Duplex hit by gunfire, no injuries reported

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Lexington police are investigating after bullets struck a duplex home early Thursday morning. Officers say they responded to reports of shots fired around 1:30 a.m. on Triple Crown Circle. According to police, gunfire hit the home while people were inside, but no one was injured. At this time, police say they do not have…

Suspect in hit-and-run turns himself in to police

MERCER COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – A suspect has been arrested in connection with a hit-and-run collision that sent two people to the hospital in Harrodsburg last weekend. According to police, 44-year-old Sean Angel turned himself in to the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday. Investigators say Angel is accused of running a stop light on Saturday and striking…

Crews rescue man who fell off cliff

ESTILL COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Emergency crews faced a challenging rescue after a man fell from a cliff in the Lilly Mountain Nature Preserve Wednesday. Officials say the man fell about 20 to 40 feet down a ravine near Crooked Creek Road around noon. Search and rescue teams navigated rough terrain to reach him and used multiple rope…

October begins warm and dry across central Kentucky

Warm, dry weather holds through the weekend before changes arrive

Sunshine Stays in Control The first day of October picked up right where September left off—warm, dry, and full of sunshine. Afternoon highs climbed into the mid-80s once again, running about 10 degrees above average for this time of year. Tonight, we’ll stay mostly clear with calm to light winds and lows dipping back into the mid-50s, making for another…

Lexington woman charged in animal sexual assault case, officials say

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — Lexington-Fayette Animal Care and Control says a woman has been charged in connection with an animal sexual assault case. According to the agency, with help from the Lexington Police Department, officers charged Lisa Marie Wright on September 18 with sexual assault crimes against an animal under Kentucky law (KRS 525.137). Officials say the animal…

Man arrested on arson charge

LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – A Laurel County man is in custody after deputies say he set fire to a mattress inside a woman’s home. According to the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, 27-year-old Jacob Hurley of London was arrested Tuesday afternoon around 4:15 p.m. Investigators say the victim was able to throw the burning mattress outside, preventing the…

Community Sock and Blanket Giveaway

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department is giving back to the community this fall with a series of free sock and blanket giveaways. The department says the events will provide socks, blankets, and sleep sacks for babies to help families stay warm as cooler weather sets in. The giveaways are designed to support vulnerable community…

Keeneland Fall Meet starts Friday

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Horse racing fans are getting ready for one of the biggest events of the season as the 2025 Keeneland Fall Meet kicks off Friday, October 3, and runs through Saturday, October 25. Racing will be held Wednesday through Sunday, with no events on Mondays or Tuesdays. The Fall Meet brings some of the sport’s…

Wildcats Blue and White Scrimmage tickets on sale

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Big Blue Nation, the countdown is on! Tickets go on sale this Friday for the BBN United Blue-White Game, featuring both Kentucky’s men’s and women’s basketball teams at Historic Memorial Coliseum. The event tips off Friday, October 17, at 7 p.m. Reserved seating starts at $29.65, with premium courtside options available. Children two and…

Bluegrass Kayak Anglers honor Peyton Hughes

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The Bluegrass Kayak Anglers are honoring one of their own after the tragic loss of 21-year-old Campbellsville student Peyton Hughes. Hughes went missing on Sept. 24 while pre-fishing for a Bassmaster event in Texas. His body was recovered days later at Toledo Bend. To honor his memory, the Bluegrass Kayak Anglers are hosting a…

City of Lexington still searching for Christmas tree

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Lexington city leaders are searching for this year’s holiday showstopper tree. Officials are asking residents to consider donating a large, healthy evergreen that could serve as the centerpiece of downtown’s holiday celebrations. The selected tree will be decorated and lit, bringing cheer to the entire community. Anyone who believes their tree might be the…

Man arrested in standoff makes court appearance

RICHMOND, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – A Madison County man is set to appear in court Wednesday after an hours-long standoff with deputies earlier this month. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office says 39-year-old Joshua Botkin was arrested in early September behind a home on Brassfield Road. Deputies had responded to reports of a man armed with a gun and making…

Devine Carama speaks out on the shooting

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The recent shooting in Lexington has left the community shaken, and the director of One Lexington is speaking out. Devine Carama, who leads the city’s youth violence prevention initiative, says he personally knew the victim and described him as “a kid he loved.” In a message posted on social media, Carama wrote, “My heart…

Cherlynn Stevenson speaks out on government shutdown

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – In the wake of the government shutdown, Kentucky Sixth District candidate Cherlynn Stevenson is placing blame on Republicans in Washington. Stevenson says the shutdown will hit Central Kentucky hard, affecting veterans waiting on benefits, farmers relying on support programs, and families already struggling with rising costs. She claims Republicans chose politics over people, while…

Andy Barr calls for the End Government Shutdowns Act

FRANKFORT, KY (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – In response to the overnight government shutdown, Kentucky Congressman Andy Barr is introducing legislation aimed at preventing future shutdowns. Barr has proposed what he’s calling the End Government Shutdowns Act. Under the bill, if Congress fails to pass a budget on time, federal funding would automatically continue at 99 percent of the previous year’s…

Human remains found in woman’s yard lead to arrest

ROCKCASTLE COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – A Mount Vernon woman is facing multiple charges after Kentucky State Police say human remains were discovered outside her home. Troopers say 40-year-old Tausha Flores Mejia was arrested Sunday at her home on Disputanta Road during a search for a person who had been reported missing. According to investigators, the remains were found…

Inmate found unresponsive in cell dies, foul play is suspected

MORGAN COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Kentucky State Police say foul play is suspected after an inmate at the Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex in West Liberty was found dead. Troopers say 27-year-old Ryan Rayburn was discovered unresponsive in his cell Tuesday afternoon. He was taken to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. According to investigators, another inmate…