Today's Stories 61 stories · Updated 05:11 PM

Man accused of killing sisters pleads guilty to several charges

Tooson’s sentencing is scheduled for June 25.

Fact✓Check | Voter party-switch “loophole” won’t work for Kentucky primary

State law blocks voters who withdraw and re-register under different party after Dec. 31 from voting in upcoming primary.

Kentucky pays large amounts of lottery revenue to players

Kentucky ranks second in the country for the most lottery sales returned to players.

InvestigateTV+: In-depth look at solution helping low-income homeowners to stay in long-time homes

InvestigateTV+ takes an in-depth look at how homeowners say handing over their deeds helped save their properties

Coleman announces intent to run for governor

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Those interested in politics are primarily focused on this year's local elections, and the race for Kentucky governor is more than a year away, but it received its first major candidate today. Democratic Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman announced she intends to take over from Gov. Andy Beshear, once his term ends in December 2027. “I spent the last two years meeting with Kentuckians,

Officers respond to mass shooting at a NC park, police say

Police are responding to a mass shooting at a park in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Two arrests made after alleged robbery, property damaged

Two men were arrested in St. Albans on Sunday, according to the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office.

LIVE: Officials give update after father fatally shoots 7 of children and their cousin

Neighbors described the chaos after a father who is accused of killing 7 of his children and their cousin was killed behind their home.

Deepfake scams infiltrate social media as voice cloning becomes easier

As deepfake technology and AI-generated content become increasingly sophisticated and harder to detect, one organization is trying to help expose how easy it is to create a deep fake and use it as a tool to weaponize and spread misinformation, manipulate public opinion, and identity.

Democrat Jacqueline Coleman announces 2027 run for Kentucky governor

FRANKFORT — Standing in front of the Hall of Governors at the Kentucky Historical Society, Democratic Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman announced her 2027 run for governor Monday morning. The 43-year-old, who is a former teacher, assistant principal and basketball coach, is making public education a cornerstone of her campaign. Coleman was Gov. Andy Beshear’s running [...]

Crews responding to large Frankfort power outage

The Frankfort Plant Board said crews are working on a large power outage in Frankfort.

WSAZ+ | Construction project bringing changes to commute; Media Day at GoMart Ballpark

Shannon Litton has a look at the top stories for Monday, April 20.

Sesame Street takes over during registration day at Wallins

Elmo and Cookie Monster crashed the Wallins Elementary School kindergarten and preschool registration and screenings last week. Youngsters were excited as they took part in various activities and received goodies [...]

How a Kentucky county uses flowers to fight stigma around mental health

Community leaders in Nelson County noticed a pattern lately: Kids were more stressed and they had fewer outlets for building meaningful connections. Seeking to fill those gaps, they opted Nelson County into a national movement called the Yellow Tulip Project, which helps break the stigma around mental health and gives communities positive outlets as they [...]

Bears, hounds and conservation in Kentucky

At its core, Kentucky’s bear management debate is not just about hounds or seasons, but how we conserve wildlife, who participates in that work, and whether we remain grounded in the principles that brought species like the black bear back to the landscape. The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation provides that foundation. It is [...]

City board agrees to continue its partnership with work program

The Harlan Independent School District is committed to continuing its partnership with the Rural Up program, it was confirmed at the Board of Education meeting on April 16 in the [...]

Wallins teen arrested for incident involving a minor

By Paul Lunsford Harlan Enterprise A Wallins native has been charged with procuring or promoting the use of a minor (proc/prom) by electronic means. Travis Burkhart, 19, was arrested by [...]

HCHS teams each finish second at Coal Miners Memorial race

By Abby Sherman Contributing Writer The Harlan County track team hosted the Coal Miners Memorial Invitational on Thursday. The Bears and Lady Bears each placed second overall with 144 and [...]

Andy Beshear urges Michigan Democrats to 'talk like a normal human' to win voters

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear told Michigan Democrats that candidates should “talk like a normal human” to connect with voters and win elections in tough states. Beshear was quick to introduce himself at the Michigan Democratic Party’s annual Legacy Dinner fundraiser as “the guy that won in deep red Kentucky,” which he said garners questions about [...]

Road open after trestle removal

New Hazard shop provides work opportunities for those in recovery

Beacon Revival Co. is a partnership between Primary Care Centers and Beacons of Hope, created to help people leaving treatment find purpose and job skills.

Former clinic owner pleads not guilty; trial date set

LONDON, Ky. -- Two weeks after one of the owners of a defunct Pikeville pain management clinic pleaded guilty to a federal drug conspiracy charge, his partner has seen her case has been set for trial. Brandy Melissa Meadows, 47, of Pikeville, a former owner of the Kentucky Mountain Health clinic, entered a not guilty plea in London federal court on Thursday. Earlier this month, her partner, Bryce

Helen Sue Pennington Paul

Helen Sue Pennington Paul (1941-2026) died April 5, 2026, in Lexington, Kentucky. Helen grew up in Harlan County and graduated from Loyall High School in 1959 where she was a [...]

Knott sex offender charged with not maintaining registration

HINDMAN, Ky. -- A Knott County sex offender has been charged with not maintaining his registration requirements. Stevie Shepherd, 62, of Hindman, was charged with failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements back in November, when the state was unable to verify his address. He wasn't arrested until Monday, when he was pulled over for traffic violations on the Mountain Parkway in W

Pikeville teen to perform with New York Pops at Carnegie Hall as part of Camp Broadway Ensemble

PIKEVILLE, Ky. — The Broadway Education Alliance has announced that Pikeville teen Aria Ferguson has been cast in the Camp Broadway Ensemble. The ensemble will perform with The New York Pops at their 43rd Birthday Gala at Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall on Monday, April 27. The New York Pops acclaimed Music Director and Conductor Steven Reineke will direct The New York Pops’ world

Cat Walters Comes Up Big, Pikeville takes down Shelby Valley

Pikeville leaned on timely hitting and aggressive base running to edge district rival Shelby Valley 6-5, and Cat Walters was right in the middle of it all. Walters delivered a strong performance at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and a triple to spark the Panthers’ offense. She also crossed the plate twice and wreaked havoc on the bases, tallying three stolen bases to keep constant pressure

Cumberland man sought after escaping on way to county jail

By Paul Lunsford Harlan Enterprise A Cumberland man escaped during a return trip to the Harlan County Detention Center on Thursday. Marquis D. Long, 24, left custody of a court [...]

Kentucky opens specialty crop grant program for 2026

FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) - The proposal window for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is now open, Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell announced on Wednesday. Specialty crops are defined as fruits [...]

Floyd man indicted for threatening judge during courtroom tirade

PRESTONSBURG, Ky. -- A man who went on a prolonged profanity-filled outburst in the middle of a court hearing last September has now been indicted for the tirade. Jonathan Joseph Howell, 44, of Auxier, was arrested back in August for sending threats to a postal worker, then charged with witness intimidation for trying to get the postal worker to change his testimony. During a preliminary hearing f

Kentucky Football Spring Game, What You Need to Know

PRESS RELEASE: UK ATHLETICS LEXINGTON, KY —Big Blue Nation’s first look at the 2026 Kentucky Football Team and new head coach Will Stein will be at the Spring Game, presented by Kentucky Farm Bureau, on Saturday, April 18 inside Kroger Field. Kickoff is at 11 a.m. ET. Seating and Admission General admission tickets are free, but fans must still claim a ticket due to limited capacity. Walkup ticket

Woman arrested after police responding to wreck discover car had been reported stolen

SALYERSVILLE, Ky. -- Things went from bad to worse for woman who rear-ended a motorcycle in Salyersville, when police discovered the car she had been driving had been reported stolen. Salyersville Police were called to West Maple Street just before 10 p.m. Monday, where they found a 2019 Toyota Camry on top of a motorcycle. The operator of the motorcycle was taken to a hospital for treatment of in

Ribbon cutting ceremony for coal miner memorial in Hazard

The memorial is located in Triangle Park and lists over 400 names of coal miners who gave their lives to fuel not just Perry County, but the entire country. The memorial is surrounded by coal.

High school trades program builds Eastern Kentucky workforce while repairing homes and buildings

Students in Teddy Martin’s class learn carpentry, heating and cooling, electrical and plumbing skills.

While eastern Kentuckians sleep this time of year, thousands of birds are flying overhead as they go north

Most nights this time of year, while Letcher County sleeps, thousands of birds are flying overhead. They are traveling north from wintering grounds as far away as South America, crossing Kentucky under cover of darkness, navigating by stars, wind patterns and the Earth’s magnetic field. By sunrise, they settle into trees along ridges like Pine Mountain and Black Mountain — [...] The post While eas

A life documenting Appalachia earns highest UK honor

When Malcolm Wilson got the call from University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto, he didn’t quite know what to make of it. The longtime photographer, now a regular contributor to The Mountain Eagle, was told he would receive an honorary Doctor of Arts degree — the highest honor the university can bestow. “I am both honored and humbled,” Wilson said. [...] The post A life documenting Appalachia

‘Birding’ is for everybody

Birders have always been among the more obvious nerds in biology. You’ve probably seen small clusters of them stumbling along with binoculars or long-lensed cameras pressed to their faces, eagerly scanning the landscape. I’m guessing you’re not a birder — but stay with me for a minute, because I want you to see what you’re missing. If you can get [...] The post ‘Birding’ is for everybody first app

Pike Board of Health responds to social media criticism about health director

The Pike County Board of Health has released a statement addressing allegations of political dealings and allegations of conflicts of interest recently raised on social media.

Vote buying, the cost of dishonest government

As we march toward the primary election date of May 19, 2026, a date when thousands of Kentuckians will cast their votes for their choice of candidates who they believe will provide them with honest representation, many would be surprised to know that some elections have already

New laws delivered to Secretary of State

Just two days — April 14 and 15 — are left in this year’s legislative session and many of the bills delivered to the governor before we adjourned on April have now been acted upon and sent to the Secretary of State. In Kentucky, the Secretary of State receives and files all bills

Religious war

I can understand why the Catholic Church makes the administration of President Donald Trump so twitchy.

Perry County wildfires threaten homes as crews battle fires

As of Monday morning, Perry County had a total of 13 fires either active or contained.

KSP: Pike man caught burglarizing residence while using a juvenile to assist

A Pikeville man was arrested after, Kentucky State Police said, he was caught burglarizing a residence while using a juvenile to assist in the crime.

PMC honored at Kentucky Hospital Association Annual Quality Conference