Winchester Police seek public’s help identifying Rural King theft suspect

WINCHESTER, KY. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The Winchester Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect connected to a theft at Rural King on Saturday afternoon. According to officials, the individual shown in a released photo was involved in the incident and detectives are working to confirm their identity. Anyone who recognizes the suspect is urged…

Transportation Department unveils new female crash test dummy to improve safety

(ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The Transportation Department has introduced a new female crash test dummy — a major step toward addressing long-standing safety gaps in vehicle testing. Officials say the dummy’s design is modeled specifically on women’s body shapes and biomechanical responses, allowing automakers to better assess how seatbelts, airbags, and other safety systems protect female drivers and passengers. A…

Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch crowned new Miss Universe after pre-pageant controversy

(ABC36 NEWS NOW) – A new Miss Universe has been crowned, and the title goes to Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch. She claimed the crown during this year’s pageant held in Thailand, following a dramatic and highly publicized run-up to the event. Earlier this month, Bosch faced controversy when a Miss Universe official criticized her during a livestreamed pre-pageant meeting, accusing…

Eddie Murphy to receive 51st AFI Lifetime Achievement Award

(ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Eddie Murphy is adding another major milestone to his storied career. The legendary entertainer has been selected to receive the 51st AFI Lifetime Achievement Award, an honor presented each year to an individual whose work has made a lasting impact on the cinematic arts. The award ceremony is scheduled for April. Murphy first rose to fame…

Inflation stalls real wage growth for Americans, new data shows

(ABC36 NEWS NOW) – New data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows inflation continues to chip away at Americans’ purchasing power. According to figures released Friday, inflation-adjusted hourly earnings for all U.S. employees were flat in September for the second month in a row. The annual rate of real wage growth held at 0.8 percent, matching the slowest pace…

FAA predicts busiest Thanksgiving travel period in 15 years

(ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The Federal Aviation Administration is predicting the busiest Thanksgiving travel period in 15 years, with more than 52,000 flights expected on Tuesday ahead of the holiday. The Sunday after Thanksgiving is projected to be the next busiest travel day as millions of Americans head home. The FAA administrator says the agency is prepared for the holiday…

Frida Kahlo Self-Portrait sells for $54.7 million, sets record for female artist

(ABC36 NEWS NOW) – A self-portrait by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo has just set a new auction record, selling for $54.7 million. The sale marks the highest price ever achieved at auction for a work by a female artist. The previous record was held by the late American painter Georgia O’Keeffe. Kahlo’s vibrant and deeply personal artwork continues to captivate…

Sayre School and Lighthouse Ministries provide Thanksgiving meals and socks in Lexington

LEXINGTON, KY. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – For nearly 20 years, Sayre School and the Lighthouse Ministries have teamed up to provide Thanksgiving meals and socks to local families in need. Sayre students from preschool through eighth grade are asked to bring food for the dinner, while upper school students contribute pies for dessert. Due to a high demand for socks,…

Lextran receives $6 million federal grant for bus upgrades in Lexington

LEXINGTON, KY. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Upgrades are coming to Lexington and Louisville’s bus systems after Senator Mitch McConnell announced federal grants to improve maintenance facilities. The federal grants awarded to Lextran come from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration. According to a release, Lextran will receive more than six million dollars in federal funding. The transit system…

Slow improvement in our weather this weekend

We'll finally see a return of some sunshine, especially on Sunday

It’s been a damp and dreary stretch of weather the last few days here in Central and Eastern Kentucky and Friday was no exception. With a frontal boundary laid out across the commonwealth and a wave of low pressure sliding in from the west, we saw another day of scattered rain and a few rumbles of thunder. Temperatures varied once…

Big Blue Crush Blood Drive wraps up in Lexington with UK in the lead

LEXINGTON, KY. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Today marks the final day of the Big Blue Crush Blood Drive, a five-day competition between the University of Kentucky and the University of Tennessee. According to the Kentucky Blood Center, UK fans regained the lead yesterday with 475 donors, surpassing Tennessee’s 418. The current score stands at 17,35 to 16,88 in favor of…

Vintage Superman comic sells for record nine million dollars

(ABC36 NEWS NOW) – A vintage, high-grade copy of a forgotten Superman comic book set a record at auction on Thursday. “Superman Number One” from 1939 sold for just over nine million dollars through Heritage Auctions. The auction house says the comic was discovered last year by three brothers cleaning out the attic of their late mother’s California home. The…

Comer demands in-person depositions from Bill and Hillary Clinton in Epstein probe

WASHINGTON, D.C. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer says former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton must sit for in-person depositions as part of the panel’s investigation into the Jeffrey Epstein case. Comer warned that contempt proceedings could begin if they do not comply. While the committee has allowed some subpoenaed individuals…

Walmart reports surge in U.S. sales as shoppers seek relief from rising costs

(ABC36 NEWS NOW) – More Americans are turning to Walmart as they look for relief from the ongoing affordability crisis. In its quarterly financial report released Thursday, the company said its U.S. business is surging and it is gaining market share from competitors. Walmart reported that domestic sales grew 4.5% last quarter. The retail giant also saw an increase in…

Nurse technician accused of sexual assault at Cardinal Hill appears in court

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – A nurse technician accused of sexually assaulting a patient at a rehabilitation facility was due in court Friday. According to court records, 61-year-old Johnnie Sparkman was scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. on sodomy charges. Police say Sparkman was arrested Monday after a report of a sexual assault involving a patient at…

Rowan County murder suspect Joshua Cottrell set for court arraignment

ROWAN COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – A man accused of killing a Morehead woman and her teenage daughter is due back in court Friday. According to court records, 44-year-old Joshua Cottrell is scheduled for an arraignment at 1 p.m. following his recent grand jury indictment. As previously reported, Cottrell is charged with murder in connection to the deaths of…

Lexington Police remembering Lt. John Thomas

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The Lexington Police Department is honoring the memory of Lieutenant John Thomas, who was killed in the line of duty on November 21, 1967. Thomas was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance on Richmond Avenue. Lieutenant Thomas was a 10-year veteran of the Fayette County Police Department. He was 31 years…

UK Healthcare delivers toys to more than 600 students through annual Circle of Love event

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – UK Healthcare employees packed buses, trucks and trailers with toys Friday as part of the 39th annual Circle of Love gift pickup, an effort that supports children across Central Kentucky. Staff and volunteers work with schools in surrounding counties each year to identify families in need and help create wish lists for students. “Right…

Seniors face steep increase in Medicare premiums

WASHINGTON, D.C. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Senior citizens across the U.S. are preparing for significant increases in their health insurance premiums next year. Medicare Part B premiums are set to rise nearly 10 percent — the largest jump in four years. In raw dollar amounts, it marks the second-largest premium increase in the history of the Medicare program. According to…

State Department report to focus on Freedom of Speech

WASHINGTON, D.C. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The U.S. State Department is beginning work on its next human rights report, and officials say it will include a major emphasis on freedom of speech. The upcoming report will continue the focus of the most recent edition released in August, which highlighted alleged human rights concerns in several allied nations — including the…