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

Today's Stories 68 stories · Updated 10:13 PM

Kentucky Lantern13m ago

FRANKFORT — A 380-page bill that underwent significant changes before advancing late in this year’s legislative session would ban the sale of kratom, restrict a type of school board taxation and tax prediction markets, among other changes. The latest version of House Bill 757, sponsored by Rep. Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, passed Wednesday morning out of [...]

WSAZ1h ago

Storm watch this evening then better into the Easter weekend. Tony lays out the forecast.

WTVQ ABC 361h ago

MOREHEAD, Ky. (ABC36 News Now) — The Morehead Fire Department reported that no one was injured after a duplex fire on South Blair Street Wednesday afternoon. The department added that West Main Street is closed as of 3:45 Wednesday and officials asked that drivers use an alternate route. The cause of the fire is under investigation, officials added. Categories: Featured,...

WTVQ ABC 361h ago

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) - One person has been arrested in connection with a shooting and robbery that happened on Cantrill Drive in Lexington. According to the Lexington Police Department, officers were dispatched around 5:30 p.m. on March 17, 2026, to a residence in the 1700 block of Cantrill Drive for a report of shots fired. When officers arrived,...

WTVQ ABC 362h ago

LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) - The Laurel County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public’s help locating a missing man. Sheriff John Root says Nicholas Brad Shepherd, 52, was reported missing on April 1, 2026. Deputies describe Shepherd as a white male, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing around 160 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair....

Mountain Top Media2h ago

VICCO, Ky. -- A Perry County man who was charged with murder for his connection to a fatal UTV crash in February now faces new charges based on allegations that came to light after the crash. Noah Back, 26, of Vicco, was a passenger in the crash Feb. 28, along with another man and two 16-year-old girls. One of the teens was driving at the time, and the other, Emilynn Clark, died of injuries sustai

WTVQ ABC 362h ago

It was an unseasonably warm start to April across Central and Eastern Kentucky (no joke) as the summer-like feel stayed locked in Wednesday. A steady southwest wind continued to push warmer air into the commonwealth and with a mix of clouds and sunshine, afternoon highs climbed into the upper 70s and low 80s. A slow moving frontal system to our...

WTVQ ABC 362h ago

FRANKFORT, Ky. (ABC36 News Now) — Legislation aimed at improving literacy instruction and strengthening policies against teacher misconduct in Kentucky has been delivered to the governor. House Bill 253, sponsored by Representative James Tipton, prohibits the "three-cueing" teaching method by the 2029-2030 school year. The measure shifts early literacy education to the "science of reading," which

Mountain Top Media3h ago

SALYERSVILLE, Ky. -- A broken tail light was all it took to send a Floyd County man to jail for meth trafficking. A Magoffin County sheriff's deputy was on patrol Tuesday evening along Route 378 at Far Middle Fork, when he noticed a car with a malfunctioning tail light, so he pulled it over. In the police report, the deputy noted that the driver, Jackie Bailey, 44, of Harold, seemed nervous and ev

Mountain Top Media4h ago

With baseball season in full swing heading into April, Mountain Top Sports plans to release weekly rankings. These rankings are completely based on opinion, and the crew would love to hear your feedback on who we got right and who you guys think we are sleeping on. Stay tuned to our Mountain Top Sports website and Facebook page for our weekly ranking updates! As of April 1, 2026: The post 15th Reg

Mountain Top Media4h ago

With softball season in full swing heading into April, Mountain Top Sports plans to release weekly rankings. These rankings are completely based on opinion, and the crew would love to hear your feedback on who we got right and who you guys think we are sleeping on. Stay tuned to our Mountain Top Sports website and Facebook page for our weekly ranking updates! As of April 1, 2026: The post 15th Reg

Kentucky Lantern4h ago

FRANKFORT — The Kentucky General Assembly approved a bill Wednesday to transition the state's only public historically Black university into a polytechnic institution, after a House committee amended the measure to honor the campus’ legacy. Republicans and Democrats on the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee unanimously approved a new version of Senate Bill 185, which [...]

Harlan Enterprise4h ago

Have you ever had one of those days where you feel like you are holding a stick and everyone you come across looks like a pinata? That sums up my [...]

Harlan Enterprise4h ago

Exodus 5:1 "And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto [...]

Mountain Top Media4h ago

There may a few less statistics that come to mind when considering achievements on the mound - strikeouts being the first to come to mind for most. Then you have wins, of course. Surely, too, there are walks and batters hit by pitch, the less dignified of pitching records. For now, we're going to focus on the positives. But aside from wins and strikeouts, there are the rare moments for pitchers, t

Harlan Enterprise5h ago

FRANKFORT -- April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and Kentuckians are being reminded by state highway safety officials to drive distraction-free to keep themselves and others safe on the [...]

Mountain Top Media6h ago

PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- Two Floyd County women have been arrested for drug trafficking, after police raided their hotel room in Pikeville. Early Wednesday morning, Pikeville Police served a search warrant for room 321 at Comfort Suites as part of a drug investigation. They reported finding fentanyl, meth, cocaine and a variety of pills, along with cash, packaging materials and cutting agents. The occupa

Mountain Top Media7h ago

WHITESBURG, Ky. -- A former Letcher County sheriff accused of murder is not giving up on his efforts to have the judge presiding over his case disqualified. Former Sheriff Shawn Mickey Stines is charged with murder for the Sept. 19, 2024, shooting death of Letcher District Judge Kevin Mullins in the judge's chambers. Back in December, a hearing in the case was abruptly canceled after the parties a

Harlan Enterprise9h ago

If I could go back to those early years of motherhood, I'd still smile at the egg hunts, the chocolate bunnies, the coloring contests, the painted eggs. Those were sweet [...]

Mountain Eagle11h ago

Vocational school students in Letcher County are working at more than 10 agencies and businesses across the county, and 95 percent of them are expected to graduate “post-secondary ready,” Area Technology Center Principal Casey Breeding said. Addressing the Letcher County Board of Education at its regular monthly meeting, Breeding said the state set a goal of 75 percent of students [...] The post V

Mountain Eagle11h ago

A long-delayed project to replace hundreds of sewage grinder pumps in Fleming-Neon will be rebid after officials determined unnecessary federal requirements were included in the original bid documents. The project involves replacing more than 350 grinder pumps damaged in the July 2022 flood. The pumps are used to move sewage from homes and businesses into the city’s sewer system, particularly [...

Mountain Eagle11h ago

A Jenkins man accused of having his girlfriend smuggle contraband to a now-former jail guard has been indicted again — this time for allegedly threatening the girlfriend over a monitored jail telephone line. Gavin Polly, 27, of 7759 Hwy. 119 N, Jenkins, is charged with two counts of intimidating a participant in the legal process, third-degree terroristic threatening, and second-degree [...] The p

Mountain Eagle11h ago

When Jake Feldhaus of Madison Central was named Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball, it came as no surprise to his father, Deron Feldhaus, a former University of Kentucky player. “I was pretty confident. I studied the other players,” said Deron Feldhaus, who was one of “The Unforgettables” under Rick Pitino at UK. “(Madison Central coach) Allen (Feldhaus) does a great job of [...] The post How Jake Feldhaus

Mountain Eagle11h ago

I’ve heard all kinds of sayings about fishing — the best times to go, moon phases, weather, water levels and just about everything else. Some of those sayings seem to hold true, while others are just old advice that’s been passed around for years. But one saying I’ve always believed is this: when the dogwood trees bloom, it’s time to [...] The post Spring crappie run comes with need to let some gr

Mountain Eagle11h ago

Struttin’ Time readers, I often get asked a question: “Steve, what do you do when you’re not hunting or fishing?” I usually just pass over that question. But after this weekend, I’ve decided to tell all of you exactly what I do. Listen closely — I spend my extra time with friends, just like you. I’m going to use this [...] The post What keeps me busy when I’m not on a hunting trip first appeared o

Mountain Eagle11h ago

Pictured above are some of the 30 people turned out for the No Kings III protest in Whitesburg on Saturday. The event drew an estimated 8 million people in towns and cities across the country. The protest is intended to voice displeasure with President Donald Trump and the billionaire class. According to estimates, at least 8 million attended one of [...] The post 30 people turn out for ‘No Kings’

Mountain Eagle11h ago

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Amy McGrath said rising costs for health care, energy and everyday goods are the top concerns she is hearing from voters across Eastern Kentucky. During a campaign stop in Whitesburg last week, McGrath said affordability — particularly insurance premiums — is driving frustration among residents. “I’m hearing the same thing everywhere — prices,” she said. “How [...]

Kentucky Lantern12h ago

On March 26, I arrived early at the Kentucky Capitol Annex with the expectation that House Bill 78 — to protect the $91 billion firearms industry from lawsuits — might be presented in Senate Judiciary even though that committee had still, as of 8 a.m., not posted a public agenda for their 9 a.m. meeting. [...]

Kentucky Lantern19h ago

FRANKFORT — With just one working day before breaking for the veto period, the Kentucky legislature still has to approve a two-year state budget. Senate President Robert Stivers told reporters Tuesday night that a final version of House Bill 500, the $31 billion executive branch budget, could be published online later in the evening. “Documents [...]

Kentucky Lantern22h ago

FRANKFORT — The Kentucky Senate has lowered the copays Medicaid patients would have to pay under a bill that proposes a work requirement and other sweeping changes to the federal-state program. House Bill 2 proposed adding copays of $35 for inpatient hospital services and $8 copays for prescription glasses and contacts. In the Senate version, [...]

Mountain Top MediaMar 31

SALYERSVILLE, Ky. -- One man has been arrested, but deputies are on the hunt for another, following a drug raid at a Magoffin County home. Magoffin County sheriff's deputies served a search warrant at a Lakeville home of Eddie McFarland, 34, on Sunday. Sheriff Bill Meade tells Mountain Top News the raid was the culmination of a long drug investigation that resulted in several undercover buys. Mead

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.