Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

2BUCK Invitational graffiti jam brings large-scale public art to Louisville neighborhoods

Reposted by Morgan Watkins

Louisville Public Media @lpm.org · 1d

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...

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.

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Morgan Watkins @morganwatkins.lpm.org · 4d

Thanks for listening to it!

Speed Art Museum cuts education department, citing revenue pitfalls

Morgan Watkins @morganwatkins.lpm.org · 4d

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:

Morgan Watkins @morganwatkins.lpm.org · 4d

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.

Kentucky’s largest art museum gutted its Learning, Engagement and Belonging department in charge of education programs and community outreach.

Wind turbines are slowly emerging in Kentucky’s energy scene, but some communities are hesitant

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Morgan Watkins @morganwatkins.lpm.org · 4d

Good renewable energy story here on wind power in Kentucky:

As more renewable energy sources come onto the grid, Kentucky is trying to find its role in this emerging economy.

In Trump country, a Democrat critiques Trump — and talks of succeeding him

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Morgan Watkins @morganwatkins.lpm.org · 5d

We had @steveinskeep.bsky.social in our Louisville studio today, hosting Morning Edition. He came to Kentucky to interview Gov. Beshear👇

Louisville Public Media @lpm.org · 6d

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

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

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Morgan Watkins @morganwatkins.lpm.org · 6d

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.

Herald-Leader chosen by ProPublica for Local Reporting Network partnership

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Morgan Watkins @morganwatkins.lpm.org · 6d

👏👏👏(This is real cool - always good to see investment in investigative journalism in Kentucky.)

Tessa Duvall @tessaduvall.bsky.social · 7d

Everybody clap for @aacquisto.bsky.social & @taylorsixhl.bsky.social!!

Reporter Alex Acquisto will spend the next year on a statewide investigative project that will have wide ramifications for Kentuckians.

www.kentucky.com

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Morgan Watkins @morganwatkins.lpm.org · 7d

Press freedom alert in Kentucky: Two journalists face trial in Kenton County, after they were arrested in July for being at a local protest they were reporting on. The protest was by people speaking out against ICE's detention of a chaplain in Cincinnati.

On trial for journalism in Kentucky.

Two months after their arrests while covering a protest, a pair of local reporters face criminal charges.

www.cjr.org

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Morgan Watkins @morganwatkins.lpm.org · 8d

Good investigation here from @sylviaruthg.lpm.org on how Kentucky state gov., under Gov. Andy Beshear, has kicked people off SNAP food benefits b/c of their pattern of shopping transactions - even though judges & legal experts say that type of evidence is not enough to prove fraud.

Kentucky has kicked people off of food benefits using data that doesn’t tell the full story

With food insecurity rising, Kentucky continues to aggressively investigate individuals on fraud allegations, with some legal experts claiming they rely too much on faulty evidence.

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Reposted by Morgan Watkins

Josh James ☯️ @joshjameswuky.bsky.social · 11d

A massive thank you to all who gave during @wuky’s Fall Fund Drive. We blew way past our goal thanks to our listeners.

You guys got heart. 🤜🤛

Louisville announces selection for police reform monitoring

Reposted by Morgan Watkins

Louisville Public Media @lpm.org · 12d

Mayor Craig Greenberg selected Effective Law Enforcement for All to oversee police reform in Louisville. The nonprofit is currently serving as the independent monitor in Minneapolis.https://www.lpm.org/news/2025-09-26/louisville-announces-selection-for-police-reform-monitoring

Louisville residents will have an opportunity to meet with Effective Law Enforcement for All next month.

He Has a Green Card and a Brain Tumor. DHS Wants to Deport Him for Forgery With No Proof.

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Morgan Watkins @morganwatkins.lpm.org · 11d

Well-reported, important story from @divyakrthk.bsky.social (formerly of @lpm.org!) on how Trump’s crackdown on immigrants is affecting an Indiana businessman and his family.

Divya Karthikeyan @divyakrthk.bsky.social · 12d

Paramjit Singh is going blind while in ICE detention in Kenton County Jail, KY. He’s been a green card holder since 1994.

DHS wants to deport him for a forgery conviction — but they’ve produced no record that one exists.

story for The Intercept:
theintercept.com/2025/09/26/i...

Paramjit Singh is going blind in jail. DHS wants to deport him for a forgery conviction — but they’ve produced no record that one exists.

theintercept.com

Morgan Watkins @morganwatkins.lpm.org · 12d

Thanks for coming! I had a great time. (Also, good photo. So animated😂)

Morgan Watkins @morganwatkins.lpm.org · 12d

Tonight, I'll join a community discussion about communications & science with some other great local experts, hosted by @uoflenvirome.bsky.social. Should be cool. Details here.

Flyer for tonight's "Communication & Science" event. Reception at 5:15 p.m., Panel at 6 p.m. Located at Kentucky Center for African American Heritage. Featuring Tawana Andrew of WAVE 3, environmental journalist James Bruggers, UofL's Drs. Natasha DeJarnett and Nick Paliewicz and KET's Dr. Wayne Tuckson.

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Reposted by Morgan Watkins

Justin Hicks @justinhicks.lpm.org · 13d

Hear from native fish! See environmentalists in their natural habitat!

Morgan Watkins @morganwatkins.lpm.org · 14d

Hey, our Ohio River event is happening today at 4:30 p.m.! Come see native fish and birds and hear from environmentalists (including the National Wildlife Federation) about the new National Water Trail that winds past Louisville *and* a big new plan to protect the river basin's waters & wildlife.

Morgan Watkins @morganwatkins.lpm.org · 15d

It’s unofficially Ohio River week @lpm.org & KyCIR. We’re hosting a cool event Wednesday, where you can meet native birds and fish and learn about an ambitious new environmental plan to restore the Ohio River Basin’s waterways. It’s free to come, so join us! Details here: www.lpm.org/press-releas...

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Morgan Watkins @morganwatkins.lpm.org · 14d

Hey, our Ohio River event is happening today at 4:30 p.m.! Come see native fish and birds and hear from environmentalists (including the National Wildlife Federation) about the new National Water Trail that winds past Louisville *and* a big new plan to protect the river basin's waters & wildlife.

Morgan Watkins @morganwatkins.lpm.org · 15d

It’s unofficially Ohio River week @lpm.org & KyCIR. We’re hosting a cool event Wednesday, where you can meet native birds and fish and learn about an ambitious new environmental plan to restore the Ohio River Basin’s waterways. It’s free to come, so join us! Details here: www.lpm.org/press-releas...

Plants, pollinators and people: The push to restore the Ohio River Basin

Morgan Watkins @morganwatkins.lpm.org · 14d

River story #3! I talked to folks who worked on the ambitious new Ohio River Basin restoration plan about some of the big goals it sets out, & walked through a local nature preserve that conserves habitats, like wetlands, that the plan wants to protect.

A new plan to protect and restore the waters of the Ohio River Basin recommends dozens of regional solutions to tackle interlinked environmental problems.

LISTEN: Canoeing the Ohio River Way, our region’s new National Water Trail

Morgan Watkins @morganwatkins.lpm.org · 14d

River Story #2 out today: I canoed a tiny slice of the Ohio River Way, which was named a National Water Trail this summer. I suggest listening to this one - I did the interview out on the water (and managed not to drench my recording equipment😅).

A 308-mile stretch of the Ohio River earned the title of National Water Trail this summer. KyCIR’s Morgan Watkins rowed a slice of the path. Here’s what she heard.

Digging In: The ambitious plan to restore Ohio River Basin’s ecosystem

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Morgan Watkins @morganwatkins.lpm.org · 15d

I've also got 3 stories about the Ohio River for y'all this week. #1 is online today: It's an interview w/ a staffer @nationalwildlife.bsky.social about the new Ohio River Basin Restoration and Protection Plan. (The NWF will be part of our community event this Wednesday, too!)

The National Wildlife Federation and University of Louisville researchers worked on an ambitious new roadmap to restore the Ohio River Basin.

Andy Wolfson, longtime Courier Journal legal affairs reporter, dies at 70

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Morgan Watkins @morganwatkins.lpm.org · 15d

It’s unofficially Ohio River week @lpm.org & KyCIR. We’re hosting a cool event Wednesday, where you can meet native birds and fish and learn about an ambitious new environmental plan to restore the Ohio River Basin’s waterways. It’s free to come, so join us! Details here: www.lpm.org/press-releas...

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Morgan Watkins @morganwatkins.lpm.org · 19d

Andy was a fantastic reporter. I learned a lot from working alongside him at the CJ, and also just flat-out enjoyed getting to know him. Rest in peace.

Joe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 19d

My good friend and journalistic partner in crime Andy Wolfson died suddenly last night. I'm going to miss him.

Wolfson played key roles in The Courier Journal winning two Pulitzer Prizes.

www.courier-journal.com

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Morgan Watkins @morganwatkins.lpm.org · 19d

It’s a great afternoon to donate to @lpm.org b/c it’s Give For Good Louisville day! Every individual donation we get can help us win extra bonus funding. Doesn’t matter how much you give — just *that* you give, to support the independent journalism and music experiences we make for our community.

Give for Good Louisville

Give and live generously on September 18!

www.giveforgoodlouisville.org