TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2026  ·  EASTERN KENTUCKY'S COMMUNITY NEWS HUB
All the news from the hollows & hills of Eastern Kentucky

Today's Stories 63 stories · Updated 06:17 PM

Kentucky Lantern35m ago

FRANKFORT — The Kentucky House has agreed with changes the Senate made to one of its election bills — including raising political donations limits for candidates in the state. When it first left the House, House Bill 139 was an annual “clean up” bill for election policies. The Senate unveiled a new version last week, adding [...]

Mountain Top Media44m ago

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- The Kentucky Public Service Commission has granted Mountain Water District's request to decide its request for a rate increase without a public hearing, but is not ready to rule on the matter yet. In its application filed in November, Mountain Water asked for permission to raise rates across the board. Their proposal would raise residential rates by 22 percent, jumping from about

WTVQ ABC 3656m ago

(ABC 36 NEWS NOW) - A Franklin Circuit Court judge has ruled that the impeachment articles against Fayette Circuit Judge Julie Muth Goodman are null and void stating the Kentucky House of Representatives failed to charge her with an impeachable offense. Judge Phillip J. Shepherd issued the order on Tuesday, declaring that the legislature's impeachment power does not extend to...

WTVQ ABC 362h ago

RICHMOND, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — Eastern Kentucky University is now the third-largest public university in Kentucky for student enrollment, according to recent data from the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education. According to a press release from EKU, its enrollment for Fall 2025 totaled 15,969 students. “EKU’s climb to the third largest public university in the state reflects our...

WTVQ ABC 363h ago

BARREN COUNTY, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — A man is facing charges after making a bomb threat against the Barren County Courthouse ahead of his scheduled court appearance on Monday. Officials responded to the building just after 10 a.m. after personnel reported they had received "a phone call from an unknown male who claimed there was a bomb in...

Kentucky Lantern4h ago

A Franklin Circuit judge has declared the Kentucky House’s impeachment of a Fayette Circuit judge “null and void” though he says the outcome of the proceeding now rests with the state Supreme Court and Senate. Judge Phillip Shepherd ruled Tuesday that the impeachment petition against Fayette Judge Julie Goodman failed to “allege any ‘misdemeanor in [...]

Harlan Enterprise4h ago

Wallace Paul Lunsford, 84, of Lexington, Tenn., was welcomed to Heaven on March 30, 2026, at the Lexington Post Acute Nursing Home.He was born Jan. 3, 1942, in Harlan County, [...]

WTVQ ABC 364h ago

(ABC 36 NEWS NOW) - More than 138,000 Kentucky children will continue to receive a free book in the mail each month after state lawmakers restored a funding match for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. A previous version of Kentucky's main budget bill contained a provision to reduce the state's contribution to one-third of the cost of the books. More...

Kentucky Lantern8h ago

FRANKFORT — A powerful lawmaker is seeking a change in state law that would boost an “unprecedented” natural gas pipeline project in his home county. House budget committee chair Jason Petrie, a Republican from the Todd County seat of Elkton, is backing an exemption from state regulation for the project which is aimed at spurring [...]

Kentucky Lantern20h ago

Kentucky House Republicans asked Justice Pamela Goodwine to recuse herself from reviewing an impeachment petition contested before the state’s Supreme Court, while attorneys for the judge at the center of the case are arguing Goodwine should stay on the panel. Goodwine, who also faced an impeachment petition this year, recused herself from the suit brought [...]

Mountain Top Media22h ago

Kentucky just made a much-needed hire after the departure of assistant coaches, Alvin Brooks and Josh Hart. Mo Williams, a 13-year NBA veteran, has joined the basketball staff as of today. Mo had a long successful career in the NBA and has many connections to the league that can help Kentucky with recruiting and developing talent for the next level. Just last week, Mark Pope got his first commitme

Mountain Top Media23h ago

MARROWBONE, Ky. -- A Pike County man has been arrested for drug trafficking, after a caller reported witnessing a drug deal at his home. A caller reported seeing a woman in a silver Chevy Suburban receiving drugs Sunday evening from a home on Left Fork of Dry Fork. Police found the vehicle and arrested the driver, Jessica Shell, 45, of Grundy, for possession of meth and drug paraphernalia. Police

Mountain Top MediaMar 30

ASHLAND, Ky. - The Rice/Stanley Boyd County Classic track meet was held in Ashland this past weekend and when the field was clear, Pikeville High School saw eight track and field participants walk away with personal best records. Despite the chilly temperatures, the following student-athletes finished with highlights of these final results: Junior Cadence Compton Runner Up – 1600m (5:51.65). Junio

Mountain Top MediaMar 30

BETSY LAYNE, Ky. -- A Wise County man is facing a felony assault charge, for allegedly driving drunk when he was involved in an injury crash at Betsy Layne. Deputies were called to the crash which occurred last Wednesday night. When they arrived, they found Carter Ferrell Willey, 23, of Wise, who the police report describes as smelling of alcohol and slurring his speech while being belligerent. Wi

Mountain Top MediaMar 30

Many people may not have heard, but Kentucky has a new professional team to get excited for. The Louisville Kings are the newest addition to the United Football League (UFL) for the 2026 season. The Kings played their first game as a franchise this past Friday, March 27, in front of a sold-out crowd at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky. Unfortunately, they fell short in their season open

Harlan EnterpriseMar 30

Board Members and Executives from Commercial Bank traveled to New York City on Monday, March 23, where Terry Lee, President and CEO, rang the opening bell at Nasdaq MarketSite, marking [...]

Mountain Top MediaMar 30

A great player for Wheelwright, the first in its great basketball history to ever make the All-State 1st Team, was Jeff Riley. Riley accomplished that feat in his senior season of 1977. Steadily through his high school career, Riley’s stats climbed before exploding in his senior season of 1976-77. As a freshman Riley scored 11 ppg. As a sophomore that average went up to 17 ppg. As a junior it clim

Mountain Top MediaMar 30

BOONEVILLE, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky will welcome a new wave of visitors and economic activity this spring as the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), in partnership with Backroads of Appalachia (BOA), launches the SCCA Appalachian Rallycross Series: AOT Rally-X Spring Challenge on April 11, 2026. The event will take place at the Appalachian Overland Triangle (AOT), located at 2843 Little Sturgeon Cre

Harlan EnterpriseMar 30

Those two dreaded words conjure up losing an hour of sleep each year as we try to navigate the early morning darkness. However, to our Winter sleeping plants Spring has [...]

Kentucky LanternMar 30

In this episode of the podcast "Stories From the States," you’ll meet Max Moran, a sixth-generation Kentucky farmer, who’s part of a local fight against a proposed hyperscale data center in Mason County. Moran, also a Germantown city commissioner, helps lead We Are Mason County, a group pushing back against the proposal. At least 37 [...]

Harlan EnterpriseMar 29

Five members of the Harlan Dojo Of Mixed Martial Arts were winners at the Elite Martial Arts Challenge (EMAC) Kentucky State Championship 2A State Sport Karate Tournament in Elizabethtown. The [...]

Salyersville IndependentMar 27

SALYERSVILLE – A local artist seeking healing through art and scripture combined the two for an exhibit, now on display at the Magoffin County Public Library. Debbie Lemaster, a retired art teacher from both Johnson County and Magoffin County schools, lost her son 13 years ago this June and said she wanted to do something [...]

Salyersville IndependentMar 27

SALYERSVILLE – A former Herald Whitaker Middle School teacher took a plea deal in Magoffin County Circuit Court last week, accepting five years in prison on charges related to inappropriate communications with a juvenile. Jordan Cobb, 32, of Coon Creek Rd., in Salyersville, appeared in court on Thursday, March 19, and pleaded guilty to one [...]

Salyersville IndependentMar 27

Braelyn Meade, from Johnson County, won first place at the state level for her Conservation Art entry, up against students from the 121 conservation districts across the state. The Johnson County Conservation District Awarded Braelyn with a trophy, plaque and monetary prize for her hard work. Braelyn is the daughter of Justin and Angelica Meade, [...]

Salyersville IndependentMar 26

Skylar Osborne is a 13-year-old student at Herald Whitaker Middle School. She recently attended the USAG State Gymnastics meet in Beckley, West Virginia. Osborne competed as a Level 7 gymnast, where she took the state title on vault and bars, runner-up on floor, and a 3rd-place finish on beam. She also became the state all-around [...]

Salyersville IndependentMar 26

Magoffin County Health Department’s Abbie Conley was honored at the Kentucky Public Health Association Conference last week. Conley received the 2026 Sara C. Stice Award for her work as a health education coordinator. The Sara C. Stice Award honors one person from the state of Kentucky who has made an outstanding contribution in the field [...]

Appalachian News-ExpressMar 26

A bond reduction request for a man charged with the possession of matter portraying sexual performance by a minor has been denied, according to court documents.

Mountain EagleMar 25

In golf, there are links courses, parkland courses and desert courses — and, of course, putt-putt. But down a muddy trail scattered with fallen limestone and sandstone from an old railroad cut, a completely different kind of course is taking shape in Jenkins. When finished, the Boulder Run Disc Golf Course will wind through the woods and climb the side [...] The post A new kind of golf takes fligh

Mountain EagleMar 25

Letcher County Schools will have a new superintendent this fall. Denise Yonts, who has served in the position for the past eight years, announced this week that she will retire at the end of June after 33 years in the district. The Letcher County Board of Education work with the Kentucky School Boards Association to conduct a search for her [...] The post Superintendent stepping down after eight y

Mountain EagleMar 25

As residents across eastern Kentucky struggle with rising electric bills — and worry about the next increase — Kentucky Power has asked state regulators to approve a nearly $200 million project at a coal-fired power plant that helps supply electricity to the region. The utility filed an application with the Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) earlier this year seeking permission [...] The pos

Mountain EagleMar 25

Kentucky Power Company is asking state regulators to reconsider parts of a recent decision on its proposed rate increase, arguing that cuts ordered by the Kentucky Public Service Commission could harm the company’s financial stability and electric service reliability. In a motion for rehearing filed with the PSC, the utility challenges several elements of the Commission’s February order in its [..

Mountain EagleMar 25

New filings in the Mitchell power plant case show that state regulators and outside groups are closely scrutinizing Kentucky Power’s proposal to spend nearly $200 million on a new cooling tower. The Kentucky Attorney General’s Office and a group representing large industrial customers have filed detailed questions asking the company to explain how the project will be paid for and [...] The post Ne

Mountain EagleMar 25

Turkey populations may be improving statewide, but harvest numbers in Letcher County tell a different story. With Kentucky’s 2026 spring turkey hunting season arriving soon, state officials say recent data shows turkey populations have rebounded in recent years, offering encouraging signs for the 2026 spring season. However, harvest numbers in Letcher County have declined over the past several yea

Mountain EagleMar 25

Eighth-grader Pierre Rondo made his state tournament debut last week for North Oldham, and it’s clear he’s already ahead of schedule. Now in his second varsity season, Rondo averaged 14 points and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 38 percent from 3-point range. Of course, the name sounds familiar. His father, former University of Kentucky standout and NBA star Rajon [...] The post Kentucky’s nex

Mountain EagleMar 25

At last, it’s starting to feel like spring. We may still have a few scattered frosty mornings, but I believe the snow is probably behind us. I’m ready to get my garden started, get my boat ready, and head out for some early spring crappie fishing. There’s an old saying that when the dogwoods bloom, it’s time for crappie to [...] The post When the dogwoods bloom, it’s time to fish for crappie first