Lextran offers free rides for Thanksgiving

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…

Richmond man accused of kidnapping, impersonating officer in Jackson County

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

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 dozens of new jobs to Kentucky

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

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…

Thanksgiving travel expected to surge as more than a million Kentuckians hit the road

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…

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

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…

Rain and storms return to the Bluegrass Tuesday

This will start an unsettled weather pattern for the coming days

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…

Salvation Army to kick off Red Kettle and Angel Tree season

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,…

Big Blue Crush underway this week at all Kentucky Blood Center locations

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The 38th annual Big Blue Crush blood drive is officially underway at all Kentucky Blood Center locations, according to a release from KBC. The release says the yearly competition between KBC and Tennessee’s MEDIC Regional Blood Center is designed to help maintain a strong blood supply heading into Thanksgiving week. All KBC donor centers…

Search for missing Rockcastle County teen continues with national-level support, sheriff says

ROCKCASTLE COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The Rockcastle County Sheriff’s Office says the search for missing teen Wynter Wagner is ongoing and now involves multiple state and federal agencies, according to a statement posted Friday on the department’s Facebook page. In the post, Sheriff Shannon Franklin said his office continues to work closely with Kentucky State Police, the FBI’s…

Overnight hit-and-run in Lexington sends four people to the hospital

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Police are searching for a driver after an overnight hit-and-run crash that injured four people in Lexington. Officers say a vehicle hit another car around midnight near East New Circle and Winchester Road. Four people in the struck car were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators say the driver who hit them…

New Circle Road exit ramps at Leestown Road partially reopen ahead of schedule

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The New Circle Road exit ramps to and from Leestown Road have partially reopened earlier than expected, giving drivers a break after more than a week of detours. According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, construction crews worked around the clock to get the ramps reopened. For now, drivers should expect limited access — the…

Bell County Schools respond after field trip bus stopped by law enforcement

BELL COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The Bell County School District has released a statement after a school bus carrying students on a field trip was stopped by law enforcement on Friday. According to the district, a replacement driver was immediately sent to ensure students were transported home safely, while the original bus driver was taken to the hospital…

Lexington Fire Department responds to barn fire on Harp Innis Road

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The Lexington Fire Department responded to a barn fire early this afternoon. Officials say crews were called to Harp Innis Road around 1:50 p.m. for a reported structure fire. When firefighters arrived, they found a barn fully involved and worked to bring the flames under control. No injuries were reported, and the Lexington Fire…

Cool, sunny start to the week before rain returns Tuesday

Sunshine starts the week, but a soaking rain returns by Tuesday.

A Quiet, Breezy Sunday with Plenty of Sunshine Sunday brought another beautiful but cooler fall day across the region. Afternoon highs reached the mid to upper 50s, and a few southern spots even managed to touch the low 60s. Sunshine dominated the sky, though northwest winds stayed breezy, adding a bit of a chill at times. Behind last night’s cold…

U.S. Department of Justice asks judge to release Brett Hankison from prison during appeal

WASHINGTON, D.C. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The U.S. Department of Justice is asking a federal judge to release former Louisville Metro Police Detective Brett Hankison from prison while his appeal moves forward. According to court documents — and reporting from our news affiliate WHAS 11 — Hankison is appealing his 33-month federal sentence. He began serving time on October 9th…