WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he’s replacing his embattled Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and will nominate in her place Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin.
Trump made the announcement on social media on Thursday, two days after Noem faced a grilling on Capitol Hill from GOP members as well as Democrats.
Trump says he’ll make Noem a “Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas,” a new security initiative that he said would focus on the Western Hemisphere.
Noem is the first Cabinet secretary to leave during Trump’s second term. Noem’s departure caps a tumultuous tenure overseeing immigration enforcement tactics that have been met with protests and lawsuits.
Noem has faced waves of criticism as she’s overseen Trump’s immigration crackdown, especially since the shooting deaths of two protesters in Minneapolis at the hands of immigration enforcement officers. The former South Dakota governor was also criticized over the way her department has spent billions of dollars allocated to it by Congress.
Frustrations over Noem’s execution of the Republican president’s hard-line immigration agenda — particularly her leadership after the shooting deaths of the two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis — as well as her handling of disaster response, paved the way for her downfall. She faced blistering criticism from Democrats, and some Republicans, in Congress hearings this week over those issues and others.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – Happy Monday! We are tracking the potential for strong-to-severe storms moving into the ABC 36 viewing area over the next two days. This severe weather threat will come in multiple waves.
During the day Monday
Isolated-to-scattered showers and storms will be possible. The severe weather threat during the daytime hours on Monday will be lower than the threat overnight into Tuesday morning. A few of the stronger thunder showers and storms could feature some hail and strong wind gusts. Overall, Monday into Monday evening will be the lowest threat of severe weather over the next two days.
Monday night into Tuesday morning
Monday night starts off quiet but a round of strong storms will be moving in during the late night and early morning hours on Tuesday. This will feature the threat of damaging wind gusts and low threat of large hail and tornadoes. There is also a flash flood threat over the northern half of our viewing area, especially in areas under a Flood Watch. This round of storms could impact your morning commute so give yourself extra time as you head to work on Tuesday.
Tuesday afternoon and evening
Our severe threat increases Tuesday afternoon and evening. A Level 3 (Enhanced) Severe Risk is out for all of central Kentucky and most of eastern Kentucky. Damaging wind gusts will be the primary threat, but large hail and isolated tornadoes will also be possible. The isolated tornado threat will be highest in south-central Kentucky on Tuesday. There is also a flash flooding risk once again, particularly for northern and eastern Kentucky.
Chilly air moves in by Wednesday
The system sweeps a cold front through the region Tuesday night into Wednesday. This will drop our temperatures into the 40s for Wednesday and bring us off and on chilly rain showers. Temperatures will struggle to get out of the upper 40s during the daytime, with even colder air moving in by Thursday morning. A few flakes could mix in with the rain showers early in the day on Thursday as temperatures drop into the low 30s. Thursday will be the coldest day of the week with temperatures only reaching the mid-40s for most. We dry out to close out the workweek with temperatures returning to the 50s and 60s to close out the weekend.
Stay with the ABC 36 Weather Team for more updates.
PITTSBURGH, PA (WTVQ)- Kentucky men’s basketball’s 2024 NCAA Tournament run is at an end 40 minutes after it started. The Wildcats lost to Oakland University on Thursday in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by a final score of 80-76.
UK shot poorly from everywhere on the court. Outside of the three-point arc, the Wildcats made a third of their attempts and were only 10 percent better from inside the arc.
The Golden Grizzlies lead at halftime 38-35 and kept their momentum going until the final whistle.
JACKSON COUNTY, Ky. (WTVQ) – A Jackson County, Kentucky couple is in the Detention Center there, facing charges they tried to sell their twin newborn daughters.
According to their arrest citations, Zackary Davis and Jacquilyn Keith are charged with Promoting Human Trafficking (victim under 18 years of age), after they offered to sell their babies to Davis’ sister and her wife, for $5,000.
The alleged incident happened on Monday (3/18).
The citation says Jackson County Sheriff’s deputies were alerted to the alleged offer of sale by Davis’ sister-in-law.
Deputies say the woman showed them screenshots of a conversation between her and Davis, as well as a recorded video, requested by police, to back up the allegations.
Both Davis and Keith allegedly admitted they had agreed to sell the little girls, but claimed they never intended to do so.
Davis and Keith are being held on $10,000 bond each at the Jackson County Detention center.
Their next court date is March 25th.
Kentucky saw a surge in voter registration ahead of the May 19 primary election, with 9,839 new voters added to the rolls. Secretary of State Michael Adams announced the increase is the largest surge since the month of the 2024 presidential election.
“I’m heartened by the recent interest in voting this year for Congress, the General Assembly, judges, county offices, city offices, school boards, and at least one constitutional amendment,” Adams said.
In March, net registration rose by 4,042 voters, a news release Adams read. The state also removed 5,797 voters from the rolls. This included 4,697 who were deceased, 493 felony convicts, 447 who moved out of state, 60 who were adjudged mentally incompetent, 51 duplicate registrations, 39 voters who voluntarily de-registered, and 10 identified as non-citizens.
Republican registration constitutes 48% of the electorate, with 1,606,995 voters. Republican registration grew by 2,526 voters, a 0.16% increase, the release reported.
Democratic registration accounts for 41% of the electorate, with 1,373,369 voters. Democratic registration fell by 626, a 0.05% decrease, according to the release.
There are 378,272 voters registered under other political affiliations, mostly independent, making up 11% of the electorate. Other registration rose by 2,071, a 0.55% increase.
ABC 36 Storm Team 3 Day Forecast
Friday night: A few clouds and mild. Lows in the mid-60s. Wind: S 5-10 mph.
Saturday: Breezy and warm with scattered storms, especially late. Highs in the upper-70s and low-80s. Wind: SW 15-20 mph.
Saturday night: More showers and storms, cooler late. Lows in the mid-40s. Wind: W 10-15 mph.
UPDATE: April 3 at 11:45 a.m.
The Madison County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Friday that the Tennessee man connected to a shooting on Kentucky River Road, Christopher Morphis, has been captured.
According to the sheriff’s office, they received a call Friday morning regarding a possible sighting of Morphis near Giovanni’s Pizza in Berea.
When responding to the scene, the sheriff’s office says they made contact with Morphis, who attempted to flee on foot into a culvert, where he was challenged by patrol K-9 Spike.
As a result, the sheriff’s office says that Morphis surrendered without incident and was resolved safely. No injuries were reported.
According to the sheriff’s office, they were assisted on the scene by the Berea Police Department and the United States Marshall Service.
Original Story:
Madison County authorities are searching for an “armed and dangerous” Tennessee man who is connected to a shooting that occurred Friday night on Kentucky River Road.
According to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, around 10 p.m. Friday night, deputies responded to reports of a shooting and an assault of two female victims. The sheriff’s office reports that one victim sustained a gunshot wound to the head and had head injuries consistent with an assault. The other female victim reported that she was allegedly threatened with a firearm during the incident.
Authorities identified the suspect as 38-year-old Christopher Morphis from Lenoir City, Tennessee.
According to the sheriff’s office, Morphis allegedly fled the scene in a Chevrolet Astro van, which was later located abandoned on Carver’s Ferry Road with two flat tires. Authorities allege that Morphis exited his vehicle and fled the scene on foot.
Although authorities were able to locate Morphis’ car, they were unable to locate him, even with the help of K-9 units and drones.
Around 1 a.m. Saturday morning, Madison County 9-1-1 dispatch received a call regarding a male who was captured on a doorbell security camera running down Kentucky River Road. According to the sheriff’s office, deputies responded to the call and again used K-9 units and drones, but were still unable to locate the suspect.
An arrest warrant has now been issued for Morphis, and residents with information on his whereabouts are asked to contact emergency services immediately. The investigation remains active and ongoing.
“He should be considered armed and dangerous… Do not attempt to approach or apprehend the individual,” the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post.
President Donald Trump is asking Congress to boost defense spending to $1.5 trillion, the largest such request in decades and the latest signal of the president’s emphasis on U.S. military investments over domestic programs.
The 2027 plans for the Pentagon were confirmed in a White House outline of Trump’s 2027 budget proposal released Friday. The White House summary says Trump’s proposal would reduce nondefense spending by 10% by shifting some responsibilities to state and local governments.
Even before the U.S.-led war against Iran, the Republican president had indicated he wanted to bolster defense spending to modernize the military for 21st-century threats. Separately, the Pentagon last month proposed $200 billion for the war effort and to backfill munitions and supplies.
Trump, speaking ahead of an address to the nation this week about the Iran war, signaled the military is his priority, setting up a clash ahead in Congress.
“We’re fighting wars. We can’t take care of day care,” Trump said at a private White House event Wednesday.
“It’s not possible for us to take care of day care, Medicaid, Medicare — all these individual things,” he said. “They can do it on a state basis. You can’t do it on a federal.”
The president’s annual budget, more broadly, is considered a reflection of the administration’s values and does not carry the force of law. The massive document typically highlights an administration’s priorities, but Congress, which handles federal spending issues, is free to reject it and often does.
With the nation running nearly $2 trillion annual deficits and the debt swelling past $39 trillion, the federal balance sheets have long been operating in the red.
About two-thirds of the nation’s estimated $7 trillion in annual spending covers the Medicare and Medicaid health care programs, as well as Social Security income, which are essentially growing — along with an aging population — on autopilot.
The rest of the annual budget has typically been more evenly split between defense and domestic accounts, nearly $1 trillion each, which is where much of the debate in Congress takes place.
The GOP’s big tax breaks bill that Trump signed into law last year boosted his priorities beyond the budget process — with at least $150 billion for the Pentagon over the next several years, and $170 billion for Trump’s immigration and deportation operations at the Department of Homeland Security.
This year’s White House document, prepared by Budget Director Russ Vought, is intended to provide a road map from the president to Congress as lawmakers build their own budgets and annual appropriations bills to keep the government funded. Vought spoke to House GOP lawmakers on a private call Thursday.
Congress still fighting over 2026 spending
The president’s budget arrives as the House and Senate remain tangled over current-year spending and stalemated over DHS funding, with Democrats demanding changes to Trump’s immigration enforcement regime that Republicans are unwilling to accept.
Trump announced Thursday he would sign an executive order to pay all DHS workers who have gone without paychecks during the record-long partial government shutdown that has reached 49 days. The Republican leadership in Congress reached an agreement this week on a path forward to fund the department, but lawmakers are away on spring break and have not yet voted on any new legislation.
Last year, in the president’s first budget since returning to the White House, Trump sought to fulfill his promise to vastly reduce the size and scope of the federal government, reflecting the efforts of billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
As DOGE slashed through federal offices and Vought sought to claw back funds, Congress did not always agree.
For example, Trump sought a roughly one-fifth decrease in non-defense spending for the current budget year ending Sept. 30, but Congress kept such spending relatively flat.
Some of the programs that Trump tried to eliminate entirely, such as assisting families with their energy costs, got a slight uptick in funding. Others got flat funding, such as the Community Development Block Grants that states and local communities use to fund an array of projects intended mostly to help low-income communities through new parks, sewer systems and affordable housing.
Lawmakers have also focused on ensuring the administration spends federal dollars as directed by Congress. This year’s spending bills contained what Sen. Patty Murray, the ranking Democratic member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, described as “hundreds upon hundreds of specific funding levels and directives” that the administration is required to follow.
One crew member has been rescued after an American aircraft went down in Iran, according to one U.S. and one Israeli official, who both spoke on condition of anonymity to describe sensitive ongoing military operations.
The rescue occurred as the U.S. military was conducting a search and rescue operation, according to three people familiar who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitivity of the situation. Israel is helping the United States with the search and rescue operation.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that President Donald Trump had been briefed but did not offer any additional information.
It was the first time the U.S. has lost aircraft in Iranian territory and constitutes a dramatic escalation in the war since it began five weeks ago. It was not clear if the jet was shot down or crashed.
Iran fired on targets across the Mideast on Friday, as Tehran kept the pressure on Israel and its Gulf Arab neighbors, despite U.S. and Israeli insistence that Iran’s military capabilities have been all but destroyed.
Iran’s attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure and its tight grip on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas transits in peacetime, have roiled stock markets, sent oil prices skyrocketing, and threatened to raise the cost of many basic goods, including food.
Television anchor urges residents to hand over pilot
An anchor on a channel affiliated with Iranian state television urged residents to hand over any “enemy pilot” to police and promised a reward for anyone who did. The channel is in Kohkilouyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, an intensely rural and mountainous region that spans over 15,500 square kilometers (5,900 square miles).
Authorities also urged the public to search for the pilot in neighboring Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province.
Throughout the war, Iran has made a series of claims about shooting down piloted enemy aircraft that turned out not to be true. Friday was the first time that Iran went on television urging the public to look for a suspected downed pilot.
An on-screen crawl earlier urged the public to “shoot them if you see them,” referring to social media footage circulating of what appeared to be U.S. aircraft in the area. The channel showed metal debris in the back of a pickup truck while making the announcement but provided no other immediate details.
FLOYD COUNTY, KY. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – An assault in Floyd County has left a man with life-threatening injuries, according to Kentucky State Police.
Troopers say the incident happened Wednesday in the Beaver community along Kentucky Route 979.
Investigators say Jeremy Tackett was injured during a physical altercation at a residence.
Authorities have arrested 20-year-old Dravin Hamilton, who is charged with second-degree assault.
Police say a 16-year-old juvenile is also facing the same charge and is currently being held at a juvenile detention center.
The investigation remains ongoing.
NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — Thousands of drivers travel a busy stretch of U.S. 27 in Nicholasville every day, and police say the sheer volume of traffic is leading to higher odds of collisions.
The stretch between Brannon Crossing and Kohl’s Drive sees the most traffic collisions. Over the past 12 months, from April 2025 until now, Nicholasville police say there have been 125 collisions, with 23 of those being injury accidents. According to Kentucky State Police crash data, the total was around 100 the year before last.
“This is the, the main thoroughfare to get from Lexington and Nicholasville. People want to talk about it being a main artery. I say it’s the aorta. This is where the most volume of traffic comes through town at any given time,” Officer Sam Wade said.
Rear-end crashes are the most common type of collision. Police say distracted drivers, such as people texting or talking on cell phones, cause most of the accidents rather than drivers running red lights.
“The key factors for those are things like distractions, people following too closely, um, and, and not being aware of what’s going on around them,” Wade said.
At the intersection of Brannon Crossing and U.S. 27 alone, 36 collisions have been reported over the past 12 months, including five injury crashes. Since January of this year, there have been 23 reported collisions in the 1.5-mile stretch from Brannon Crossing to the entrances of Sam’s and Kohl’s.
Wade recommends drivers leave three to four seconds of following distance between their vehicle and the car in front of them. If a vehicle is traveling at the 55 mph speed limit, it takes about 150 feet to stop.
“A lot of them will talk about traffic stopping in front of them. Well, that’s something that’s directly attributed to following distance. How close were you following and did you see that they had stopped?” Wade said.
Good advice to consider for drivers who don’t want to become another collision statistic on this busy stretch of road.
(AP) — Kentucky lawmakers have brushed aside the objections of Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear to enact a new law that could protect global agrochemical manufacturer Bayer from state lawsuits alleging it failed to warn customers that a commonly used weedkiller could cause cancer.
The veto override Wednesday by Kentucky’s Republican-led General Assembly comes just weeks before the U.S. Supreme Court is to hear arguments in a case that could erect a nationwide shield against such liability lawsuits. It also comes as Bayer is asking a Missouri court to approve a $7.25 billion settlement that could resolve tens of thousands of claims that its Roundup weedkiller caused non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
The multipronged action in state capitols and courtrooms highlights what’s become a pressing financial issue for the Germany-based company, which is also known for its pharmaceuticals. It also hits on an issue that has revealed split viewpoints among President Donald Trump’s supporters and the Make America Healthy Again movement.
Here’s what to know about the legislation and lawsuits involving Bayer:
A popular weedkiller became a popular legal target
Monsanto debuted Roundup weedkiller in 1974 with the chemical glyphosate as its active ingredient. The product quickly became one of the most widely used herbicides in agriculture. Roundup is designed to be used with genetically modified seeds that can resist the weedkiller’s deadly effect, thus allowing farmers to produce more while conserving the soil by tilling it less.
Bayer added Roundup to its portfolio when it acquired Missouri-based Monsanto in 2018. With it came a mounting number of lawsuits alleging glyphosate causes a cancer known as non-Hodgkin lymphoma. About 200,000 Roundup-related claims have now been made against Bayer.
The company disputes the cancer-causing assertions. But Bayer has said the legal costs are threatening its ability to continue selling glyphosate-based products in U.S. agricultural markets. It’s already removed glyphosate from its new versions of Roundup for residential markets.
Though some studies associate glyphosate with cancer, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has said it is not likely to be carcinogenic to humans when used as directed. The federally approved label for Roundup includes no warning of cancer.
State legislation aims to block failure-to-warn lawsuits
At the heart of most lawsuits is a claim that Roundup’s manufacturer failed to warn customers of the potential cancer risk.
Bayer has joined with a coalition of agricultural organizations called Modern Ag Alliance to try to block similar claims in the future. They have backed bills in multiple states declaring that a federally approved label on pesticides is sufficient to satisfy any duty under state law to warn customers.
North Dakota and Georgia became the first states to enact the legal shield last year. Kentucky became the third when lawmakers voted to override Beshear’s veto.
“Farmers need clear, consistent rules to plan for the future and keep their operations profitable,” Elizabeth Burns-Thompson, executive director of Modern Ag Alliance, said while praising the Kentucky law.
Beshear, a former state attorney general, noted that many other items already contain warning labels, including cosmetics, personal hygiene products and household cleaners.
But the Kentucky measure “would allow dangerous pesticides to be sold without having labels warning of the risks of using them. It flies in the face of making America healthy,” Beshear said in his veto message.
Supreme Court case draws high interest
The Supreme Court is to hear arguments April 27 on a Missouri case in which a jury awarded $1.25 million to a man who developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma after spraying Roundup on a community garden in St. Louis. Jurors held Monsanto liable for failing to warn of the risk.
Bayer contends federal pesticide laws preempt failure-to-warn claims under state laws, because states cannot require additional labeling.
Trump’s administration has sided with Bayer, reversing the position of former President Joe Biden administration and putting it at odds with some supporters of the Make America Healthy Again agenda who oppose giving companies legal immunity from such claims.
The case has drawn a lot of attention. Agricultural groups, business associations, health care organizations, plaintiffs’ attorneys and state elected officials have combined to file about 30 separate legal briefs urging the high court to rule either for or against Bayer’s assertion of federal legal protection.
Among them is a group of former EPA officials who say the state lawsuits should be allowed. Roundup’s maker never proposed that EPA include a cancer warning on its labels, so the lack of such labeling “cannot be understood as an implicit rejection of such a warning” and should not preempt failure-to-warn lawsuits, their court filing says.
A proposed settlement could resolve thousands of cases
A St. Louis Circuit Court judge gave preliminary approval last month to a proposed settlement intended to resolve most of the pending and future failure-to-warn claims involving Roundup. That triggered the start of a notification period in which people can choose to opt out of the settlement by June 4.
The proposed deal calls for Bayer to make annual payments into a special fund for up to 21 years, totaling as much as $7.25 billion. The amount of money paid to individuals would vary depending on how they used Roundup, how old they were when diagnosed and the severity of their non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
An agricultural, industrial or turf worker exposed at length to Roundup would receive an average of $165,000 if diagnosed with an aggressive form of the illness while younger than age 60, according to the proposed settlement. People diagnosed at age 78 or older would get an average of $10,000.
The settlement would eliminate some of the risk from an eventual Supreme Court ruling. Patients would be assured of receiving settlement money even if the Supreme Court rules in Bayer’s favor. And Bayer would be protected from potentially larger costs if the high court rules against it.
(ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — The bald eagle population in Kentucky is thriving, marking a recovery from the brink of disappearance.
Avian biologist Michael Patton with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife said the state now has more bald eagles than ever before.
“There are more bald eagles in Kentucky than there ever have been,” Patton said.
The birds were listed as endangered until 2007 after their numbers plummeted, mostly due to the pesticide DDT. Following a nationwide ban on DDT in 1972, multi-state programs helped reintroduce the eagles to Kentucky.
“It got to the point where we had one nest in the entire state,” said Patton. “Now we estimate over 200 nests statewide.”
Between 2006 and 2019, Kentucky saw a 400% increase in nesting pairs, according to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. Last year, Patton and his team surveyed Eastern Kentucky by helicopter, using GPS and binoculars to pinpoint nests, and found a 20% jump in nesting birds.
“As an avian biologist with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, we are tasked with monitoring the bald eagle population in the state. We’re at the point, fortunately, where we can’t actually count all of the bald eagles statewide anymore, there’s just way too many of them, so we’ve pivoted and we keep track of the nests statewide, looking at the breeding population to make sure it stays stable if not increasing,” Patton said.
During the current nesting season, people are most likely to spot eagles raising their young. Patton noted the easiest time to spot a bald eagle is in the winter, usually near a body of water.
“They’re big birds and they take a lot of time to leave the nest, almost 12 weeks, so those are a lot of patient parents,” Patton joked.
Because the population increase is so profound, there is no need to report sightings of individual bald eagles to KDFWR. However, residents who wish to report a bald eagle nest on their property can contact the department at info.center@ky.gov.
CRITTENDEN COUNTY, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) —Two people, including a Crittenden County Sheriff’s deputy, were shot in an afternoon confrontation in a home on KY 365 Thursday.
According to the Crittenden Press, officers responded to the home located between Mattoon and Sturgis just after 5 p.m; the publication writes that it is currently unclear why officers were at the home, but initial reports suggest it was to perform a welfare check.
The identities of the deputy, who was later airlifted, and the other individual shot have not been released; an elderly woman in the home was also transported to a local hospital. The publication has confirmed that the coroner is on scene.
Departments and police agencies from across the state have begun to voice their support and prayers for the deputy.
Livingston County Sheriff Bobby Davidson reports that he and other deputies responded to assist following the shooting, and asked the public to “keep all those involved in your thoughts and prayers.”
The agency confirmed that the scene remains active.
Beshear released the following statement regarding the shooting:
“Kentucky, please join me and Britainy as we pray for Crittenden County Sheriff’s Deputy Rick Coyle, who was shot last night in the line of duty. Deputy Coyle showed the upmost bravery while protecting our commonwealth, and his family and fellow officers need our support right now. Let’s wrap our arms around them.”
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — The Department of Homeland Security announced that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has requested the Fayette County Detention Center not release a Honduran national accused of kidnapping and raping a child.
The DHS posted on X that Jorge Luis Martinez-Ulloa is accused of kidnapping, rape of a child under the age of 12, sodomy of a minor, assault, and strangulation.
Martinez-Ulloa allegedly kidnapped the child and trapped her in an apartment where he is accused of grabbing her by her neck and raping her, DHS reported. On March 29, ICE requested the Fayette County Jail not release Martinez-Ulloa.
The DHS stated Martinez-Ulloa entered the country illegally four times under the Obama and Biden administrations, and entered a fifth time on an unknown date.
“Thankfully, Lexington cooperates with ICE, so this pedophile will NOT be released from jail back into our communities, the DHS post read. “We need more cities and states to cooperate with us and help remove sick monsters like this from our nation.”
Warm and breezy Friday with a few storms around
Friday starts mild and stays that way, with temperatures already running well above normal and climbing into the upper 70s and low to mid 80s by the afternoon. In fact, a few spots could challenge record warm overnight lows.
It won’t be completely quiet, though. Scattered showers are already moving through parts of the region, and a few thunderstorms will be possible through the day. Most of these will be hit-or-miss and fairly brief, but a couple could pack a punch with gusty winds. Think quick downpours and a sudden burst of wind rather than anything long-lasting. If you’re heading out to Keeneland for opening day, consider bringing rain gear, though you won’t need it all day long.
Overall, many areas will stay dry for stretches of the day, with a mix of clouds and occasional breaks of sun helping fuel that warm, breezy feel.
Mild Friday night, storms hold off until Saturday
Friday night remains unusually warm and a bit breezy, with temperatures only dropping into the 60s. While storms will be ongoing well off to the west, the Bluegrass should stay mostly dry overnight.
That changes heading into Saturday morning.
Saturday turns wetter, with a few stronger storms possible
Saturday starts off quiet for some, but don’t let that fool you, as conditions will quickly become more active. A stronger system moves in, bringing widespread showers and thunderstorms through the day.
Rain will be steadier and more widespread than on Friday, and many areas could pick up around a half inch to an inch of rain, with a few locally higher amounts possible.
There’s also a chance for a few stronger storms, especially if we can squeeze out some breaks of sun before the rain arrives. Gusty winds would be the main concern with any stronger cells.
Big pattern change arrives after Saturday
Once that system moves through Saturday night, things take a noticeable turn.
Cooler, drier air settles in for the second half of the weekend and into early next week. Highs drop back into the upper 50s and low 60s, and mornings turn much chillier, with some areas dipping into the 30s.
A bit of frost could even develop in the colder, more sheltered spots early next week. Quite the change after this stretch of near-summer warmth!
Sen. Mitch McConnell spoke about the War on Iran at Fort Knox on Thursday. While he offered President Donald Trump his support on the military airstrikes, he made it clear he does not want a ground invasion.
McConnell’s comments came one day after Trump gave a primetime speech on the war. In that speech, the president did not offer details on an exit plan.
When asked if he would support further escalation, specifically sending American troops to Iran, McConnell said no.
“You know, modern warfare has changed dramatically. There are drones everywhere – and our Ukrainian allies have actually become one of the most creative drone manufacturers in the world. So, no. I don’t support putting troops on the ground. I don’t think it would be necessary,” McConnell said.
McConnell said he does not know when the situation in Iran will end, but he says the military action so far has made a difference.
“I think we should be just grateful that their military and terrorist capacity’s been dramatically reduced,” McConnell said.
What started in Lexington has grown into a global movement raising awareness for TAR syndrome, a rare genetic condition.
“TARS is an acronym. It stands for thrombocytopenia absent radius, and it is the deficiency of the platelets,” Jylan Ross said.
Ross, the founder of the TAR Syndrome Association, is raising awareness to create understanding and give a voice to others like him.
“I was born with it, and it is something that you’re born with, not something that you, you know, happen to get,” Ross said.
This April, Ross is encouraging people to wear royal blue, share stories and use the hashtag #TARsyndromeawareness. The message is now reaching far beyond Kentucky.
“It means the world to me to be able to advocate for the world, and people say, well, how are you advocating for the world? There are so many people not just here in the US but in Brazil, Spain, Europe, Germany, just to name a few countries,” Ross said.
The message continues to grow, even as many with TAR syndrome still face challenges getting recognition and support.
“TARS is not recognized federally as a disability, which is why a lot of people with TARS syndrome don’t get like SSI or things like that as far as disability, what they should be getting,” Ross said.
Ross is also inviting the community to get involved locally.
“I have a heart for people like me because I was once outcasted, and so those who are outcasted and don’t have a voice, I’m a voice for the voiceless,” Ross said. “Being different, looking different, you know, you don’t always get the welcoming experience. So, if you see somebody that looks different than you, show them some love. You know, get to know them because you’ll never be able to know someone’s story unless you sit in and talk with them.”
Lexington’s annual TAR syndrome walk is on April 18th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Lexington Legends Stadium. For more information, click here.
The wife of an inmate at the Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex is speaking out about alleged racism, violence, and corruption inside the facility.
Jeanette asked LEX 18 not to identify her husband by name, which is why we will not be using her last name, as she fears it could put him at greater risk inside the facility. She said her husband has been incarcerated at the complex for the last two years on a second-degree assault charge.
“He had gotten into an altercation with someone trying to protect his family, and he was the only one who got in trouble,” Jeanette said.
Jeanette told LEX 18 she decided to reach out and share her husband’s story after seeing our reports on the facility.
“I’m scared. I don’t want him to be – I’m going to cry- another person that something like this happens to,” Jeanette said.
She described her husband’s experience at the facility as horrible, citing violence and racism.
“There was an instance where two other inmates were walking to lunch, or something, together and he happened to be the only person of color. He was stopped and told it was too early to go,” Jeanette said.
According to letters LEX 18 obtained through an open records request, one officer was suspended without pay for one day in 2025 after being found to have referred to another staff member using a racial slur.
Jeanette said her husband has asked her to call the facility to get his medication or request a move, but his requests go unanswered.
“I was mad. I was very upset, like that’s my husband. He’s not a caged animal, like he’s a human being. He needs his medication. He needs something to sleep on,” she said.
Beyond alleged racial targeting, Jeanette said her husband reported corruption between staff and inmates.
“So there was an instance once where I had called down there, and he was being threatened. I guess someone took all of his stuff. They robbed him,” Jeanette said.
According to one of the letters LEX 18 obtained, a correctional officer was suspended without pay for five days after allegedly allowing an inmate into another inmate’s cell to rob them following an altercation. The theft was valued at more than $900.
Jeanette said she has sent emails to the warden, the commissioner, and the Department of Corrections since June 2025 but has never received a response. She fears for her husband’s life while he remains at the complex and hopes the people who run the facility will do better.
“I think they should listen more instead of ignoring inmate requests or calls from family. They need to investigate a little better and prevent things from happening. So if they had listened to the families that were calling and complaining or trying to talk to these people, those five people may not have died,” Jeanette said.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) – Josh Christian-Young met the media Thursday morning as Kentucky Wildcats football’s new safeties coach, highlighting both his recent experience and a familiar coaching connection that brought him to Lexington.
Christian-Young arrives at Kentucky after spending the past two seasons as safeties coach at Houston. Prior to that, he worked on the defensive staff at both Tulane and Army.
A key factor in his decision to join the Wildcats was the opportunity to reunite with defensive coordinator Jay Bateman.
Bateman served as Army’s defensive coordinator while Christian-Young was on staff from 2015 to 2018, giving the two a shared foundation that dates back nearly a decade.
“We stayed in touch a lot,” said Christian-Young. “It’s kind of been a thing where he has had a couple opportunities to hire me again, and this one luckily he was able to do that. Being with somebody as long as we were, 80 to 90 percent of football we see the exact same.”
The reunion is expected to bring continuity to Kentucky’s defensive staff as the program prepares for the upcoming season.
UPDATE: April 2 at 2:30 p.m.
Gov. Andy Beshear signed House Bill 422, known as “Logan’s Law,” to strengthen Kentucky’s sentencing and parole laws for serious and violent crimes.
The bill is named in memory of 6-year-old Logan Tipton, who was violently killed as he slept in his family’s Versailles home in 2015.
“Logan Tipton was a six-year-old whose life was cut short through a senseless and violent act. His family has worked in his honor to ensure no family has to suffer like they have,” Beshear said. “Today, with Logan’s dad by my side, I signed Logan’s Law. This will strengthen Kentucky’s sentencing and parole laws to make our commonwealth safer and ensure Logan’s legacy lives on forever.”
State Representative Dan Fister and State Representative TJ Roberts sponsored the legislation.
Logan Tipton was a six-year-old whose life was cut short through a senseless and violent act. His family has worked in his honor to ensure no family has to suffer like they have. Today, with Logan’s dad by my side, I signed Logan’s Law. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/9CTNliClKX
— Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) April 2, 2026
Original Story:
The Kentucky Senate Judiciary Committee has approved House Bill 422, a measure aimed at significantly strengthening the state’s sentencing and parole laws for serious and violent crimes.
The bill is named “Logan’s Law” in memory of 6-year-old Logan Tipton, who was violently killed as he slept in his family’s Versailles home in 2015. The legislation is sponsored by State Representative Dan Fister and State Representative TJ Roberts.
“Logan was a kind, strong, and wonderful young man who loved his family and was a bright light to everyone who crossed his path. He had his whole life ahead of him and now his family is living the worst nightmare any parent or sibling can endure. While no legislation can undo that loss, this bill aims to turn tragedy into meaningful reform,” Fister said.
The offender charged with Tipton’s killing was acquitted of capital murder and first-degree burglary by reason of insanity in a Kentucky court in 2018. However, he was found guilty on two counts of second-degree assault and one count of fourth-degree assault for attacking other members of the Tipton family and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Seven years later, the offender was released from a Kentucky prison on mandatory re-entry supervision, despite being denied release three times by the Kentucky Parole Board. He was rearrested in Florida on Oct. 9, just eight days after being released from prison. He is back in Kentucky state custody and will be released later this year.
HB 422 revises procedures related to capital sentencing, aggravating factors, and the treatment of defendants found guilty but mentally ill.
“Logan’s Law sends a clear message that public safety is not negotiable by prioritizing prevention and responsibility. It emphasizes longer incarceration and public safety over early release – keeping dangerous people behind bars and out of our communities,” Roberts said. “I appreciate Senator Brandon Storm for his work on SB 48 and the great addition it is to HB 422.”
A provision from Senate Bill 48, known as “Jordan’s Law,” was added to the Senate Committee Substitute for HB 422. This provision prohibits an inmate from qualifying for mandatory re-entry supervision if they have previously been convicted of two or more offenses that would classify them as a violent offender, or if they have been recommitted to prison for a violation of probation, shock probation, parole, or conditional discharge.
The measure honors the legacy of Jordan Wells, a 23-year-old who was randomly shot and killed while walking down Eastern Parkway in Louisville in March 2024.
HB 422 has been placed on the consent calendar in the Senate. Following its passage, the measure will head back to the House for final approval.
(Associated Press) – Hershey said Wednesday it will use classic recipes for all Reese’s products starting next year, a change that comes after the grandson of Reese’s founder criticized the company for shifting to cheaper ingredients.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups have always been made with real milk chocolate or dark chocolate and peanut butter. But a small portion of Hershey’s and Reese’s products, like mini Easter eggs, are now made with a coating that contains less chocolate.
Hershey said that in 2027, it will shift those products to “their classic milk chocolate and dark chocolate recipes.”
The Hershey, Pennsylvania-based company said it will also be making other changes to its sweets portfolio next year, including transitioning to natural colors and enhancing Kit-Kat’s recipe to make it creamier. The company said it plans to increase its research and development funding by 25% next year.
“Hershey is committed to making products consumers love and that means continually reviewing our recipes to meet evolving tastes and preferences,” the company said in a statement.
Brad Reese, the grandson of the inventor of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, ignited the controversy in a public letter he sent to Hershey’s corporate brand manager on Valentine’s Day.
“How does The Hershey Co. continue to position Reese’s as its flagship brand, a symbol of trust, quality and leadership, while quietly replacing the very ingredients (Milk Chocolate + Peanut Butter) that built Reese’s trust in the first place?” Reese wrote in the letter, which he posted on his LinkedIn profile.
Hershey acknowledged some recipe changes but said it was trying to meet consumer demand for innovation. High cocoa prices also have led Hershey and other manufacturers to experiment with using less chocolate in recent years.
The Associated Press left a message with Brad Reese on Wednesday seeking comment.
Brad Reese is the grandson of H.B. Reese, who spent two years at Hershey before forming his own candy company in 1919. H.B. Reese invented Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in 1928; his six sons eventually sold his company to Hershey in 1963.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 News Now) — A Lexington woman faces multiple charges, including wanton endangerment and burglary, after police say she drove through a park, attempted to hit pedestrians with her car, and broke into a home on March 31.
Lexington Police Department officers responded to Whitney Young Park after receiving reports of a driver doing donuts on the grass off the roadway and parking lots. According to the arrest citation, 40-year-old Kathryn Johnston attempted to strike three people with her vehicle.
The victims fled the park and attempted to get home, but Johnston allegedly chased them and tried to hit them again, police said. The pedestrians, including an 8-year-old child, were on the sidewalk and had to jump into the yards of nearby houses to avoid being struck, the citation read.
Johnston sped away as officers arrived in the area. Witnesses told police she traveled at an extreme rate of speed through the neighborhood, the citation details.
While fleeing, another officer spotted Johnston traveling west on Vine Street, where she attempted to run another car off the roadway. Another witness reported she nearly hit children playing in and on the side of the road, the citation reports.
The citation states Johnston eventually came to a stop at a home on South Hanover Avenue. She exited her car, entered the residence where she reportedly did not live, and allegedly began threatening to beat up the residents.
When officers arrived to arrest her, Johnston allegedly attempted to assault them by trying to kick them and stated she was going to spit on them.
Police say Johnston openly admitted to using crack cocaine that day and operating her vehicle without a license.
She is charged with first-degree wanton endangerment, driving on a DUI suspended license, resisting arrest, reckless driving, first-degree burglary, third-degree terroristic threatening, menacing, and having no moped operators license.