Jessamine County family loses home in fire

JESSAMINE COUNTY, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) – Fire crews in Jessamine County responded to a devastating house fire Sunday afternoon that left a family without a home. According to the Jessamine County Fire District, firefighters were called out around 12:30 p.m. to a fully involved residential structure fire on Logana Road. Nicholasville Fire units also responded under automatic aid….

EF1 tornado confirmed near Nicholasville after Sunday’s storms

Photo Source: Jessamine County EMA via NWS (Missing HVAC unit on top of warehouse building)

NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The National Weather Service has confirmed that a weak tornado touched down briefly near Nicholasville on Sunday, October 19, as a strong cold front moved through central Kentucky. According to the NWS, the tornado developed when a line of showers moved through the Bluegrass region Sunday afternoon. Meteorologists say conditions in the atmosphere —…

Robertson County sheriff arrested after alleged high-speed pursuit and DUI stop

MASON COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — The sheriff of Robertson County was arrested Tuesday night after authorities say he drove at more than 100 miles per hour with flashing blue lights activated, nearly striking another law enforcement vehicle before being taken into custody. According to a uniform citation filed by Mason County Sheriff Ryan Swolsky, Sheriff Terry Gray was…

Fayette County grand jury indicts two men in connection with murders of Lexington teens

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – A Fayette County grand jury has indicted two men in connection with the deaths of two Lexington teenagers whose disappearances earlier this year sparked a massive search effort across Central Kentucky. According to the indictment, Jesus Reyes-Ocampo is charged with two counts of murder and tampering with physical evidence. Jesus Reyes-Rodriguez, 47, is charged…

Some lanes back open after semi-truck overturned and caught fire on I-75

UPDATE: WHITLEY COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Traffic remains backed up on I-75 in Whitley County after a semi-truck overturned and caught fire Wednesday morning near mile marker 23, just south of Corbin. Latest updates from KYTC and first responders: All southbound lanes of I-75 reopened shortly before noon. On the northbound side, the right lane reopened near mile…

New records reveal details of Rowan County double murder investigation

ROWAN COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Newly filed court documents are providing more detail in the Rowan County double murder case, where 44-year-old Joshua Cottrell is accused of killing 37-year-old Kayla Blake and her 13-year-old daughter, Kennedi McWhorter, inside their Morehead home last week. According to the arrest citation and complaint warrant, Blake suffered multiple stab wounds inside the…

Judge sentences men convicted in Crystal Rogers murder case

BARDSTOWN, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) – A Nelson County judge has formally sentenced two men convicted in the death of Bardstown mother of five, Crystal Rogers. According to ABC Affiliate WHAS 11, Judge Charles Simms sentenced Brooks Houck to life in prison and Joseph Lawson to 25 years on Wednesday afternoon. Both men were convicted in July. Houck, Rogers’…

Coroner identifies teen killed in Frankfort apartment shooting, suspect held on $1 million bond

FRANKFORT, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) – The Fayette County Coroner’s Office has identified the teenager killed in a weekend shooting at a Frankfort apartment complex. According to the release, 16-year-old Chirome Avant Randle of Frankfort died after being shot during the incident Sunday morning on Ashwood Court. Police previously said Randle and an adult man were both found with…

Robert Redford, Oscar-winning actor, director and indie patriarch, dies at 89

Robert Redford, the Hollywood golden boy who became an Oscar-winning director, liberal activist and godfather for independent cinema under the name of one of his best-loved characters, died Tuesday at 89. Redford died “at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah — the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved,” publicist Cindi Berger said in a statement….

FBI offers $100,000 reward in Charlie Kirk murder investigation, releases photos of “person of interest”

OREM, Utah (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The FBI is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information that leads to the identification and arrest of the individual or individuals responsible for the murder of Charlie Kirk. Kirk, the conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot Wednesday, at Utah Valley University in Orem. Federal investigators are…

Fayette County Coroner identifies hiker who died after 40-foot fall at Whittleton Arch

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The Fayette County Coroner’s Office has identified the man who died after falling while hiking at Whittleton Arch in the Red River Gorge. According to the release, 24-year-old Cameron Smoot of Mason, Ohio, was pronounced dead Saturday at UK Hospital after suffering critical injuries in the fall. Powell County Search and Rescue says the…

Fire breaks out at Don Franklin Hyundai dealership under demolition in Lexington

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Fire crews responded to a blaze Thursday night at the Don Franklin Hyundai dealership building on Richmond Road in Lexington. Officials say they received multiple calls about the fire around 9:20 p.m. Crews arrived to find flames at the dealership, which is currently under demolition. The Lexington Fire Department said the fire was contained…

Shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school kills 2 children, injures 17 people

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A shooter opened fire with a rifle through the windows of a Catholic church in Minneapolis and struck children celebrating Mass during the first week of school, killing two and wounding 17 people in an act of violence the police chief called “absolutely incomprehensible.” Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the shooter — armed with a rifle,…

Multiple victims in shooting at Catholic school in Minneapolis, shooter ‘contained’

"I’m praying for our kids and teachers," the governor said.

By Emily Shapiro UPDATE 12:00 p.m.: An 8-year-old and 10-year-old were shot and killed when a gunman fired shots through the windows of a church at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis on Wednesday morning, police said. Seventeen others, including 14 children, were injured during the shooting during a mass that marked the first week of school, police said. Two…

Winchester man indicted on murder charge in Powell County, tied to two death investigations

POWELL COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – A Powell County grand jury has indicted 44-year-old Brian Epperson on multiple charges, including murder, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), and tampering with physical evidence. According to the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office – 39th Judicial Circuit, Epperson is being held on a $1 million cash bond following Monday’s indictment. His arraignment is set…

Nicholasville police seize various drug after six-month investigation

NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The Nicholasville Police Department says a six-month drug investigation has led to a major seizure of fentanyl, meth, and ecstasy. According to a Facebook post from Nicholasville Police, the department’s Drug Enforcement Unit worked with the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, Georgetown Police, Lexington Police, and the Lexington DEA to investigate Quavon Winslow. On…

Four arrested after deadly home invasion shooting in Marion County

LEBANON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Kentucky State Police are investigating a deadly home invasion in Marion County that left one woman dead and four suspects behind bars. According to KSP, troopers were called around 4:15 a.m. Tuesday, after the Marion County Sheriff’s Office reported a fatal shooting at a home on Hourigan Lane. When investigators arrived, they found the…

Two arrested in Danville Lowe’s theft scheme

DANVILLE, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — Two Washington state residents are behind bars in Boyle County after police say they carried out a theft at Lowe’s in Danville using distraction and “quick change” techniques. Danville Police said the suspects — identified as 44-year-old Vandana Horbas and 41-year-old Ioca Horbas, both of Kent, Washington — attempted to purchase about $2,800 worth…

Breathitt County mother indicted for murder in son’s death; stepfather charged with complicity

BREATHITT COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – A Breathitt County mother and stepfather are both facing serious charges in connection to the death of 10-year-old Jayden Spicer. What began as a preliminary hearing Monday for Felicia Gross turned into an indictment announcement. The Commonwealth Attorney’s Office said a grand jury upgraded her original manslaughter charge to murder, along with charges…

Three arrested in Lexington child abuse and exploitation investigation

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Three people are facing serious charges after Lexington Police Crimes Against Children detectives acted on tips about possible child abuse and child sexual abuse material. According to police, on Thursday, detectives executed a search warrant at a residence as part of the investigation. The operation led to the arrests of 24-year-old Tyler Bean, 25-year-old…