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Salvation Army kicks off holiday season with red kettle launch and special guest Hank the Horse

Alena Neves,

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The Salvation Army kicked off the holiday season in Lexington with its annual bell-ringing celebration, complete with community leaders, ringing kettles and a special appearance from Hank the Horse. Officials highlighted the spirit of giving and the importance of supporting families in need throughout the winter months. Alex Risen, a Salvation Army representative, described…

Christmas Events In Winchester
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Winchester Christmas Market and parade to bring ‘storybook’ magic to downtown

ABC 36 Digital Staff,

WINCHESTER, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Winchester and Clark County are getting ready to kick off the holiday season with a full day of Christmas cheer, starting with the Winchester–Clark County Farmers’ Market annual Christmas Market and ending with the 2025 Christmas parade downtown. Organizers say the Christmas Market will be held Saturday, December 6, from 8 a.m. to 12…

Joseph Shrader Mug
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Clark County man charged in deadly hit-and-run that killed bicyclist

ABC 36 Digital Staff,

CLARK COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – A Clark County man has been arrested in connection with a deadly hit-and-run collision that killed a bicyclist, according to the sheriff’s office. Deputies say 54-year-old Joseph Shrader was taken into custody Tuesday at his home. He is accused of hitting and killing 48-year-old John McQueen, who investigators say was riding his bike…

Department Of Education's Annual Report Shows Improvements
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Kentucky releases annual school report card; Fayette County shows improvement across all levels, says superintendent

ABC 36 Digital Staff,

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The Kentucky Department of Education has released its annual statewide school report card, detailing assessment and accountability results for districts across the Commonwealth — including Fayette County Public Schools. According to Superintendent Dr. Demetrus Liggins, the district’s more than 42,000 students are outperforming the state in several areas, with improved graduation rates highlighted in…

Public Meeting Proposed Zoning Change For New Student Housing
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Public meeting proposed zoning change for new student housing

ABC 36 Digital Staff,

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Urban County Council is holding a public meeting Wednesday to discuss a proposed zone change that would allow for a new apartment complex on Maxwell Street. The proposal calls for a 322-unit development at the corner of Maxwell and Rose streets, targeting University of Kentucky students. If approved, it would become the third high-density…

Tg Futurecast
Featured, Local Weather Headlines, Storm Team Weather Blog, Weather, Weather Forecast

A brief break mid-week but the unsettled weather pattern remains in place

You'll still need the rain gear later this week
T.G. Shuck,

After a delightful start to the week on Monday with sunshine and pleasant temperatures, the rain returned to the area Tuesday as a wave of low pressure moved through the Ohio Valley. In addition to waves of rain and storms in place, we saw a bit of a temperature gradient with cooler air across the northern half of the state…

Johnny Sparkman Mug
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Lexington nurse tech charged with first-degree sodomy involving incapacitated patient

ABC 36 Digital Staff,

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – A Lexington nurse technician has been charged with first-degree sodomy after a patient reported being sexually assaulted at a rehabilitation facility, according to a criminal complaint filed in Fayette District Court. The complaint states that on October 26, a Lexington Police detective responded to Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Center on Versailles Road for a report…
Featured, Local News, News

Fayette County launches program to abolish medical debt for qualifying residents

Alena Neves,

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – In a major announcement at the Government Center Tuesday, Vice Mayor Dan Wu and members of the Urban County Council introduced a new program aimed at wiping out medical debt for qualifying Fayette County residents. The initiative, announced alongside representatives from Undo Medical Debt, is designed to offer financial relief to people struggling under…

Lextran Offers Free Rides For Thanksgiving
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Lextran offers free rides for Thanksgiving

ABC 36 Digital Staff,

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Lextran is giving riders a break on Thanksgiving by offering free rides systemwide. The transit agency says all routes will operate on a Sunday schedule for the holiday, and as a thank-you to customers, rides will be free for all fixed-route passengers as well as Lextran Wheels riders. Because of the Sunday schedule, 11…

A Jackson County Man Is Facing Multiple Charges
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Richmond man accused of kidnapping, impersonating officer in Jackson County

ABC 36 Digital Staff,

JACKSON COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – A Richmond man is facing several felony charges after deputies arrested him Sunday in McKee, according to an arrest citation. Deputies responded to a gas station for a possible domestic incident and found 25-year-old Mark Lawrence Bernardo II sitting in a vehicle at the pumps. The citation says Bernardo claimed to be a…

Uk Takes Slim Lead In Big Blue Crush Blood Drive
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UK takes slim lead in Big Blue Crush Blood Drive

ABC 36 Digital Staff,

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Kentucky fans have pulled ahead in the annual Big Blue Crush blood drive competition, holding a slim 10-donor lead over Tennessee, according to the Kentucky Blood Center. KBC says 412 UK fans have donated so far, compared to Tennessee’s 402. The five-day competition kicked off Monday and helps stock hospitals with blood ahead of…

Toyota Brings In New Jobs To Kentucky
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Toyota brings dozens of new jobs to Kentucky

ABC 36 Digital Staff,

GEORGETOWN, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Toyota says it is expanding hybrid vehicle production with a new $912 million investment that will create hundreds of jobs across the country — including dozens in Kentucky. According to Toyota, the company is increasing its U.S. manufacturing capacity to meet growing demand for hybrid vehicles. The investment is part of Toyota’s broader commitment…

A Soggy Tuesday Ahead, With A Few Stronger Storms Possible
Featured, Local Weather Headlines, Storm Team Weather Blog, Weather, Weather Forecast

A soggy Tuesday ahead, with a few stronger storms possible

Ashley Cade,

Tuesday Rain will be on and off through the early afternoon as a warm front moves through the Bluegrass. There may be some dry time and even a bit of sunshine just after lunchtime. Then by late afternoon, a second round of rain moves through. This will be a line of storms moving from northwest to southeast through dinner time…

Kentuckians Gear Up For Busy Holiday Travel Season
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Thanksgiving travel expected to surge as more than a million Kentuckians hit the road

Alena Neves,

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – With Thanksgiving just a week away, travel officials say millions of Americans — including more than a million Kentuckians — are preparing to hit the road for what’s expected to be one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Travel numbers in Kentucky are expected to be higher than normal this season. “It’s going…

New Government Center
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Lexington outlines plan for new Government Center at former Truist Bank Building

ABC 36 Digital Staff,

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The City of Lexington is moving forward with plans to relocate its Government Center into the former Truist Bank Building at 200 West Vine Street, according to a fact sheet released by the Mayor’s Office. The proposal, which is included in the Urban County Council Work Session packet for Tuesday, November 18, asks Council…

Tg Futurecast
Featured, Local Weather Headlines, Storm Team Weather Blog, Weather, Weather Forecast

Rain and storms return to the Bluegrass Tuesday

This will start an unsettled weather pattern for the coming days
T.G. Shuck,

After a nice weekend that started with spring-like mild air and ended with a touch of fall, it was a nice start to the week Monday across Central and Eastern Kentucky. Despite a chilly start to the day with readings in the upper 20s, abundant sunshine through the day helped push afternoon highs back into the mid-50s, which is right around average…

Red Kettle And Angel Tree Kickoff 2025
Community, Featured, Local News, News

Salvation Army to kick off Red Kettle and Angel Tree season

ABC 36 Digital Staff,

FRANKFORT, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The Salvation Army is marking the start of the Christmas season with an event highlighting its work to fight hunger, homelessness and need across Kentucky. The organization will host the Kentucky Red Kettle and Angel Tree Kickoff on Thursday, November 20, at the Kentucky Capitol Education Center. Governor Andy Beshear, First Lady Britainy Beshear,…