Governor Beshear says victim in Lee County murder-suicide was a Kentucky social worker

LEE COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — Governor Andy Beshear has confirmed that a woman killed in a suspected murder-suicide in Lee County was a state social worker. As previously reported, Kentucky State Police say 28-year-old Hayley Davidson and 48-year-old Bearl Ashcraft Jr. were found dead Monday during a welfare check at a home on Sally Davis Road in Beattyville….

One person hospitalized after late-night crash in Lexington

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — One person was taken to the hospital after a two-vehicle crash late Tuesday night in Lexington. According to police, the collision happened around 11:15 p.m. at the intersection of West Tiverton Way and Nicholasville Road. Officers say one person was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The cause of the crash is…

One month after deadly tornado, southern Kentucky communities still rebuilding with help from donations

LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — It’s been one month since a historic and deadly tornado tore through parts of Laurel and Pulaski counties, killing 20 people and leaving dozens more injured. The recovery process has been slow, as residents begin the long journey of rebuilding homes, businesses, and lives. For many, the trauma of that night still lingers….

Man arrested after high-speed chase from Woodford to Fayette County, police say

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — A man is behind bars after a high-speed chase that began in Woodford County and ended in a Lexington neighborhood. According to an arrest citation, 27-year-old Nathaniel Danzy fled from a traffic stop and reached speeds of 120 miles per hour on I-64. The pursuit continued through neighborhoods in Lexington, where Danzy allegedly drove…

Stormy weather continues into the mid-week

Heavy rain and a few strong storms will be possible

It’s been a stormy stretch across Central and Eastern Kentucky, and Tuesday kept the soggy trend going. Scattered showers and slow-moving thunderstorms dotted the region, bringing locally heavy downpours and some minor flooding concerns, especially in poor drainage areas. With the thick cloud cover and limited sunshine, most spots struggled to climb out of the upper 70s and low 80s—well…

Lt. Gov. Coleman endorses Cherlynn Stevenson in Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District race

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman is backing Democratic candidate Cherlynn Stevenson in one of Kentucky’s most closely watched congressional races. Coleman officially endorsed Stevenson’s campaign for Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District during a press conference Tuesday at Commonwealth Pediatrics in Lexington. The event also marked the start of Stevenson’s district-wide tour, where she plans to hold…

Georgetown Police issue warning after phone thefts during Facebook Marketplace meetups

GEORGETOWN, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — Georgetown Police are issuing a safety alert after multiple thefts were reported during Facebook Marketplace meetups in local neighborhoods. According to investigators, suspects arranged to purchase iPhones in the Elkhorn Meadows and River Chase areas — then grabbed the phones and ran. None of the stolen devices have been recovered. To help prevent future…

Kentucky to receive $73 million in latest Purdue Pharma opioid settlement

FRANKFORT, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — Kentucky is set to receive more than $73 million in a new legal settlement with Purdue Pharma, bringing the state’s total opioid crisis recovery funds to over $1 billion. Attorney General Russell Coleman announced the agreement Monday, calling it a major step in holding Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family further accountable for their…

Two arrested in Montgomery County following high-speed chase and ongoing drug investigation

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — Two people are now in custody following a high-speed chase that occurred in Montgomery County back in April. According to deputies, Edward Richmond led law enforcement on a pursuit that reached speeds over 100 miles per hour before being called off for safety reasons. He was arrested a few days later. Investigators later…

Woman arrested in connection to damage at Lexington coffee shop

Salvador Sanchez shares how A Cup of Common Wealth continues to serve the community despite repeated vandalism

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — A Cup of Common Wealth in downtown Lexington is cleaning up after its store window was shattered over the weekend. The store’s founder, Salvador Sanchez, said it’s unfortunately not an uncommon occurrence. In fact, it has happened so frequently that the shop now sells T-shirts featuring the infamous shattered windows. “We’ve had maybe…

Teen charged with strangulation after fight caught on video at London Walmart

LONDON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — Police have made an arrest in connection to a fight caught on camera in the parking lot of the London Walmart. According to the London Police Department, one juvenile has been taken into custody and charged with first-degree strangulation and fourth-degree assault. The teen has been transported to the Breathitt Regional Juvenile Detention Center….

Localized heavy rain on Tuesday ahead of stronger storms late Wednesday

A Flood Watch is in effect for parts of eastern Kentucky through 10 PM Tuesday

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) – It’s another sticky summer day across central and eastern Kentucky, and once again, scattered storms are back in the forecast. Today won’t be a total washout, but intermittent downpours are likely to pop up through the afternoon and early evening. The primary concern continues to be localized flash flooding, especially in areas that…

State police investigating apparent murder-suicide in Lee County

LEE COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — Kentucky State Police are investigating a suspected murder-suicide after two people were found dead inside a home in Beattyville. Troopers say the bodies of 48-year-old Bearl Ashcraft Jr. and his girlfriend, 28-year-old Hayley Davidson, were discovered Monday during a welfare check at a home on Sally Davis Road. Investigators believe Ashcraft shot and…

Laurel County FEMA disaster recovery center relocated

LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — The FEMA Disaster Recovery Center serving survivors of last month’s deadly tornado in Laurel County has moved to a new location. According to FEMA, residents seeking assistance can now visit the recovery center at Somerset Community College on University Drive in London. The center was previously located at the Laurel County Public Library…

Collin Chandler heading into year two with confidence

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) – Kentucky men’s basketball kicked off their preseason on Monday, with four players returning from last year’s roster. Among them is sophomore guard Collin Chandler, who played in 30 games last season as a freshman and led the team in steals in seven games. Chandler finished his rookie season strong, hitting a three-pointer in…

Unsettled weather pattern hangs tough the next few days

Look for more scattered showers and locally heavy downpours

After a weekend that felt straight out of July—with warm, muggy air and scattered storms that brought downpours and even a few flooding issues—Monday brought more of the same for Central and Eastern Kentucky. That upper-level energy from the weekend finally began shifting east, but a new wave started working in from the southwest. That added just enough instability to…

Bourbon Week continues in Frankfort with tastings, live music, and bourbon-inspired shopping

FRANKFORT, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — Bourbon Day may have been Saturday, but the celebration is still going strong in the heart of bourbon country. Bourbon Week is underway in Downtown Frankfort, with events that include bourbon tastings, live music, shopping, and unique themed experiences. From barrel-aged candles and handcrafted sipping glasses to bourbon-infused snacks, local shops are offering plenty…