UPDATE: Pedestrian killed in Tuesday accident identified

UPDATE POSTED 5:05 P.M. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 2021 LEXINGTON, Ky. – The man hit by a car and killed on New Circle Road early Wednesday morning has been identified as 46-year-old Benjamin Hacker, according to Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn. Hacker was officially pronounced dead at the scene at 1:21 a.m., the coroner said. ORIGINAL STORY POSTED 5 A.M. TUESDAY,…

Rowan County I-64 rest area wins Best Maintained award

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – The rest area found on the westbound lanes of I-64 in Rowan County was announced as the “best maintained” in Kentucky for 2020. “One thing that all travelers appreciate is a well-run, well-maintained, easily accessible rest area where they can stop, relax and enjoy a respite from the road,” said Jim Gray, secretary of the Kentucky…

Hodgenville man arrested in connection with Capitol breach

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WTVQ) – The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Louisville has arrested Kurt Peterson of Hodgenville on charges connecting him to the Capitol breach on January 6. The charges include Obstructing an Official Proceeding and Aiding and Abetting, Destruction of Government Property and Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds. According to FBI Louisville, Peterson remains in…

Concerns over the homeless population in Lexington’s East end

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – A Lexington social worker and Executive Director for the East End Development Corporation, Billie Mallory, is asking the Urban County Council to do something about what she says is an increasing homeless population in the East end. “I’m not against the homeless, I’m a social worker, and I’ve worked with the homeless about 15 years. But…

Kentucky teachers look to future with electric vehicle building

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – Some teachers got some pretty cool training Tuesday and that’ll mean pretty cool learning for some fourth, fifth and sixth-graders this fall. The University of Kentucky and Greenpower USA teamed up to show teachers how to build electric cars. Teachers will take their training and their cars back to the classroom this fall. They also got…

Interim Joint State Government Committe hears about Census, redistricting, elections

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – Today’s meeting of the Interim Joint Committee on State Government focused on hearing from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) about upcoming Census data, redistricting and elections. The 2020 Census used five different methods to collect data: online, by mail, in-person, by phone and imputation. Typical door-to-door data collections were difficult to do because of…

Kentucky leaders participate in honoring World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ/Press Release) – Gov. Andy Beshear, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) Secretary Eric Friedlander came together with other state leaders as well as organizations across the state, nation and globe to recognize the 16th annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). At the English Gardens on the State Capitol, Kentucky leaders…

Elks Lodge destroyed by fire in Cynthiana

CYNTHIANA, Ky. (WTVQ) – The Cynthiana Elks Lodge 438 was destroyed by fire overnight, according to the lodge. According to Harrison County Fire Chief Charles Carson, the fire started on the first floor and might have been burning for one or two hours before someone noticed. The fire department received the call around 1:28 a.m. and the first unit was…