Man in court in connection to bus stop shooting

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – A man accused of shooting someone at a Lexington bus stop is set to appear in court Monday. Police say 20-year-old Jon’tay Mattingly shot a man in the head Thursday morning near Winburn Drive and McCullough Drive. The victim remains in critical condition at UK Hospital. According to investigators, surveillance video and ankle monitor…

Two people rescued in Rowan County after an iPhone crash detection alert

ROWAN COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Rowan County emergency crews say iPhone crash detection technology played a key role in helping them locate two people hurt in an off-road accident Saturday. First responders found a side-by-side that had gone over a cliff, with two people trapped and injured inside. Because of the remote location, multiple agencies responded, including Morehead…

Man arrested on multiple drug charges

PIKE COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Kentucky State Police say a Pike County man is facing multiple charges after a major drug bust in the Hardy community. Troopers report seizing more than 23 pounds of suspected marijuana, nearly 200 grams of fentanyl, hallucinogenic mushrooms, over 2,000 THC edibles, drug paraphernalia, 22 firearms, and cash during a search. Investigators say…

Crews rush to put out car fire; road back open

ROCKCASTLE COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The Mount Vernon Fire Department says Lake Cumberland Road has reopened after crews responded to a vehicle fire Monday. The roadway was closed between Community Trust Bank and Dysart Way while firefighters worked to put out the flames. Drivers were urged to use alternate routes during the response. Fire officials thanked the public…

Kentucky educators gather for Continuous Improvement Summit

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Educators from across the state are in Lexington this week for the Kentucky Department of Education’s Continuous Improvement Summit. The two-day event, held Monday and Tuesday at the Central Bank Center, brings together teachers, administrators, and district leaders to focus on new strategies, updates, and best practices for Kentucky schools. This year’s keynote speaker…

Lexington hosts ‘In One Achord’ festival celebrating sacred music

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Lexington is celebrating sacred music this week with the “In One Achord” festival, which runs through Sunday. The festival features 25 events across churches, synagogues, mosques, and concert halls. Local musicians, singers, and performers are showcasing Lexington’s rich sacred music traditions through organ concerts, choral performances, jazz tributes, and classical guitar shows. Organizers say…

Showers and storms to kick off the fall season

A drier morning to a soggy afternoon for autumn’s start We’ve only seen a few isolated showers to start our work week, but rain chances will increase from west to east throughout the afternoon. Even if you’re dry to start, you’ll want to grab the rain gear as you’ll very likely be wet later on today. We’ll see widespread showers…

Students honor slain Rowan County middle schooler by wearing purple

MOREHEAD, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Students and staff in Rowan County are wearing purple Monday in memory of 13-year-old Kennedi McWhorter, who was found murdered alongside her mother on Friday. According to the Rowan County School District, the eighth grader was a student at the middle school and played softball through Parks and Recreation. Schools invited students and staff…

Community mourns loss of former fire chief

MERCER COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Firefighters in Mercer County are remembering the life and service of former District Fire Chief Glenn Phillips, who passed away Sunday. According to the Harrodsburg Herald, Phillips resigned from his role in August, citing health reasons. He dedicated more than 40 years to the community as a firefighter, EMT, and instructor, and was…

Rowan County man charged with murder after mother and daughter found dead

ROWAN COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Kentucky State Police say they located 44-year-old Joshua Cottrell at a Paducah-area hospital Friday afternoon, where he was treated and released before being taken into custody. Cottrell has been charged with two counts of murder and one count of tampering with physical evidence. He is currently being held at the McCracken County Jail….

Corbin man arrested for stealing four-wheeler from tornado victims

CORBIN, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – A Corbin man has been arrested and charged with receiving stolen property after investigators say he tried to sell a four-wheeler stolen from tornado victims in London. According to the Whitley County Sheriff’s Office, 41-year-old Clifford Smith was arrested in connection with the theft of a 2008 Yamaha Raptor 50, valued at $1,300. Deputies…

Laurel County man arrested after welfare check leads to multiple charges

LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – A Laurel County man was arrested on multiple charges and outstanding warrants after deputies responded to a welfare check call last week. According to the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, deputies arrested 40-year-old Michael Harp around 9 p.m. Tuesday, September 16th on Becky Lane. Authorities had been dispatched after reports of a man lying…

Laurel County man arrested after attempted break-in with bolt cutters

LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – A Corbin man was arrested last week in Laurel County after deputies say he attempted to break into a business with bolt cutters. According to the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, deputies arrested 23-year-old Joshua Davenport around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 16th in a business parking lot off Kentucky 312. A deputy reported seeing…

Pike County man arrested after large drug bust in Hardy community

PIKE COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Kentucky State Police arrested a man in the Hardy community of Pike County after finding a large amount of illegal drugs during a search of a residence. Troopers took 35-year-old James Hardesty into custody, and he was booked into the Pike County Detention Center. During the search, officers seized substances suspected to be…

Montgomery County sheriff struck by SUV while diverting traffic on I-64

MOUNT STERLING, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Montgomery County Sheriff David Charles was struck by an SUV while diverting traffic on Interstate 64 Saturday morning. According to the Montgomery County Fiscal Court, the accident happened at Exit 113 in Mount Sterling. Sheriff Charles was rerouting vehicles due to an earlier crash in Bath County when he was hit. He was…

A rainy week ahead for Central and Eastern Kentucky

Rainy pattern takes hold with daily storm chances and cooler temperatures ahead

Active weather pattern begins with showers and storms Sunday Sunday kicked off what looks to be a much more active stretch of weather across Central and Eastern Kentucky. Scattered showers and storms moved through during the day, keeping highs in the low to mid-80s. Not everyone saw rain, though—those who missed out had partly cloudy skies and even some sunshine…

Lexington health department to spray for mosquitoes after third West Nile case

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department will spray for mosquitoes early next week after confirming another case of West Nile Virus. According to the health department, three people in Lexington have now tested positive for the virus. The patients range in age from 30 to 77 and have required hospitalization. In response, mosquito spraying is…

Man accused of using automatic handgun in Winburn Drive shooting enters not guilty plea

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – New details are emerging about a shooting on Winburn Drive that left a man with life-threatening injuries. According to the Lexington Police Department, Jon’Tay Mattingly, 20, was arrested in connection with the September 18 shooting near Winburn Drive and McCullough Drive. Officers say they found a man at the scene suffering from a gunshot…

One year later: The courthouse shooting that stunned Letcher County and the nation

LETCHER COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – It’s been one year since a deadly courthouse shooting shook the Letcher County community and has become a national sensation. On September 19, 2024, District Court Judge Kevin Mullins was shot and killed inside his chambers at the Letcher County Courthouse in Whitesburg. According to investigators, then-Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines walked into Mullins’…

One year later: I-75 shooting suspect found dead in Laurel County

LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Today marks one year since authorities discovered the body of Joseph Couch, the suspect in a September 2024 shooting along I-75 that left five people injured. Couch’s body was found near Exit 49 in Laurel County following a nearly two-week manhunt. Authorities later confirmed his identity through DNA testing, and an autopsy determined…