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State of emergency declared in Liberty due to ongoing drought conditions
LIBERTY, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — In a meeting on Monday, Liberty Mayor Sam Haddad declared a state of emergency due to ongoing drought conditions in the area, the Casey County News reports. According to the paper, the order…
Department's first-ever explosives dog sniffs out threats for Georgetown police
GEORGETOWN, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) - The newest officer at Georgetown Police Department has four paws. Clayton, the department's first-ever explosives dog, is a 2-year-old chocolate lab mix. He joined the force in May alongside handler Officer Tyler LaRue.…
Olympian Springs VFD mourns volunteer firefighter Sam Fuller after cancer death
BATH COUNTY, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) - Sam Fuller joined the Olympian Springs Volunteer Fire Department just over a year ago and quickly made his mark through not only serving the community, but in the small details that keep…
More shower and storm chances in play this week
It was a pleasant start to the week across Central and Eastern Kentucky, especially by mid-June standards as an area of high pressure built into the Ohio Valley. With mainly…
Morehead Police share safety tips for residents after black bear spotted in area
(ABC 36 NEWS NOW) - The Morehead Police Department provided bear encounter safety tips for residents after a black bear was spotted in the county. Police said the sighting does not necessarily mean the bear will make its way into…
Gov. Beshear posthumously pardons 43 people who helped enslaved individuals escape to freedom
Governor Andy Beshear posthumously pardoned 43 individuals who were wrongfully imprisoned for helping enslaved people escape to freedom, signing the executive order Monday ahead of…
University of Kentucky hires Jason "J" Batt as next Athletics Director
(ABC 36 NEWS NOW via LEX NEWS) - The University of Kentucky has found its next Athletics Director. Jason "J" Batt has been named Chief Executive Officer of Champions Blue LLC and UK Athletics Director. Batt will officially join UK…
New coffee shop Shibam Coffee opens in Lexington, offers Yemeni coffee
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) - A local family is opening what they say is Lexington's first Yemeni coffee shop after nearly a decade of dreaming about it. Shibam Coffee is celebrating its grand opening today on South Upper…
Iran and US reach an initial deal to end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz but challenges remain
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United States and Iran reached an initial agreement Monday that would extend their shaky ceasefire and lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, but significant challenges remain to ending the war, including whether Israel…
Georgetown Police Department offering free citizens police academy for teens this summer
GEORGETOWN, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW via LEX NEWS) — The Georgetown Police Department is offering local teens a behind-the-scenes look at law enforcement. Next month, the department will be hosting its annual Jr. Citizens Police Academy, free of charge.…
Lexington upgrades to Next Gen 911, becoming Kentucky's 23rd center to make the switch
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW via LEX NEWS) — Lexington has transitioned its Enhanced 911 Center to Next Generation 911, becoming the 23rd center in Kentucky to make the switch. Amy Hess, the executive director of Kentucky's Office of…
Georgetown police report daily fraud cases, offering information classes
SCOTT COUNTY, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW via LEX NEWS) — Investigators with the Georgetown Police Department claim they receive field fraud reports from citizens daily. "It comes as everything from small-time scams, like someone texting you, 'Hey, we have…
World Cup referee Omar Artan will receive full fee from FIFA despite being denied entry to the US
(AP) - The Somali referee who was denied entry to the United States for the World Cup will still be paid his full tournament fee. A person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press that Omar Artan will…
Steven Spielberg's 'Disclosure Day' opens No. 1, while 'Obsession' sensation continues
(AP) - Steven Spielberg’s “Disclosure Day,” billed as his first popcorn movie in years, launched with $44 million in domestic theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday. “Disclosure Day” opened largely as expected, collecting $92.9 million worldwide over its first weekend.…
Trump celebrates turning 80 with a UFC cage-fighting event while big issues loom over his presidency
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump marks turning 80 on Sunday with a birthday celebration that once would have seemed unfathomable: a cage-fighting show on the storied South Lawn of the White House. This week, the hard realities of the office have threatened to overshadow the ostentatious UFC mixed…
A coalition sues to block Kentucky’s new 14.25% prediction markets tax
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A coalition that includes Kalshi, Crypto.com and Polymarket filed a lawsuit Friday challenging Kentucky's first-in-the-nation excise tax on prediction markets. The Kentucky General Assembly in April enacted a 14.25% tax on prediction market operators' transaction fees, a…
Former Senate leader Mitch McConnell is in the hospital, but little more information is known
WASHINGTON (AP) - Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell was admitted to a hospital Sunday, his spokesperson said, but there was no immediate information about why he was there or his prognosis. McConnell, 84, was the longest serving Senate leader in history…
Graves County Sheriff's Office searching for missing 17-year-old boy
GRAVES COUNTY, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW via LEX NEWS) — The Graves County Sheriff's Office is searching for a missing 17-year-old boy who reportedly walked away from his residence on Kentucky Highway 564 overnight. According to authorities, the teen…
Citation: Man charged with child abuse after 3-year-old found wandering alone in Richmond
RICHMOND, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) -- A man was arrested Sunday evening after a toddler was found "walking in the roadway wearing only a diaper" on Mt. Rushmore Drive in Richmond, according to an arrest citation. The citation…
Fayette County students return home after traveling to Normandy with WWII veterans
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — Three students traveled to Normandy, France, after earning spots through a Fayette County Public Schools essay contest. The group spent eight days in France alongside 29 World War II veterans, visiting historic sites…
State of emergency declared in Liberty due to ongoing drought conditions
LIBERTY, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — In a meeting on Monday, Liberty Mayor Sam Haddad declared a state of emergency due to ongoing drought conditions in the area, the Casey County News reports. According to the paper, the order…
Department's first-ever explosives dog sniffs out threats for Georgetown police
GEORGETOWN, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) - The newest officer at Georgetown Police Department has four paws. Clayton, the department's first-ever explosives dog, is a 2-year-old chocolate lab mix. He joined the force in May alongside handler Officer Tyler LaRue.…
Morehead Police share safety tips for residents after black bear spotted in area
(ABC 36 NEWS NOW) - The Morehead Police Department provided bear encounter safety tips for residents after a black bear was spotted in the county. Police said the sighting does not necessarily mean the bear will make its way into…
Gov. Beshear posthumously pardons 43 people who helped enslaved individuals escape to freedom
Governor Andy Beshear posthumously pardoned 43 individuals who were wrongfully imprisoned for helping enslaved people escape to freedom, signing the executive order Monday ahead of…
University of Kentucky hires Jason "J" Batt as next Athletics Director
(ABC 36 NEWS NOW via LEX NEWS) - The University of Kentucky has found its next Athletics Director. Jason "J" Batt has been named Chief Executive Officer of Champions Blue LLC and UK Athletics Director. Batt will officially join UK…
New coffee shop Shibam Coffee opens in Lexington, offers Yemeni coffee
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) - A local family is opening what they say is Lexington's first Yemeni coffee shop after nearly a decade of dreaming about it. Shibam Coffee is celebrating its grand opening today on South Upper…
Georgetown Police Department offering free citizens police academy for teens this summer
GEORGETOWN, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW via LEX NEWS) — The Georgetown Police Department is offering local teens a behind-the-scenes look at law enforcement. Next month, the department will be hosting its annual Jr. Citizens Police Academy, free of charge.…
Lexington upgrades to Next Gen 911, becoming Kentucky's 23rd center to make the switch
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW via LEX NEWS) — Lexington has transitioned its Enhanced 911 Center to Next Generation 911, becoming the 23rd center in Kentucky to make the switch. Amy Hess, the executive director of Kentucky's Office of…
Georgetown police report daily fraud cases, offering information classes
SCOTT COUNTY, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW via LEX NEWS) — Investigators with the Georgetown Police Department claim they receive field fraud reports from citizens daily. "It comes as everything from small-time scams, like someone texting you, 'Hey, we have…
Former Senate leader Mitch McConnell is in the hospital, but little more information is known
WASHINGTON (AP) - Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell was admitted to a hospital Sunday, his spokesperson said, but there was no immediate information about why he was there or his prognosis. McConnell, 84, was the longest serving Senate leader in history…
Graves County Sheriff's Office searching for missing 17-year-old boy
GRAVES COUNTY, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW via LEX NEWS) — The Graves County Sheriff's Office is searching for a missing 17-year-old boy who reportedly walked away from his residence on Kentucky Highway 564 overnight. According to authorities, the teen…
Lexington's fifth annual Swahili Day festival finds new home at Gatton Park
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW via LEX NEWS) — The Lexington community came together Saturday to celebrate African culture at the fifth annual Swahili Day festival, which returned this year with a new home at Gatton Park. The event…
Wilmore community honors 250 veterans for Service Day event
WILMORE, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW via LEX NEWS) — On Saturday, 250 veterans gathered for a community salute featuring a memorial wall and personal tributes. Flags flew and photos from the past filled tables, as Wilmore came together to…
FCPS superintendent accused of using fake legal threat email, according to law firm
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW via LEX NEWS) - A printed email Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) Superintendent Dr. Demetrus Liggins allegedly slipped under the office doors of a reportedly Kentucky Representative and a FCPS employee last month -…
Johnson County Sheriff's Office searching for man last seen in Paintsville
JOHNSON COUNTY, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW via LEX NEWS) - The Johnson County Sheriff's Office is searching for a missing man who was last seen in Paintsville, Kentucky earlier this week, according to a social media post. The missing…
Sheriff: 56-year-old London man found deceased in apparent drowning
LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW via LEX NEWS) — The Laurel County Sheriff's Office is conducting a death investigation after a 56-year-old London man was found deceased in an apparent drowning on Saturday. According to a press release,…
BraveHearts Equine Center connects horses with community in 3rd annual open house
PARIS, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW via LEX NEWS) — Kentucky's largest and only draft horse rescue opened its doors to the community on Saturday. For the third time in a row, BraveHearts Equine Center in Bourbon County hosted its annual…
Georgetown Police Department launches traffic safety unit, keeping local streets safe
SCOTT COUNTY, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW via LEX NEWS) — The City of Georgetown is growing, and because of that, the Georgetown Police Department (GPD) has implemented a new traffic safety unit to help keep all residents on the…
Mark Hollis tells AP he's interested in Michigan State job after Kentucky hires J Batt
(AP)-- Michigan State has lost its president and athletic director weeks apart and now faces a leadership crisis. President Kevin M. Guskiewicz announced he'd be leaving for Clemson at the end of May, and athletic director J Batt was hired…
Former Louisville police officer charged with manslaughter in fatal shooting of naked man
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A former Louisville police officer who resigned last week was charged by a grand jury Monday with manslaughter for fatally shooting a naked man while responding to an alleged assault. The grand jury in Louisville also…
Citation: Man charged with child abuse after 3-year-old found wandering alone in Richmond
RICHMOND, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) -- A man was arrested Sunday evening after a toddler was found "walking in the roadway wearing only a diaper" on Mt. Rushmore Drive in Richmond, according to an arrest citation. The citation…
Fayette County students return home after traveling to Normandy with WWII veterans
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — Three students traveled to Normandy, France, after earning spots through a Fayette County Public Schools essay contest. The group spent eight days in France alongside 29 World War II veterans, visiting historic sites…
State of emergency declared in Liberty due to ongoing drought conditions
LIBERTY, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — In a meeting on Monday, Liberty Mayor Sam Haddad declared a state of emergency due to ongoing drought conditions in the area, the Casey County News reports. According to the paper, the order…
Morehead Police share safety tips for residents after black bear spotted in area
(ABC 36 NEWS NOW) - The Morehead Police Department provided bear encounter safety tips for residents after a black bear was spotted in the county. Police said the sighting does not necessarily mean the bear will make its way into…
Gov. Beshear posthumously pardons 43 people who helped enslaved individuals escape to freedom
Governor Andy Beshear posthumously pardoned 43 individuals who were wrongfully imprisoned for helping enslaved people escape to freedom, signing the executive order Monday ahead of…
University of Kentucky hires Jason "J" Batt as next Athletics Director
(ABC 36 NEWS NOW via LEX NEWS) - The University of Kentucky has found its next Athletics Director. Jason "J" Batt has been named Chief Executive Officer of Champions Blue LLC and UK Athletics Director. Batt will officially join UK…
A coalition sues to block Kentucky’s new 14.25% prediction markets tax
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A coalition that includes Kalshi, Crypto.com and Polymarket filed a lawsuit Friday challenging Kentucky's first-in-the-nation excise tax on prediction markets. The Kentucky General Assembly in April enacted a 14.25% tax on prediction market operators' transaction fees, a…
Kentucky State University gets new academic structure as it transitions to polytechnic institution
(ABC 36 NEWS NOW) - The Council on Postsecondary Education approved a new academic structure for Kentucky State University at its June meeting, marking a significant step in the university's transformation to a polytechnic institution under Senate Bill 185. …
Wilmore kicks off Salute to Service celebration with veteran memorial procession
NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW via LEX NEWS) - The town of Wilmore in Jessamine County is marking a milestone-filled year with a three-day Salute to Service celebration that kicked off Thursday. "It's America's 250th [birthday], Wilmore's 150th [birthday],…
Former Jessamine County prosecutor indicted on misconduct-related charges
FRANKFORT, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — A former Jessamine County prosecutor was indicted by a grand jury on Thursday on misconduct-related felony charges, according to Attorney General Russell Coleman. According to a press release, a Jessamine County Grand Jury…
KSP searching for inmate who escaped from the Madison County Detention Center
MADISON COUNTY, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) - Kentucky State Police are searching for an inmate who reportedly escaped from the Madison County Detention Center just before midnight on Thursday. 23-year-old Calain Myers of Lexington, is described by KSP as…
Franklin County High School community mourning death of student following cancer battle
FRANKFORT, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — The Franklin County Schools community is now mourning the death of rising junior KeAaron Jones following a "courageous battle with cancer," the district said on social media Wednesday. According to FCS, Jones attended…
Jessamine County EMS mourns death of Advanced EMT after brain cancer battle
JESSAMINE COUNTY, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) - Jessamine County Emergency Medical Service is mourning the loss of Advanced EMT Rusty Day-Taylor, who died following a battle with brain cancer. The agency detailed that Day-Taylor served the citizens of Jessamine…
Cherie DeVaux named to TIME100 most influential people in sports list
(ABC 36 NEWS NOW) - Horse-racing trainer Cherie DeVaux has been named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in sports after the horse she trains, Golden Tempo, won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. DeVaux is listed under…
Lexington City Council unanimously passes a moratorium on new data center approvals
Update: June 9 at 11 p.m. The Lexington Fayette Urban County Council unanimously passed a moratorium on new data center approvals, pausing permits, development plan acceptances and zone changes related to data centers until Oct. 31. 5th District Representative Liz…
70-year-old man confirmed dead following Whitley County house fire, investigation underway
WHITLEY COUNTY, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) - A 70-year-old man is dead after a house fire Tuesday in the Rockholds community of Whitley County, according to Kentucky State Police. KSP detailed that firefighters found a man, identified as Eddie…
Beshear extends gas tax cut for 33 Kentucky communities through end of June
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — Gov. Andy Beshear has extended his executive order reducing the gas tax by 10 cents per gallon for 33 Kentucky cities and counties where local officials formally requested an extension. A press release…
KSP: California woman dies after being struck by car on I-75 while chasing escaped pet in Rockcastle Co.
ROCKCASTLE COUNTY, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) - A California woman died Monday after she was reportedly struck by a vehicle on Interstate 75 in Rockcastle County while trying to retrieve a pet that had escaped from her car following…
Cape Verde stuns Spain with a surprising 0-0 draw in World Cup debut
(AP via SCRIPPS NEWS GROUP) - So much for a supersized World Cup diluting the quality of soccer's biggest tournament. Tiny Cape Verde, making its debut at the World Cup, pulled off a stunning upset to shut out heavily favored…
Russia unleashes a barrage on Ukraine, killing 11 and damaging a religious landmark, officials say
(AP via SCRIPPS NEWS GROUP) - Russia fired hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles at Ukraine’s biggest cities in an overnight barrage that killed at least 11 people and set fire to a world-renowned religious landmark, Ukrainian President Volodymyr…
Congo reports large daily jump in Ebola cases a month after outbreak
(AP via SCRIPPS NEWS GROUP) - Congolese authorities have reported one of the highest daily increases in Ebola cases in a month-old outbreak as the virus spreads quickly in a remote region whose shifting population challenges efforts to find those…
UK slaps social media ban on children under 16, including TikTok and YouTube
(AP via SCRIPPS NEWS GROUP) - Britain will ban children aged under 16 from using a range of social media apps, including Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube, to protect them from harmful content and excessive screen time, Prime Minister Keir Starmer…
Stocks leap worldwide, and oil prices drop after the US and Iran reach a tentative deal on their war
(AP) - Stock markets are rallying worldwide Monday, and oil prices are easing after the United States and Iran reached a tentative deal to extend their ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to get the global flow of crude…
Iran and US reach an initial deal to end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz but challenges remain
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United States and Iran reached an initial agreement Monday that would extend their shaky ceasefire and lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, but significant challenges remain to ending the war, including whether Israel…
World Cup referee Omar Artan will receive full fee from FIFA despite being denied entry to the US
(AP) - The Somali referee who was denied entry to the United States for the World Cup will still be paid his full tournament fee. A person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press that Omar Artan will…
Hollywood ending: US storms past Paraguay as World Cup returns to LA
(AP) - Folarin Balogun fired his second goal into the top far corner of Paraguay’s net and then led his American teammates to the corner of their home stadium, reveling in the frenzy created by their historic first half at…
Pope to traffickers of migrants: Stop, repent or face God's wrath
(AP via SCRIPPS NEWS GROUP) - Pope Leo XIV warned human smugglers on Friday that they will face God's wrath for exploiting the desperation of migrants, demanding they stop and repent during his final day in this epicenter of the…
Pope honors Barcelona's Sagrada Familia as masterpiece of stone, color and light on Gaudí centenary
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Pope Leo XIV celebrated the Sagrada Familia Basilica as a masterpiece of “stones, colors and light,” as he marked the centenary of the death of its architect, Antoni Gaudí, with a Mass on Wednesday to inaugurate its final…
Ex-Air Canada captain accused of flying for 16 years without proper license
(AP via SCRIPPS NEWS GROUP) - A former Air Canada pilot has been charged after flying for years without a proper license, Canadian police said Tuesday. Geoffrey Wall, of Barrie, Ontario, is alleged to have operated as an airline captain…
US Army helicopter crashes near Strait of Hormuz; Trump says crew uninjured
(AP via SCRIPPS NEWS GROUP) - A U.S. Army helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz, but President Donald Trump said the two crew members aboard were not injured in the incident near the strategic waterway that Iran has effectively…
Pope meets with 6 clergy abuse survivors in Spain, hopes to improve response
MADRID (AP) — Pope Leo XIV met Monday with six survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Madrid and vowed to consider their suggestions for how the Catholic Church can improve its response to the crisis, the Vatican said. The meeting,…
Israel and Iran trade strikes, threatening to drag the region back into full-scale war
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - Israel and Iran traded fire early Monday in their first attacks since the U.S. struck a ceasefire with Tehran two months ago. Hours later, Iran's military said that it would stop offensive operations. The…
Mirra Andreeva, 19, wins French Open to become youngest champion since 1992
(AP) - Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva was already a tennis phenom at age 15. At 19, she’s a Grand Slam champion. The eighth-ranked Andreeva ended the run of 114th-ranked Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska by 6-3, 6-2 in the French Open…
Spearfisher killed in Australia’s third fatal shark attack in 4 weeks
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A spearfisher was killed on Saturday in Australia’s third fatal shark attack in four weeks, police said. The 35-year-old man was spearfishing with family off Michaelmas Island near the port city of Albany in Western Australia…
Taipei Zoo welcomes a pair of red pandas from China, first in over a decade
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — A zoo in Taiwan's capital received a pair of endangered red pandas from China on Saturday, in the first exchange of animals in more than a decade as tensions between the two sides run high. The…
Court overturns immigration restrictions that left thousands in legal limbo
(AP via SCRIPPS NEWS GROUP) - A federal judge on Friday struck down a Trump administration policy enacted after the shooting of two National Guard members that made it harder for immigrants from dozens of countries to stay and enter…
Zelenskyy proposes direct meeting with Putin to discuss ending war
(AP via SCRIPPS NEWS GROUP) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday called for face-to-face negotiations in a public letter addressed directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The letter, the first public message Zelenskyy has written directly to Putin since…
North Korea unveils a new plant to produce fuel for nuclear weapons
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea on Thursday unveiled a new facility to produce nuclear bomb fuels, with leader Kim Jong Un announcing plans to bolster the country’s nuclear forces “at an exponential rate.” Some experts still question whether North Korea…
