THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2026  ·  EASTERN KENTUCKY'S COMMUNITY NEWS HUB
All the news from the hollows & hills of Eastern Kentucky

Today's Stories 59 stories · Updated 06:37 PM

Perry man given three life sentences for incest, sodomy
Mountain Top Media6m ago

HAZARD, Ky. -- A Perry County man has been given three life sentences for charges related to the sexual abuse of children. Harrison Cress, 58, of Slemp, was found guilty two counts of first-degree sodomy, one count of incest, and three counts of first-degree sexual abuse back in October. All of the charges dealt with victims younger than 12 years old. Prosecutors say Cress groomed multiple childre

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Kentucky Lantern39m ago

LOUISVILLE — A hearing Friday over whether former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin’s estranged son, Jonah Bevin, is entitled to child support or educational assistance has been postponed after Bevin’s lawyers asked the state Supreme Court to remove the judge from the case. Jonah, who alleges his adoptive parents, Matt and Glenna Bevin, abandoned him at [...]

WTVQ ABC 3656m ago

ASHLAND, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — The Ashland Fire Department says that a 13-year-old is dead following a fire Tuesday evening involving multiple homes on Central Avenue in Ashland. According to officials, they received a call around 7:08 p.m. on Tuesday reporting a structure fire on Central Avenue. When arriving on the scene, officials say two homes were emitting...

Mountain Top Media1h ago

CLINTWOOD, Va. -- The Dickenson County School Board met recently to discuss administrative business, financial reports, and student recognition for achievements. Reports were heard from representatives of the Dickenson County Education Association (DEA) regarding budget negotiations and upcoming conventions. In the Good News segment from county schools, Supt. Haydee Robinson recognized Braden Hill

Mountain Top Media2h ago

CLINTWOOD, Va. -- The Dickenson County Board of Supervisors met March 24, addressing various administrative actions, grant approvals, resolutions and personnel matters. Supervisors approved a $30,000 grant application for new body cameras, with a county match of $7,302 in addition to approving the 2026 Cumberland Plateau Regional Waste Management Authority user agreement. The board also authorized

Mountain Top Media2h ago

PRESTONSBURG, Ky. -- Deputies responding to a report of a domestic disturbance ended up taking a man to jail on drug trafficking charges. The Floyd County Sheriff's Office was called Wednesday night to a home at Spurlock. When they arrived, they spotted one of the suspects allegedly involved in the disturbance -- Shawn Spurlock, 34, of Staffordsville -- running behind the home and up a hill. The c

Mountain Top Media2h ago

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- A Pike County man has entered a guilty plea to a federal drug charge involving pounds of meth. Adam Lee Little Jr., 51, of Elkhorn City, appeared in Frankfort federal court on Wednesday, where he entered a guilty plea to possession of more than 500 grams of meth with the intent to distribute before a magistrate. Police raided Little's home on April 21, 2021, where they seized nea

WTVQ ABC 362h ago

(ABC 36 NEWS NOW) - Governor Andy Beshear has ordered flags at all state buildings to be lowered to half-staff on March 27 in honor of Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, who was killed in Operation Epic Fury. ABC 36 media partner LEX 18 previously reported that according to the U.S. Department of War, Sgt. Pennington of Glendale, Kentucky, died on March...

Kentucky Lantern3h ago

There is an old story policy analysts like to tell about liquor laws. In the American South, two groups reliably showed up at the statehouse to support alcohol prohibition: Baptist ministers, who opposed drinking on moral grounds, and bootleggers, who opposed it on profit grounds. The Baptists supplied the righteous cover while the bootleggers supplied [...]

Harlan Enterprise4h ago

Eighth-grade students from James A. Cawood Elementary School recently took part in a “College and Career Readiness” series hosted by the Kentucky Community and Technical College System where they explored [...]

Kentucky Lantern4h ago

A former Republican state senator came to the Capitol Annex Thursday morning to speak against a bill that would allow public agencies to ask for photo IDs from Kentuckians who make open records requests. Adrienne Southworth, an attorney from Lawrenceburg who lost her Senate seat in a Republican primary in 2024, raised concerns during a [...]

Kentucky Lantern20h ago

A bill that would impose a 25-foot buffer zone around “first responders,” including federal immigration agents, is nearing final passage in the GOP-controlled Kentucky legislature. Senate Bill 104 would criminalize harassing or impeding local law enforcement, medics and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The Kentucky House of Representatives approved the measure by a 79-16 vote [...]

Kentucky Lantern20h ago

FRANKFORT — A Kentucky bill that would mandate a year-long expulsion for students who intentionally physically harm a school employee on campus or during a school function has now passed both legislative chambers. Senate Bill 101 applies to students in sixth-12th grades; the suspension would last for at least a year. It passed the House [...]

Harlan Enterprise21h ago

By Paul Lunsford Harlan Enterprise Civil Lawsuits Shawn Williams, et al., vs. Zella Jones — custody. Liberty Federal Credit Union vs. Michael Vincent Witt — contract dispute. Heights Finance Corporation [...]

Mountain Top Media23h ago

Paintsville baseball player Luke Stratton just achieved what every pitcher strives for. The junior right-handed pitcher was perfect on the mound Monday night against Shelby Valley. He threw six shoutout innings, struck out 11 batters, and did not allow a baserunner all night, and he did this only throwing 62 pitches with 51 strikes! He also ended the night with 2 RBI to help lead his team to a 10-

Mountain Top MediaMar 25

PRESTONSBURG, Ky. -- A man who was convicted of shooting a Prestonsburg police officer back in 2015 has been arrested once again, this time for drug trafficking. Robert L. Powers, 38, of Sitka, was arrested Tuesday morning, after he was pulled over for suspected DUI and police found meth, marijuana and other drugs, along with drug sales paraphernalia inside his vehicle. He and a passenger, Hillary

Mountain Top MediaMar 25

PRESS RELEASE: MARSHALL ATHLETICS HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall University Baseball team (13-10) fell 3-0 to No. 17 West Virginia on Tuesday night at Jack Cook Field in Huntington, West Virginia. “It was a really good college baseball game tonight. We really appreciate Herd Nation for coming out. It was a great crowd, great atmosphere here,” Herd Baseball Head Coach Greg Beals said. “Give their

Harlan EnterpriseMar 25

You've all heard the adage, 'In like a lion, out like a lamb' when describing the windy month of March. That has certainly held true this month, as Mother Nature [...]

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

WYMTMar 24

Michael Brown, Anthony Browning, and Michael Shortridge were arrested in January 2025, each charged with murder after Kentucky State Police troopers found Christopher Lester shot dead in the Steele community.

Appalachian News-ExpressMar 24

We, the people of Pike County, raised enough cane on Facebook, TikTok and in fiscal court lately to get a controversial landfill voted down, but I’m not ready to celebrate. Rural Pike County is still a public dump.

Salyersville IndependentMar 23

SALYERSVILLE – Two local candidates who will be on the ballot in May officially have withdrawn from their respective races. Magoffin County Clerk Renee Shepherd announced over the past week that Magoffin County District 3 Magistrate Sam Bailey Jr. has removed his name from the Democrat Magistrate District 3 race, and Timmy Salyer has removed [...]

Appalachian News-ExpressMar 22

A Pike man and woman are facing charges, including child endangerment, after Kentucky State Police responded to a report of an assault.

Salyersville IndependentMar 20

DRY BREAD – A Magoffin County man was arrested at a residence on Dry Bread on Saturday and charged with multiple drug trafficking charges. After receiving a tip, the Magoffin County Sheriff Department served a search warrant at a home on Dry Bread Road, in Magoffin County, with deputies seizing several grams of cocaine, numerous [...]

Salyersville IndependentMar 20

CONNELLEY FARM – Two were arrested Sunday night after reportedly attempting to evade police on a moped. According to the arrest citations, Magoffin County Sheriff Deputies C. Risner and N. Watson were on patrol on KY Rt. 30 when they reportedly observed a moped with two occupants traveling eastbound with a dim headlight and no [...]

Salyersville IndependentMar 20

SALYERSVILLE – The Magoffin County Fiscal Court met in regular session on Tuesday, March 17, discussing spring cleanup dates, some upcoming grant opportunities and county road additions. Under financial business, the court approved the following fund transfers from the general fund: $59,000 to the jail fund and $21,000 to the LGEA fund. They also approved [...]

Salyersville IndependentMar 20

JELLICO – The North Magoffin Fire Department responded to a structure fire on Jellico Road, with one of their own losing their home. On Monday, March 16, 2026, a North Magoffin Fire Department member, Scott Phipps, was at home and in the bed when the fire started, waking up to smoke. He quickly ran out [...]

Salyersville IndependentMar 20

SALYERSVILLE – The following indictment, handed down on February 19 by a Magoffin County grand jury, was released this week: Eric D. Allen, 34, of Bloomington Road, in Salyersville, is charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense, greater than or equal to 2 grams of methamphetamine (Class C felony). According to the [...]