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

Today's Stories 66 stories · Updated 12:19 PM

NORCs: Aging neighborhoods offer community support, care challenges
WSAZ3m ago

Naturally occurring retirement communities are neighborhoods that have gradually aged as residents chose to stay in their homes rather than move to planned retirement facilities. They can provide both comfort and challenges to older Americans who decide to age in place.

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Harlan Enterprise5m 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 Eagle1h 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 Eagle1h 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 Eagle1h 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 Eagle1h 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 Eagle1h 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 Eagle1h 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 Eagle1h 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 Eagle1h 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 Lantern2h 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 Lantern9h 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 Lantern12h 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, [...]

WTVQ ABC 3613h ago

A newly released 14-page report details the death of 48-year-old inmate Marvin Knuckles, who fell down a cliff while on a snow removal detail at the Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex on January 27. The Critical Incident Review team under the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet compiled the report, which includes photos and findings from the area where Knuckles fell....

WTVQ ABC 3613h ago

Senate Bill 289, also known as Wynter's Law, faces an uncertain future as the legislative session ticks down. The bill would expand the criteria for issuing an AMBER Alert, helping missing child cases that do not meet current requirements. The legislation is named after a Rockcastle County teen who went missing in October 2025, with no alert issued for...

Kentucky Lantern15h ago

FRANKFORT — Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has vetoed a bill that critics say would block Kentuckians from suing pesticide companies for failing to warn of their products’ hazards. Beshear called it “dangerous for Kentuckians” and something that “flies in the face of making America healthy.” Beshear in his Tuesday veto message said Senate Bill [...]

WTVQ ABC 3616h ago

We finished off the month of March in style on Tuesday across Central and Eastern Kentucky with another unseasonably warm day across the board. With a breezy southwest wind gusting to around 30 miles per hour along with a mix of clouds and sunshine, afternoon highs surged into the upper 70s and low 80s, giving that summer-like feel once again....

Harlan Enterprise16h ago

The Resurrection is one of the most significant events in human history, and yet John sprints through the story in 432 words. The other Gospel accounts are even shorter! John [...]

Kentucky Lantern17h ago

FRANKFORT — A Laurel County Grand Jury has indicted London Mayor Randall Weddle on four felony counts, alleging he made $93,000 in excessive contributions to the 2023 campaign of Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear and the Kentucky Democratic Party. The indictment was returned Tuesday afternoon and announced in a brief news release by Kentucky Attorney General [...]

Mountain Top Media17h ago

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

WTVQ ABC 3617h ago

FRANKFORT, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) - A Laurel County Grand Jury indicted London Mayor Randall Weddle on four felony counts of excessive campaign contributions, Attorney General Coleman announced. The indictment stems from action taken by the Office of the Attorney General. Weddle faces two counts of campaign contribution restriction and expenditure limits for unlawfully contributing more than $2,000

Mountain Top Media18h 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 3618h 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...

Harlan Enterprise22h 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, [...]

Mountain Top MediaMar 30

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 MediaMar 30

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

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

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.