to ditch its legal basis for regulating greenhouse gas emissions ... and how the AG's letter rejects decades of scientific research on how emissions fuel climate change and endanger public health.
Quick read here on the increase in people arrested by ICE who’ve been held behind bars by Kentucky jails this year. @joesonka.lpm.org summarizes the data:
Report: Kentucky jails contracting with ICE have 659% increase in detainees this year
Data from the study shows one county jail in Kentucky had contracted with ICE to hold roughly 120 detainees in January. By August, nine county jails held more than 900.
www.lpm.org
October 8, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Quick read here on the increase in people arrested by ICE who’ve been held behind bars by Kentucky jails this year. @joesonka.lpm.org summarizes the data:
Reposted by Morgan Watkins
ICYMI it on @npr.org's Morning Edition, WKMS news director @doperle.bsky.social's feature takes a look at California-based General Matter's privately developed uranium enrichment plant in western Kentucky and what it means in the grand scheme of things when it comes to nuclear energy in the U.S.
First privately funded uranium enrichment plant in U.S. to be built in Kentucky
A California-based firm plans to build the first privately funded uranium enrichment plant in Kentucky amid efforts to bolster the country's domestic uranium enrichment.
www.npr.org
October 7, 2025 at 3:38 PM
ICYMI it on @npr.org's Morning Edition, WKMS news director @doperle.bsky.social's feature takes a look at California-based General Matter's privately developed uranium enrichment plant in western Kentucky and what it means in the grand scheme of things when it comes to nuclear energy in the U.S.
Reposted by Morgan Watkins
The 2BUCK Invitational has expanded from a grassroots graffiti jam to a festival hosting more than 170 artists, raising the Louisville’s profile in the world of street art. www.lpm.org/news/2025-10...
2BUCK Invitational graffiti jam brings large-scale public art to Louisville neighborhoods
The event has expanded from a grassroots graffiti jam to a festival hosting more than 170 artists, raising the city’s profile in the world of street art.
www.lpm.org
October 6, 2025 at 6:30 PM
The 2BUCK Invitational has expanded from a grassroots graffiti jam to a festival hosting more than 170 artists, raising the Louisville’s profile in the world of street art. www.lpm.org/news/2025-10...
Details here on the outcome of the first trial held this week against one of the two journalists arrested by police in northern Kentucky when they were reporting on a protest:
October 3, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Details here on the outcome of the first trial held this week against one of the two journalists arrested by police in northern Kentucky when they were reporting on a protest:
Ace local arts reporting here from @g-nizzle.bsky.social, on how the Speed Art Museum just cut its community education dept. due to money troubles. Giselle talked to people who lost their jobs because of it.
Speed Art Museum cuts education department, citing revenue pitfalls
Kentucky’s largest art museum gutted its Learning, Engagement and Belonging department in charge of education programs and community outreach.
www.lpm.org
October 3, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Ace local arts reporting here from @g-nizzle.bsky.social, on how the Speed Art Museum just cut its community education dept. due to money troubles. Giselle talked to people who lost their jobs because of it.
Good renewable energy story here on wind power in Kentucky:
Wind turbines are slowly emerging in Kentucky’s energy scene, but some communities are hesitant
As more renewable energy sources come onto the grid, Kentucky is trying to find its role in this emerging economy.
www.lpm.org
October 3, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Good renewable energy story here on wind power in Kentucky:
We had @steveinskeep.bsky.social in our Louisville studio today, hosting Morning Edition. He came to Kentucky to interview Gov. Beshear👇
NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear about his cross-party appeal in a state that has always overwhelmingly voted for Trump. bit.ly/4nZLeHS
In Trump country, a Democrat critiques Trump — and talks of succeeding him
NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear about his cross-party appeal in a state that has always overwhelmingly voted for Trump.
bit.ly
October 2, 2025 at 3:42 PM
We had @steveinskeep.bsky.social in our Louisville studio today, hosting Morning Edition. He came to Kentucky to interview Gov. Beshear👇
For the new ep of KyCIR's Digging In series, I brought @divyakrthk.bsky.social back on the @lpm.org airwaves to talk about an immigration case w/ KY & IN ties. U.S. authorities say an Indiana man was convicted once for forgery & should be deported. But Divya's reporting found a lack of evidence.
Digging In: Trump admin tries to deport longtime Indiana businessman suffering from a brain tumor
Federal authorities want to deport an Indiana resident who has a green card, which grants permanent residency in the U.S. They kept him in custody after a judge said he could be released on bond.
www.lpm.org
October 2, 2025 at 2:13 PM
For the new ep of KyCIR's Digging In series, I brought @divyakrthk.bsky.social back on the @lpm.org airwaves to talk about an immigration case w/ KY & IN ties. U.S. authorities say an Indiana man was convicted once for forgery & should be deported. But Divya's reporting found a lack of evidence.
👏👏👏(This is real cool - always good to see investment in investigative journalism in Kentucky.)
October 1, 2025 at 5:12 PM
👏👏👏(This is real cool - always good to see investment in investigative journalism in Kentucky.)