FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2026  ·  EASTERN KENTUCKY'S COMMUNITY NEWS HUB
All the news from the hollows & hills of Eastern Kentucky

Today's Stories 61 stories · Updated 02:00 AM

Mountain Top Media2h ago

PRESTONSBURG, Ky. — A blood-spattered door and a bloody handprint found next to the body. Those are just two of the dozens of pieces of evidence still waiting to be tested in the Amber Spradlin murder case, even as it heads to trial in 11 days. One week after Special Judge Eddy Coleman denied a prosecution request to delay the trial, Commonwealth’s Attorney Brent Turner filed an 11th-hour request

Salyersville Independent3h ago

ASHLAND – Two Magoffin men were federally indicted last week on drug distribution charges. On April 23, a federal grand jury charged Eddie A. McFarland, 34, and Anthony D. Saylor, 38, as follows: - McFarland with conspiracy to distribute Schedule II controlled substances fentanyl (Count 1), possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug [...]

WTVQ ABC 363h ago

It was a delightful finish to April across Central and Eastern Kentucky as high pressure brought dry and tranquil conditions to the area. With plenty of sunshine around, it was a nice day to be out and about although it was a touch on the cool side as a northwest breeze helped to hold afternoon highs down into the...

Salyersville Independent5h ago

UPDATE 4/30/36: The Salyersville United States Post Office reopened midday today. -- SALYERSVILLE – At press time, the Salyersville United States Post Office remains closed after a vehicle ran into the side of the building. On Monday, April 27 a one-vehicle car accident yielded a large hole in the side of the post office, with [...]

Salyersville Independent5h ago

SALYERSVILLE – While Salyersville Mayor Stanley Howard told the city council in last week’s meeting they had been awarded Local Assistance Road Program Funding (LARP) for blacktopping for five city roads, including his own road, the SI continues to fact check the mayor’s claims In the most recent Salyersville City Council meeting Mayor Howard said [...]

Salyersville Independent5h ago

Thursday, April 30 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. Friday, May 1 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. Saturday, May 2 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. (606) 349-5500 Howard TV Cable Channel 62 - Foothills Channel 2 Radio station 106.5 Facebook & YouTube on Your News Today by Ritt Mortimer Shared on the Salyersville Independent Social Media All proceeds go [...]

Salyersville Independent5h ago

This being the last SI edition of the month, I’m coming in just under the wire with a quick Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month note. I’d love to have an uplifting message for you about how autism is just a different ability, not less, or one of the other platitudes people love to spew from [...]

Harlan Enterprise5h ago

By Paul Lunsford Harlan Enterprise Marriage licenses Heather Michelle Lemarr, 38, of Wallins, to Frank Walton Robinette, 33, of Wallins. Amanda Sue Bray, 42, of Harlan, to Robert Varian [...]

Kentucky Lantern6h ago

Gov. Andy Beshear announced Kentucky had come to a new agreement with Ford Motor Company after the company said in December it would convert a Hardin County plant from making batteries for electric vehicles to making batteries for a new energy storage business. Beshear, a Democrat, said in his weekly press conference Thursday that his [...]

Mountain Eagle6h ago

Two Whitesburg Middle School students were detained this morning after allegedly telling a classmate to kill herself and later threatening a school shooting. According to a statement released by the school, the threat “developed last night,” and was reported to the Letcher County Sheriff’s Department and the Letcher County School District Police Department early this morning. Officers from the [..

Salyersville Independent6h ago

PAINTSVILLE- A Salyersville man was reportedly shot by Paintsville Police Department after running from law enforcement. On Sunday, April 26, Kentucky State Police (KSP) Critical Incident Response Team was requested by KSP Post 9 to investigate an officer-involved shooting that occurred around 2 a.m. that same day in Johnson County. According to KSP’s initial investigation, [...]

Salyersville Independent6h ago

WHITT BRANCH SPUR – Police arrested two women from New York after finding them camping out on someone else’s property and believed to be trafficking in methamphetamine. According to the arrest citations, the Magoffin County Sheriff Department received a call on April 26 regarding people reportedly trespassing on a property on Whitt Branch Spur. When [...]

Harlan Enterprise6h ago

FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) - The Federal Emergency Management agency (FEMA) has announced $19.9 million in funding to Kentucky, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and South Carolina, for long-term projects that will make [...]

WTVQ ABC 367h ago

Cooler Air Settles In Across the Region Today started off on a much chillier note compared to the recent stretch of warm weather. Despite plenty of sunshine, temperatures have struggled to climb, topping out in the upper 50s to low 60s this afternoon. That cooler feel is thanks to high pressure building into the region, bringing dry air, light winds,...

Kentucky Lantern7h ago

FRANKFORT — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear expanded on his recent criticisms of leadership at the University of Kentucky — adding that he is wary of efforts to consolidate employees under private entities and the changes to governing regulations that gutted the faculty senate. Beshear, a Democrat, had publicly scolded the university last week over recent hiring decisions, [...]

WTVQ ABC 367h ago

BEREA, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) - Kentucky State Police have confirmed that two people, one man and woman, are dead following an afternoon bank robbery in Berea. Both were confirmed to be employees at the bank. The robbery and shooting happened just after 2 p.m. Thursday at the U.S. Bank location on Chestnut Street. KSP Trooper Scottie Pennington confirmed...

WTVQ ABC 367h ago

FRANKFORT, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) - Kentucky recorded its fourth consecutive year of declining overdose deaths in 2025, with a 22.9% decrease compared with the previous year and a 50.8% decrease from 2021, Gov. Andy Beshear announced April 30. According to the 2025 Kentucky Drug Overdose Fatality Report, 1,110 Kentuckians lost their lives to a drug overdose last year...

Kentucky Lantern8h ago

Help is available to Kentuckians living with addiction. For resources, visit https://findhelpnow.org/ky. In physical emergencies, call 911. For mental health crises, call or text 988. Locate free Naloxone (Narcan), which can reverse overdoses, near you here. For the fourth year in a row, the number of Kentuckians who died from drug overdoses declined in 2025, [...]

Harlan Enterprise8h ago

As Kentucky is well known for the Kentucky Derby, the first Saturday in May, gardens in the Spring are known for their glorious Redbuds, snow white dogwoods, cheerful daffodils and [...]

Mountain Top Media8h ago

PRESS RELEASE: UK ATHLETICS LEXINGTON, Ky. – Justin McBride, a 6-foot-7 forward, has signed with the Kentucky men’s basketball program it was announced on Thursday. McBride averaged 15.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game at James Madison a season ago. The Plano, Texas, native was a third team pick for the All-Sun Belt team after appearing in all 31 games and making 30 starts for the Dukes in 2025-2

Mountain Top Media9h ago

BELFRY, Ky. -- A complaint about squatters resulted in two people being arrested on burglary charges.And one of them was later charged with drug trafficking after being found with meth and fentanyl at the jail. Police were called to Cow Branch Road at Belfry Wednesday evening over a report of people staying in a vacant home without permission. There, they encountered Vangie Thacker, 52, on the fro

Mountain Top Media11h ago

PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- To celebrate America turning 250, KET, in partnership with the Kentucky Historical Society and the America250KY Commission, will host a free screening of Ken Burns’ The American Revolution at the Appalachian Center for the Arts in Pikeville on Tuesday, May 12. The event will begin at 6:30 pm and feature a one-hour screening of the documentary followed by a panel discussion. This

Harlan Enterprise11h ago

James 1: 17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." Why do singers [...]

Mountain Top Media11h ago

RICHMOND, Va. — As spring arrives across the region, wildlife officials are reminding residents to leave young deer alone — even if they appear to be abandoned. With fawning season underway from May through July, it’s common for white-tailed deer fawns to be seen alone in yards, gardens and fields. Experts say this is normal behavior. Mother deer, known as does, often leave their fawns hidden for

Mountain Top Media11h ago

CLINTWOOD, Va. — The Dickenson County Board of Supervisors tackled ongoing public utility challenges and authorized new performance-based incentives for local emergency medical technicians during its recent April meeting. The meeting was highlighted by a public comment from Nathan Edwards, who represented 10 families residing on Crooked Branch struggling with severely low-to-nonexistent water pres

Mountain Top MediaApr 29

Alice Lloyd College added another piece to its roster on Thursday, as Prestonsburg senior Brady Allen signed to continue his baseball career with the Eagles. Allen has been a steady contributor for the Blackcats this season, batting .273. He has scored seven runs, driven in 18 RBIs, and recorded two doubles, one home run and three stolen bases. His all-around play has made him a valuable asset for

Mountain Top MediaApr 29

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The deadline to apply for the Kentucky Elk Hunt Drawing will be midnight on April 30, 2026. The fall elk quota hunt is among the most anticipated hunting opportunities available in Kentucky each year. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources will announce the winners for the Kentucky Elk Hunt Drawing throughout the day on Saturday, May 9, at the fourth annual Kentuck

Mountain EagleApr 29

Amy Asher Wilson reminisces while looking at photographs taken 50 years ago at Letcher High School and shared by a fellow classmate. She was one of nearly 25 classmates who attended the school’s 50th class reunion, held Saturday at Pine Mountain Grill. A photo of those attending appears inside this edition. The post Letcher High classmates revisit memories at 50-year reunion first appeared on The

Mountain EagleApr 29

The Letcher County Board of Education’s finance corporation will issue more than $1.4 million in bonds to replace roofs on two schools. The finance corporation and the board approved the resolution after a presentation by Lincoln Theinert, a partner with RSA Advisors of Lexington. The bonds will fund reroofing projects at Cowan Elementary School and Fleming-Neon Middle School and are [...] The pos

Mountain EagleApr 29

More than 6,600 Kentuckians — including 17 voters in Letcher County — have already cast ballots in the May 19 primary election, even though Election Day is still nearly three weeks away. As of Monday, 68 Letcher County residents had applied for mail-in absentee ballots. All 68 — 41 Democrats and 27 Republicans — qualified to receive the ballots. Seventeen [...] The post Absentee vote opens as prim

Mountain EagleApr 29

A new childcare option is opening in Jenkins, offering affordable services for families across Letcher County and elsewhere in the region, including those who qualify for financial assistance. Shining Stars Daycare is now enrolling and will provide care in what organizers describe as a safe, loving and educational environment for children. The center is located at 9599 Highway 805 in [...] The pos

Mountain EagleApr 29

DEAR DR. ROACH: I read your column every week. In a recent column, you wrote: “Since age is the major risk factor in getting cancer, it’s likely that some people who were cured of their original cancer will later succumb to a different one.” This statement terrified me as I fall into this category. I had a lobectomy in 2009 [...] The post Cancer survivor has worries first appeared on The Mountain

Mountain EagleApr 29

It’s a busy time of year as we near the end of school and proms and dances and trips. I have always looked forward to this time of year and into the summer vacation. The barefoot days of the time after May 1 have always been so welcome after winter’s cold has melted into spring. Mommy always made us wait [...] The post Mobile brick oven will open catering spaces first appeared on The Mountain Eagl

Mountain EagleApr 29

Hello again everyone. Once more I will ask the question, how is everything in your little corner of the world? There’s been so much sadness. It breaks my heart of passing of Nina Craft. I never met Nina in person, however I know she was one of the nicest people I’ve ever come in contact with. I sure would have [...] The post Nina Craft will be greatly missed first appeared on The Mountain Eagle .

Appalachian News-ExpressApr 25

The candidates running for the office of Pike County jailer participated in a political forum sponsored by Appalachian Newspapers Inc. on April 20.

Appalachian News-ExpressApr 25

The latest front in the electoral war between the parties of the jackass and the elephant is taking place in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

100 Days in AppalachiaApr 17

Maddie McGarvey has spent her career photographing rural Appalachia. She says she wants to bear witness to the struggle and resilience in forgotten pockets of the nation. The post Q&A: The Photographer Documenting Appalachian Poverty, And Resilience appeared first on 100 Days in Appalachia .