Author

Sarah Ladd

Sarah Ladd

Sarah Ladd is a Louisville-based journalist from West Kentucky who's covered everything from crime to higher education. She spent nearly two years on the metro breaking news desk at The Courier Journal. In 2020, she started reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic and has covered health ever since. As the Kentucky Lantern's health reporter, she focuses on mental health, LGBTQ+ issues, children's welfare, COVID-19 and more.

Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

Grant will help Eastern Kentucky organization fix more houses

By: - December 6, 2023

The Kentucky Association of Health Plans has given a $50,000 grant to Saint Vincent Mission in Floyd County, which the organization says will go toward building a new warehouse.? With the extra storage space in David, the organization says it can hold onto more materials and fix 15 more houses annually in an area that […]

Louisville researcher will study how to treat, prevent eating disorders

By: - November 29, 2023

A Louisville researcher will use $11.5 million in grant money from the National Institutes of Health to study how to treat and prevent eating disorders, the University of Louisville announced Wednesday.? Leading several projects over the next five years on the subject is Cheri Levinson, who is both an associate professor with the university and […]

Rep. Josie Raymond running for Louisville council rather than reelection to Kentucky legislature

By: - November 27, 2023

Kentucky state Rep. Josie Raymond, a Louisville Democrat, said Monday she will run for Louisville Metro Council next year rather than seeking reelection to the legislature. In a statement announcing the move, Raymond said she had “gained a deep appreciation for the power of local government watching Louisville act when Frankfort wouldn’t.”? Citing Kentucky’s ban […]

Pitched as ‘opioid alternative,’ laser robot treats pain without pills

By: - November 22, 2023

LOUISVILLE — Stefanie Nasca’s car is her office, and she drives it at least six hours a day across Kentucky and Indiana for her lab sales job.? So, when the Louisville woman suffered back pain, she couldn’t take a break from the extensive driving and sitting.? “I would go to stand up and I’d be […]

Qualifying UK medical students in rural provider program to get scholarships

By: - November 16, 2023

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medicaid in Kentucky are giving medical students on a path to serve rural areas seven scholarships worth $100,000 in total.? Fourth year students in UK’s Rural Physician Leadership Program will benefit from this money, UK said. They need to demonstrate financial […]

Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice commissioner resigns?effective Jan. 1

By: - November 16, 2023

Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice Commissioner Vicki Reed has resigned, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Thursday.? Beshear, who will begin his second term Dec. 12, also announced that Jeremy Slinker, director of Kentucky Emergency Management, is leaving the administration to take a job with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Reed, who has been the target […]

How are Kentucky’s kids faring? New report offers education, health insights

By: - November 15, 2023

Fewer Kentucky kindergarteners were ready to learn in the 2022-2023 school year than in 2018, according to a new report that measures child welfare.? This insight comes from the Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book, released by Kentucky Youth Advocates Wednesday. Kids Count is part of a national initiative from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. […]

Flu is rising in Louisville

By: - November 9, 2023

Kentucky’s largest city is seeing a “significant” rise in flu’s presence ahead of normal peak, Louisville scientists said Thursday.? The Envirome Institute, which operates through the University of Louisville, tracks wastewater in the city and reports trends in infectious diseases.? The wastewater dashboard shows the presence of flu, which usually peaks in December and January, […]

How to protect against new COVID-19 variants as holiday gatherings near

By: - November 6, 2023

New COVID-19 booster shots are available around the state as new strains of the virus cause more people to contract it, but not necessarily get severely ill. Dr. Hugh Shoff, the associate chief medical officer of UofL Health’s UofL Hospital in Louisville, said Monday that the holiday season puts people at greater risk of catching […]

Kentucky ACLU appeals to U.S. high court for transgender minors’ medical care

By: - November 3, 2023

The Trevor Project, which aims to end suicide among LGBTQ+ youth, also has trained counselors available around the clock. Reach them at 1-866-488-7386, via chat at https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/, or by texting START to 678678.? The American Civil Liberties Union on Friday filed a petition for a certiorari asking the United States Supreme Court to overturn an […]

Recalled fruit puree pouches may contain ‘elevated levels of lead’

By: - November 2, 2023

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says people who recently consumed WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches should seek a blood test from their primary care provider because the recalled product may contain “elevated levels of lead.”? The FDA is working to remove the pouches from stores, it said in late October. Meanwhile, it is […]

Kentucky’s ban on transgender medical care for minors headed to U.S. Supreme Court, ACLU says

By: - November 1, 2023

Kentucky’s chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union says it will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on the 2023 law banning certain gender affirming medical care for transgender minors.? This comes more than a month after the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 to keep Kentucky’s ban on treatments like […]