Morgan Watkins
morganwatkins.lpm.org
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: [email protected]
Also! A white flag shelter in New Albany will host an early Thanksgiving meal this Saturday for guests.
Southern Indiana white flag opening early this weekend for holiday meal
A white flag shelter in New Albany will host a Thanksgiving meal for guests Saturday. Leaders say the emergency shelter will also be open around the holiday.
www.lpm.org
November 21, 2025 at 8:21 PM
I've done a couple more stories recently on this proposal to do large-scale ecological restoration across the Ohio River Basin. You can learn about that here:
www.lpm.org/investigate/...
And here: www.lpm.org/investigate/...
Plants, pollinators and people: The push to restore the Ohio River Basin
A new plan to protect and restore the waters of the Ohio River Basin recommends dozens of regional solutions to tackle interlinked environmental problems.
www.lpm.org
November 17, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Donations help us investigate more stories that matter to our community. And we happen to have a fundraiser going at KyCIR, where every $1 you donate (up to $1K/person) is matched with extra $$ from NewsMatch.
You can support our work here (& get @lpm.org member benefits, like ticket giveaways!):
KYCIR
Donate online now to KyCIR Investigative Reporting. Donations are fast, safe and secure.
donate.lpm.org
November 14, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Also this week at KyCIR, @storiesbyjess.bsky.social released a stellar new season of our investigative podcast Dig. She spent 1.5 years telling the stories of young women who say they were abused by twin coaches Ronnie and Donnie Stoner ... and why local leaders & institutions didn't listen to them.
Dig
Each season on "Dig," from the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting, we expose the systems that allow injustice to fester, and shine a light on the people fighting for solutions. Season Three: ...
www.lpm.org
November 14, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Story I worked up w/ the latest info I could get today on post-crash air and water quality in Louisville:
Louisville air and water mostly safe after deadly UPS plane crash
After Louisville’s UPS plane crash, government officials say people outside of the immediate accident zone don’t need to worry about the safety of their air and water.
www.lpm.org
November 5, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Also city says last night the air quality index didn't fall below the moderate range after the crash. www.facebook.com/LouAPCD
November 5, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Looking into that today. Data from Louisville's closest air monitoring site to the airport (airqualitymap.louisvilleky.gov/station/21-1...) says the quality's generally fine. City officials said they used air quality monitoring to decide when to shrink the size of the shelter-in-place.
November 5, 2025 at 4:31 PM
And here's an audio story I put together last night about the UPS crash, which aired nationally on Morning Edition today. Hat tip to @justinhicks.lpm.org for going out yesterday and gathering good interviews from people out near the crash site.
NTSB to investigate deadly UPS cargo plane crash in Kentucky
The National Transportation Safety Board will arrive in Louisville, Kentucky, Wednesday to investigate the fiery crash of a UPS cargo plane that killed at least seven people.
www.npr.org
November 5, 2025 at 4:17 PM