Defendants in Amber Spradlin murder case return to court ahead of December trial

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — Three defendants charged in connection with the death of Amber Spradlin were back in court Thursday for a status hearing ahead of their upcoming trial. Spradlin’s body was found in June 2023 at the Prestonsburg home of dentist Dr. Michael McKinney. His son, M.K. McKinney, is charged with her murder. Both McKinneys, along with…

Lexington group to stage ‘die-in’ protest against Trump administration budget proposal

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — A local activist group is planning a symbolic street protest in downtown Lexington Thursday night in response to proposed federal budget cuts. Peaceful Bluegrass Resistance will hold a “die-in” demonstration at 7:30 p.m. outside the Robert F. Stephens District Courthouse. Organizers say participants will lie on the ground with handmade tombstone signs to represent…

Lexington rolls out heat plan as temperatures climb

Cooling centers open, services adjusted as heat index nears 95 degrees

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) – The ABC 36 Storm Team is reporting hot temperatures heading into this weekend. The heat is on for the Bluegrass, as many crank up the A/C and look to stay cool, the city of Lexington is rolling out Phase One of its heat plan for the rest of the week. “Phase one of…

Lexington man charged in second homicide now facing two murder counts

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — A man already jailed for one Lexington murder is now facing charges in a second deadly shooting—and he’s back in court Thursday. Lexington Police say 25-year-old Deonte Carter has been charged in connection with the December 2021 shooting death of Devon Sandusky on Oak Hill Drive. Carter was already behind bars at the Fayette…

WEKU working to resolve broadcast issues caused by storm damage

RICHMOND, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — WEKU Public Radio is still working to restore full service after weekend storms caused significant damage to its broadcasting equipment. According to station officials, engineers have already replaced several damaged components, but additional, more complex software and hardware problems have since been discovered. Those technical issues are slowing the station’s full return to air….

State Police investigating possible murder-suicide in Harlan County

HARLAN COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — Kentucky State Police are investigating a suspected murder-suicide after a husband and wife were found dead outside their home in Closplint. According to investigators, the man allegedly shot and killed his wife Monday afternoon as she tried to run from the home. Troopers say the man then turned the gun on himself and…

Lexington Police department hiring school crossing guards

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — The Lexington Police Department is now hiring school crossing guards to help keep children safe as they head back to school. According to the department, school crossing guards are part-time, non-sworn employees who assist students crossing busy streets near school zones. They typically work morning and afternoon shifts while school is in session. Anyone…

Another Hot and Humid Day Across the Commonwealth

Plenty of sunshine and heat now, with hit-or-miss storms by the weekend.

Dry Weather Holds, But the Heat is the Big Story We are locked into a classic late-July pattern across Central and Eastern Kentucky, with plenty of sunshine, just a few scattered clouds, and limited rain chances. High pressure stretching across the region has kept most of us dry, a nice change after the frequent daily storm chances earlier this month….

Late July heat builds up into the late week

Heat indices could be over 100 degrees during the afternoon hours

We finally enjoyed another dry stretch on Wednesday—a welcome break from the stormy pattern that’s dominated much of July. Sunshine was plentiful across Central and Eastern Kentucky, with only a few scattered clouds passing through. Afternoon highs surged into the low 90s, right where we typically are for late July, but the heat was made worse by elevated humidity levels….

Crime of the Week: Lexington police investigating deadly shooting on Darien Drive

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — Lexington police are asking for the public’s help as they investigate a deadly shooting on Darien Drive. According to the Lexington Police Department, officers were called to a home in the 1800 block of Darien Drive around 1:25 p.m. on July 15, 2025, for an unresponsive individual. When they arrived, they found a man…