FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2026  ·  EASTERN KENTUCKY'S COMMUNITY NEWS HUB
All the news from the hollows & hills of Eastern Kentucky

Today's Stories 54 stories · Updated 06:36 PM

WTVQ ABC 364h ago

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) - Doctors are reminding people to protect their skin from harmful UV rays as more people spend time outside this summer. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the world, and dermatologists said long-term exposure to ultraviolet rays is the biggest preventable risk factor. Dr. James Wharton recommended avoiding the sun during peak...

Kentucky Lantern7h ago

Addiction Recovery Care, once Kentucky’s largest provider of addiction services, has reached a settlement with the federal government over “billing issues,” the Louisa, KY-based company said in a July 16 news release. It also announced it has reached a separate settlement with a finance company that had accused ARC of fraud. “The resolution of these [...]

WTVQ ABC 3616h ago

SCOTT COUNTY, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) - Audio of emergency dispatch calls are shedding light on the day Scott County firefighters became victims in a deadly crash while responding to another accident on I-75. The collision occurred Saturday, July 11, around 2:30 p.m. as Engine 6 crew members were assisting police with a car accident on the busy highway's...

WTVQ ABC 3616h ago

ROWAN COUNTY, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) - A free yard sale in Rowan County is giving families a chance to take what they need without spending a dime, as rising prices make it harder for many households to cover basic needs. Whitney Watercutter, with the Rowan County School Youth Services Center, said she regularly monitors what families in the...

WTVQ ABC 3620h ago

It definitely felt like the heart of July across Central and Eastern Kentucky again on Thursday with plenty of heat and humidity in place. Abundant sunshine early along with a few scattered clouds allowed afternoon highs to climb into the low-90s in many locations and with more humidity around, our "feel-like" temperatures crept toward the 100 degree mark during the...

Kentucky Lantern23h ago

Gov. Andy Beshear criticized the $3.2 million payout to retiring University of Kentucky Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart on Thursday, stating his disapproval despite the fact the funds were privately raised. "Yes, $3 million that could otherwise go to helping students, to better paying faculty, to doing research that could cure this disease that's afflicting one [...]

Harlan Enterprise23h ago

By Judith Victoria Hensley Plain Thoughts We’ve come a long way in the practice of modern medicine. Research is moving in new directions for diagnostics, prescriptions, treatments and surgical procedures [...]

Kentucky LanternJul 16

FRANKFORT – Two big Andy Beshear supporters from outside Kentucky provided the lion's share of the money donated to Beshear's super PAC between April 1 and June 30. Beshear's super PAC is called In This Together PAC Inc., and a report it filed Wednesday with the Internal Revenue Service shows: Ashish Patel, an investor from [...]

Kentucky LanternJul 16

Democratic socialism is on the rise in some blue states, but socialists are still rare in ruby red Republican Kentucky. That wasn't always so. Six-score years ago, Louisville hosted the Christian Socialist Fellowship movement's first national convention. The movement even spread to the Jackson Purchase, arguably Kentucky's Trumpiest territory today. The CSF aimed "to perfect [...]

Harlan EnterpriseJul 16

By Paul Lunsford Harlan Enterprise MARRIAGE LICENSES Morgan Suzzanne Pyles, 20, of Harlan, to Johnny Jared Brock, 21, of Evarts. Carolyn Fay Cochran, 65, of Welcome, to Gary Wayne Cochran, [...]

Mountain EagleJul 15

A trail camera in southern Letcher County captured this remarkable close-up of a young hawk as it spread its wings while landing only a few feet from the camera. The photograph was taken at 11:30 a.m. July 10 at Payne Gap near the headwaters of the North Fork of the Kentucky River, where Pine Mountain rises above the valley. Based [...] The post Young Hawk Makes Dramatic Appearance first appeared

Mountain EagleJul 15

Regional economic development officials are actively recruiting companies to build artificial intelligence data centers in Letcher County and neighboring counties, and one company has already secured an option to purchase land at the Gateway Regional Business Park in Jenkins for a proposed natural gas-fired power plant intended to support a future data center. Diversified Energy, formerly known as

Mountain EagleJul 15

Three people, including a Jenkins man accused of firing a handgun during a domestic dispute and later threatening police officers, have been named in felony indictments returned by the Letcher County Grand Jury. The indictments were returned July 9 before Letcher Circuit Judge James W. Craft II. Jesse James Thacker, 39, of 204 Rocky Hollow, Jenkins, was indicted on two [...] The post Indictment sa

Mountain EagleJul 15

Four-star offensive lineman Dominic Black of New Madison (Ohio) Tri-Village High School had almost 40 major college scholarship offers when he committed to Kentucky over Indiana, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Michigan State and others. The 6-foot-5, 290-pound Black is rated as a top-200 national recruit by both Rivals and 247Sports. Rivals has him as the No. 12 offensive tackle in his [...] The post T

Mountain EagleJul 15

There will always be parts of a lake that hold more fish than others. Fishermen refer to these areas as hot spots or honey holes. But there has to be something about these places that consistently produces better fishing than surrounding water. Features such as quick access to both deep and shallow water, abundant baitfish, several forms of cover at [...] The post The importance finding a great sp

Mountain EagleJul 15

The Letcher Fiscal Court will add another $1,000 per month to the amount it pays the Kentucky River Regional Animal Shelter after the shelter’s board chair told members of the court it did not have enough money to pay its bills. The shelter, located off KY 80 in Perry County, handles stray dogs and cats from four counties, and is [...] The post County to more in support of animal shelter first app

Mountain EagleJul 15

Rachel Shepherd, 84, of Mayking, died Thursday, July 9 at the Greg and Noreen Wells Hospice Center in Hazard. A daughter of the late William and Alice Lewis Boggs, she was the widow of Arlin Shepherd. Surviving are two sons, Allen Shepherd of London, and Tim Shepherd of Knoxville, Tenn.; two daughters, JoAnn Hall and Leisa Shepherd, both of Whitesburg; [...] The post Rites are held for Rachel Shep

Salyersville IndependentJul 10

COMBS BRANCH – A Salyersville woman was arrested on an attempted murder charge over the weekend after an alleged dispute about someone else taking a small child to breakfast. According to the arrest citation, Kentucky State Police Post 9 was dispatched to an assault complaint on July 5 at roughly 10 a.m. on Combs Branch [...]

Salyersville IndependentJul 10

ROYALTON – Two were arrested on Monday after a child was found playing in the road on Merlin Taulbee Road. According to the arrest citation, Magoffin County 911 had received a call from neighbors reporting a child playing in the road unsupervised. The neighbors reportedly watched the child to make sure he/she was safe until [...]

Salyersville IndependentJul 10

SALYERSVILLE – A Magoffin County grand jury released the following indictment, filed on June 18: Brandon R. Howard, 33, of West Liberty, was charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense, methamphetamine (Class D felony); first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense, fentanyl (Class D felony); and possession of drug paraphernalia (Class [...]

Salyersville IndependentJul 10

SALYERSVILLE — Magoffin County standout Abby Barnett concluded her high school career in the East-West All-Star Series in late-June. Barnett competed for the East Senior All-Stars. As a high school student-athlete, Barnett excelled for Magoffin County in softball, basketball and volleyball. Barnett batted .409 with 27 hits, 17 RBIs, seven doubles and five home runs [...]

Salyersville IndependentJul 10

SALYERSVILLE — Magoffin County High School is seeking a volleyball coach for the upcoming season. The 2026 high school volleyball season is scheduled to open in mid-August. MCHS showed improvement in the 2025 high school volleyball season. Finishing near the .500 mark in 2025, MCHS compiled an 8-10 overall record. MCHS won seven of its [...]

100 Days in AppalachiaJun 15

Throughout the Ohio River island’s history, flora and fauna have reacted and adjusted to human development like oil and gas wells. As humans abandoned the infrastructure, they've reclaimed their space. The post Muskingum: The End of an Island Refuge's Fossil Fuel Legacy appeared first on 100 Days in Appalachia .