Mayor Gorton identifies city worker injured in Lexington shooting

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton says the victim of a recent shooting on Winburn Drive has been identified as Stephon Vanzant, a city employee with the Division of Waste Management. In a Facebook post Thursday, Mayor Gorton said she spoke with Vanzant’s mother and offered her prayers for his recovery. She said the family agreed…

Drying out as we close out the week

Look for nice conditions into the final weekend of September

We saw another round of moderate to heavy rain across parts of Central and Eastern Kentucky during the early hours of Thursday as a wave of low pressure moved across the commonwealth. Most locations in the Bluegrass Region saw a good 1″-2″ of much needed rainfall with areas from Frankfort down the Bluegrass Parkway more in the 2″-3″ range. With the…

KSP investigating officer-involved shooting in Perry County

SCUDDY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Kentucky State Police say it is investigating an officer-involved shooting in Perry County. According to a KSP news release, the incident happened Wednesday afternoon on Scuddy Mountain Road. No injuries were reported, and one person was arrested. Investigators say a DEA Task Force, made up of officers from several agencies, was at a residence…

Man wanted for sex crimes

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Lexington police are asking for the public’s help in locating a man wanted on multiple sex crime charges. According to investigators, 30-year-old Tre’Chaun Johnson is wanted on charges including third-degree rape, sodomy, sexual abuse, and unlawful transaction with a minor. Johnson is described as 6 feet 7 inches tall, weighing about 175 pounds, with…

Army R.O.T.C. Cadet’s death ruled as accidental overheating

FORT KNOX, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office says a 22-year-old Army ROTC cadet who collapsed during training at Fort Knox in July died from complications of environmental hyperthermia, or overheating. His death was ruled an accident, according to the Courier Journal. Officials say Neil Edara, a Rutgers University cadet, became unresponsive during land navigation training…

High School Dean of Students in court

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – A Fayette County school leader was back in court Thursday morning for a pretrial conference in a road rage case. A grand jury previously indicted John “Jay” Bordas, dean of students at Bryan Station High School, in connection to an April incident. Investigators say Bordas followed another driver home after a traffic dispute and…

Rupp Arena joins national sustainability network, first in Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Big news for Bluegrass sports fans: Rupp Arena is going green. The iconic venue has officially joined GOAL, a national sustainability network for sports and live event venues, becoming the first arena in Kentucky to take this step. The commitment includes energy-efficient LED lighting, expanded recycling programs, aluminum cups, and efforts to host zero-waste…

Tow truck drivers honor fallen colleague

MOREHEAD, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Tow truck drivers across Kentucky are coming together Thursday to honor one of their own. A rolling memorial is being held for Troy Caldwell, a tow operator who was killed on I-64 after a semi failed to move over. The event begins at 4 p.m. at the Eagle Travel Center in Morehead. From there,…

Middle school sees increased police presence

LONDON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office says deputies are stationed at North Laurel Middle School Thursday morning, after a possible threat was shared on social media. According to a post from the sheriff’s office, a parent reported the potential threat involving the school. Deputies say they are now working with school police to increase patrols…

Lexington to host ‘Walk a Mile in Our Shoes’ on National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Organizers in Lexington are preparing for this year’s “Walk a Mile in Our Shoes” event, scheduled for Thursday, September 25, as part of the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims. The gathering will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Lyric Theatre on East Third Street. The annual event brings…

Horse rescued from storm drain

BEREA, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – A horse is safe after getting stuck in a storm drain in Berea. According to the Berea Fire Department, crews were called out Monday to Blue Lick Road, where the animal had become trapped in a tight spot. Firefighters say the horse’s owner also assisted during the rescue. After working carefully to free the…

Fayette County Public Schools releases statement on District’s spending

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Fayette County Public Schools is responding to questions about district spending, including concerns over a large ice cream order for staff appreciation. District officials confirmed that nearly a dozen local businesses donated funds to cover the cost of a districtwide ice cream social last October. The event featured Crank & Boom ice cream, which…

Rain chances almost over with a drier weekend ahead

Cold front passing today A cold front has been moving through the Bluegrass early this morning and will continue through the early afternoon. Ahead of this front, we’re seeing heavy rainfall. Those behind have seen rain reduced to drizzle, which is becoming more scattered. Later today, we will continue to see a scattered chance of rain and thunderstorms. Despite the…

United Airlines flights resume after brief nationwide ground stop

(ABC36 NEWS NOW) – United Airlines flights are back in service after a nationwide ground stop Wednesday morning. The Federal Aviation Administration ordered the pause after the airline reported a “technological issue.” United later said it was a brief connectivity problem, and normal operations have since resumed. Categories: Featured, Local News, News Tags: airline connectivity issue, airline travel delays, FAA…

Fayette County grand jury indicts two men in connection with murders of Lexington teens

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – A Fayette County grand jury has indicted two men in connection with the deaths of two Lexington teenagers whose disappearances earlier this year sparked a massive search effort across Central Kentucky. According to the indictment, Jesus Reyes-Ocampo is charged with two counts of murder and tampering with physical evidence. Jesus Reyes-Rodriguez, 47, is charged…