LAWRENCE COUNTY, Ky. (WMDJ) — Kentucky State Police say a man was shot and killed late Saturday night after troopers were confronted while looking for a woman with active warrants.

Troopers went to a home on KY 1715 in the Martha community just before midnight. They were checking on information that a woman wanted on assault and other charges might be there.

While on scene, troopers were approached by a man from a nearby residence. KSP says the man threatened to shoot out the lights on their cruisers. He then went back inside, came out with a gun, and raised it toward the troopers. Troopers fired and immediately performed lifesaving aid but 69 year old, Timothy Keeton succumbed to his injuries.

No other injuries were reported. KSP has opened an investigation into the shooting.

PIKE COUNTY, Ky. (WMDJ) —  Kentucky State Police say a Floyd County woman was taken into custody after a trooper responded to a reckless driving complaint in the Shelbiana area of Pike County.

Troopers say they located a 2024 Tesla Model Y that had been swerving into the opposite lane and coming close to other vehicles. The driver, identified as 60-year-old Angela Anderson of Dana, was stopped a short time later. Three juveniles and an adult passenger were also in the vehicle.

According to KSP, Anderson showed signs of impairment and acknowledged taking prescription medication earlier in the evening. She was taken to Pikeville Medical Center for a blood test and later booked in the Pike County Detention Center on charges that include DUI, endangering the welfare of a minor, and several traffic violations.

PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WMDJ) —  A detainee at the Floyd County Detention Center was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead on November 29th, according to information released by Floyd County Jailer Steve Little.

Officials say jail staff discovered an adult male detainee unresponsive in a shower at 12:57 p.m. Lifesaving efforts were started, and the individual was taken to Highlands ARH Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving

.

The detainee’s name has not been released. The Prestonsburg Police Department is handling the investigation. 

We will update this story as more information becomes available. 

COAL RUN, KY. (WMDJ) — A Pikeville man has been arrested after police say he repeatedly made false emergency calls at a Coal Run motel.

Coal Run Police responded to the Daniel Boone Motor Inn on Monday evening after 45-year-old Ryan Jay Cornwell claimed someone was trying to break into his room. Officers said no evidence supported the report. Cornwell called again an hour later, prompting officers to review surveillance footage, which showed no activity around his room. During their follow-up interview, police said Cornwell admitted to smoking meth hours earlier.

Early Wednesday morning, Cornwell reported that two deceased individuals were inside his room. Kentucky State Police and EMS responded, but found only Cornwell and no one else on the property.

He was charged with falsely reporting an incident that resulted in an emergency response, a felony, and with public intoxication.

HUNTINGTON, WV (WMDJ) — A Martin County man has pleaded guilty in a federal drug case connected to a larger investigation in the Huntington area.

According to federal court records, 27-year-old Kody D. Harless of Tomahawk admitted to possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute. Prosecutors say Harless received nearly 5 grams of fentanyl in Huntington on August 15, 2023. A law enforcement officer stopped the vehicle he was traveling in shortly after the transaction and seized the drugs. Harless told the court he arranged the purchase ahead of time and planned to distribute part of the fentanyl.

Harless also acknowledged taking part in a broader conspiracy to obtain fentanyl and methamphetamine in West Virginia and transport the drugs to Kentucky for resale. Prosecutors say that activity took place from July through November of 2023.

Harless is scheduled for sentencing on March 2, 2026. He faces up to 20 years in prison, supervised release, and a possible fine. He's currently lodged in the Lee Adjustment Center in Beattyville on multiple drug possession and trafficking charges. 

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WMDJ) — Kentucky State Police have kicked off their annual Trooper Teddy Black Friday sale, offering the agency’s signature teddy bears to support children facing traumatic situations. The sale began on Thanksgiving and continues through Tuesday, December 2.

Trooper Teddy Bears cost $20 each, with all proceeds going directly to the Trooper Teddy Project. The program provides teddy bears to children who have experienced emergencies or other difficult events, and is funded entirely through donations and bear sales.

Bears can be purchased online or at any KSP Post across the state. Buyers can choose to pick up their bear at a local post or have it shipped for an additional fee. 

If you'd like to purchase a Trooper Teddy Bear, click here.

For more information about the Trooper Teddy Bear Project you can click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WMDJ) — A Floyd County man arrested during a warrant service more than two years ago has now been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.

Federal court records say 51-year-old Bradford Hunt of Hi Hat appeared in Lexington on Monday to be sentenced for possession of drugs with the intent to distribute, along with a firearm charge tied to trafficking. Hunt admitted to both charges earlier this year.

The case began in October 2022, when Floyd County deputies went to a home on Toler Creek to serve a warrant. Deputies reported finding Hunt outside with more than a quarter-pound of meth, several bags containing fentanyl, heroin, Suboxone and oxycodone, and two firearms.

Hunt received 15 years for the drug charge and an additional 5 years for the gun offense, which will run consecutively. He remains lodged in the Clark County Detention Center until he is moved into the federal prison system.

PAINTSVILLE, Ky. (WMDJ) — A Johnson County man is facing several charges after deputies executed a complaint warrant connected to a vehicle break-in reported earlier this year.

According to court documents, Leonard R. Blair was taken into custody on November 24. The warrant stems from an incident in which a victim’s vehicle was reportedly entered, tools were taken, and a passenger-side window was damaged.

Investigators say Blair was identified on video at the scene and noted he has previous felony convictions. Blair is now charged with Theft by Unlawful Taking between $1,000 and $10,000, Criminal Mischief in the First Degree, and being a Persistent Felony Offender.

He was lodged at the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center.

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WMDJ) — Kentucky State Police are investigating after two juveniles were shot Tuesday in the Pikeville area.

Troopers were called to a home on Rays Branch after a report of a shooting on November 25. When they arrived, investigators found two male juveniles with gunshot wounds. Both were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

KSP says the preliminary investigation shows another juvenile involved in the incident fired the shot that struck both victims.

One juvenile was taken into custody and lodged at the Breathitt County Juvenile Detention Center. He is charged with first-degree assault, possession of a handgun by a minor, and tampering with physical evidence.

Kenttucky State Police is handling the investigation with assistance from Pikeville Police.

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WMDJ) — A Pike County man charged in a deadly April shooting appeared before a judge Tuesday.

Paul Coleman, 57, is charged with manslaughter in connection with the April 5 shooting death of 30-year-old Greely Brandon Hurley. According to Kentucky State Police, Hurley died from gunshot wounds after a physical altercation with Coleman and was pronounced dead at Tug Valley ARH Medical Center.

Court records show Coleman turned himself in to the Pike County Sheriff’s Office on Monday after investigators obtained a warrant for his arrest.

During Tuesday’s hearing, special prosecutor Tony Skeans asked the court to keep Coleman held on the existing $250,000 cash bond and requested a no-contact order involving Hurley’s family. Coleman’s attorney asked the court to lower the bond and also requested that Coleman be moved to the Letcher County Jail due to the nature of the case.

Judge Eddy Coleman said he would review any formal motion to reduce the bond. He also noted that a transfer to another jail may depend on whether another county is willing to house a Pike County inmate.

The case remains active as the court considers the pending bond and housing requests.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WMDJ) — In a press release, Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman says a proposed settlement with East Kentucky Power Cooperative would keep electric bills lower for hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians. 

The agreement, which still needs approval from the Public Service Commission, affects more than 570,000 homes, farms, and businesses served by EKPC across 89 counties. Under the proposal, residential customers would see their bills rise by less than $5 a month. EKPC has also agreed not to seek another rate increase for at least three years.

State officials say the settlement prevents the double-digit increases seen in other parts of the country. National data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows average electricity prices have climbed nearly 34 percent since 2020, while Kentucky’s increases remain below the national trend.

According to the Attorney General’s Office, the added revenue from the settlement will support EKPC’s long-term expansion plans. The cooperative is preparing a $2 billion capital program that includes building two new power stations and upgrading an existing coal unit to run with natural gas.

EKPC, based in Winchester, provides generation and transmission services to 16 member co-ops throughout much of Northern, Central, Southern, and Eastern Kentucky. For Eastern Kentucky, co-ops include Big Sandy RECC. To see the other co-ops throughout the state, you can follow the link here. 

WISE COUNTY, Va. (WMDJ) — A Virginia high school football coach who’s been missing since last week is now wanted on multiple child sex-related charges.

Virginia State Police say 46-year-old Travis Turner of Appalachia, the head football coach at Union High School, disappeared on November 20. Authorities say agents with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Wytheville Field Office were heading to Turner’s home that day for an investigation when they learned he was gone.

Police have since obtained 10 warrants for Turner, including five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor. Turner is now considered a fugitive.

State Police say multiple search teams, drones, and K9 units have been used to try to locate him.

Wise County Public Schools confirmed Turner has been on administrative leave and remains barred from school property while the investigation continues.

Anyone with information on Turner’s whereabouts should contact Virginia State Police Division 4 at (276) 484-9483 or email questions@vsp.virginia.gov.

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PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WMDJ) — A Floyd County woman indicted in connection with a 2021 murder has been sentenced to six years in prison. The sentence was handed down November 20 in Floyd Circuit Court.

Buffy Morgan, 52, of Prestonsburg, was one of two people charged in the death of 46-year-old Paul Setser of Auxier. Setser was reported missing by family members in January 2022. His body was later found in the Denver community of Johnson County in March of that year.

Investigators say James Pratt, of Pine Top in Knott County, killed Setser in Floyd County on December 30, 2021, and disposed of the body in Johnson County. Pratt was indicted in October 2023 on charges of murder and abuse of a corpse.

Morgan was indicted the same month on charges of complicity to murder and abuse of a corpse. Both were also charged federally in a separate firearms case. Pratt was indicted for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. Morgan was charged with making false statements during the purchase of two pistols and transferring a firearm to a prohibited person.

According to court records, Morgan admitted she purchased the firearms using cash supplied by Pratt and handed the weapons over to him.

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WMDJ) — Kentucky State Police say an arrest has been made in the investigation of a woman found dead Friday in the Beaver community of Floyd County.

Troopers took 35-year-old Joshua Gayheart of Beaver into custody following ongoing investigative work. He is lodged in the Floyd County Detention Center and is charged with murder.

This update follows the original call to Prestonsburg 911 on November 21, when KSP responded to a report of an unresponsive female on KY 979. Investigators found 35-year-old Sarah Slone of Beaver deceased from a gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead at the scene, and her body was sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WMDJ) — Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) has announced a new director. Retired Pike County Schools superintendent Dr. Reed Adkins has been selected to lead the organization, becoming its third executive director.

SOAR, founded in 2013 as a response to the region’s economic decline following the downturn of the coal industry, focuses on long-term growth and population retention across Eastern Kentucky. Adkins said he sees the role as an opportunity to help strengthen economic development efforts throughout the region.

Adkins had recently filed to run for Pike County judge-executive but has now withdrawn from the race. 

The leadership change comes as outgoing director Colby Hall steps down after five years to take a new position with Craft Philanthropy. Adkins said he intends to continue SOAR’s mission while expanding its reach, noting that the organization serves all 54 counties in the region.

BEAVER, Ky. (WMDJ) — Kentucky State Police are investigating after a woman was found deceased Friday morning in the Beaver community of Floyd County.

According to a press release from KSP, Prestonsburg 911 contacted KSP Post 9 just after 11 a.m., requesting assistance with an unresponsive female on KY 979. When troopers arrived, they found 35-year-old Sarah Slone of Beaver deceased at the scene.

State Police say early findings indicate Slone suffered a fatal gunshot wound. The Floyd County Coroner’s Office responded and pronounced her deceased. Her body has been taken to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy, as the investigation continues.

No further details have been released.

PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WMDJ) — A trial date has been scheduled for a Floyd County man accused in a deadly shooting earlier this year.

 Larry Johnson, 68, of Auxier, appeared by video conference in Floyd Circuit Court on Thursday, where his attorney, Ned Pillersdorf, requested a speedy trial. Judge Johnny Ray Harris agreed and set the trial to begin April 6th.

Johnson is charged in the April 25th shooting death of 48-year-old Stephen Adkins of Prestonsburg. The shooting happened during an argument on the Auxier Bridge. Court documents filed earlier in the case claim Adkins struck Johnson in the face before the shooting. The defense has also indicated it will present evidence that Adkins had a history of violent behavior, particularly when using methamphetamine, and that toxicology results showed meth in his system.

Johnson has remained in custody on a $1 million full cash bond since his arrest. Two previous motions to reduce the bond, one in September and another in November, were denied.

MCDOWELL, Ky. (WMDJ) — A Floyd County woman is facing multiple felony charges after deputies say methamphetamine and fentanyl were found inside her home during a search on November 19th.

Floyd County Sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant at the Magnolia Street residence of Teresa Caudill, 40, where they reported finding three bags of a crystal-like substance Caudill identified as methamphetamine. Deputies also located scales with residue and a pipe believed to be used for smoking meth on the kitchen table.

A further search of the home uncovered a quantity of a substance believed to be fentanyl, along with small baggies and an additional set of scales allegedly used in drug trafficking.

Caudill was taken to McDowell ARH for medical clearance before being lodged in the Floyd County Detention Center. She is charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (2 grams or more of meth, first offense) and first-offense trafficking in a controlled substance (fentanyl).

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WMDJ) — The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s District 12 office says nighttime sweeping will begin this week across all four-lane corridors in Eastern Kentucky.

Crews will work from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., sweeping travel lanes, medians, and barrier walls. The mobile operation will move county by county, beginning in Lawrence County, then progressing south through Johnson, Martin, Floyd, Knott, Pike, and wrapping up in Letcher County.

Drivers can expect moving lane closures, rolling slow-downs, and equipment working in the roadway overnight. KYTC says the sweeping work will continue for the next month or two, depending on weather conditions.

Officials are asking drivers to use caution, slow down, and stay alert for workers after dark. The district says the effort is meant to improve visibility, drainage, and roadway safety as crews clear debris from heavily traveled routes across the region.

FLOYD COUNTY, Ky. (WMDJ) — A drug trafficking investigation in the Cow Creek community Wednesday led to two arrests after deputies say a suspect tried to flee and caused significant property damage.

According to the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were following up on multiple tips about suspected drug activity in the area when they located a vehicle matching the description provided by residents. As deputies approached, the driver accelerated toward one of the deputies, then threw the vehicle into reverse in an attempt to escape.

Deputies say the vehicle backed through ditches and over an embankment before crashing onto private property, damaging vehicles and other items on the homeowner’s land. The vehicle then overturned.

The driver, identified as Billy J. Shepherd, 52, of Martin, climbed out of the wreckage and ran through a creek and into the mountains. Deputies deployed K9 Zoe, who tracked Shepherd within minutes, leading officers directly to him. Shepherd was taken into custody without further incident.

A passenger, Randall Minor, was also detained. Deputies say he was wanted on multiple outstanding warrants.

Shepherd faces several charges including first-degree wanton endangerment (two counts), first- and second-degree fleeing or evading police, resisting arrest, first-degree criminal mischief, and multiple traffic violations.

Both men were transported to the Floyd County Jail.

ASHLAND, Ky. (WMDJ) — A Paintsville man accused of secretly filming a teenage girl inside his home is asking a federal judge to consider letting him out of jail while his case is pending.

Federal prosecutors have charged 43-year-old Henry Jonathan Ritscher with producing and possessing child sexual exploitation material. Investigators say the case began after authorities discovered hidden cameras placed in areas of his home where a 15-year-old girl stayed during visits. Court documents state that Ritscher admitted to officers that he had been recording the minor for more than a year and that the recordings were for his own purposes.

This week, Ritscher’s attorney submitted a motion requesting a detention hearing, a proceeding that would determine whether he could be released under supervision or must remain in custody until trial. The court has not yet issued a decision.

Ritscher is currently lodged in the Boyd County Jail. His federal trial is scheduled for January 12 in Ashland.

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WMDJ) — Circuit Court Judge Howard Keith Hall has been reinstated to the bench following his acquittal on all federal charges, according to an order issued Tuesday by the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission. 

Hall, who serves Division II of Kentucky’s 35th Judicial Circuit in Pike County, had been under a temporary suspension since April 18 after being indicted in federal court. Under state judicial rules, judges indicted for felony-level offenses may be suspended from performing their duties while continuing to receive compensation.

Commission officials said the acquittal on November 18 removed the conditions that led to the suspension. As a result, the panel unanimously voted to lift all restrictions, allowing Hall to immediately resume his judicial duties at the Pike County Judicial Center.

The order formally vacates all limits placed on Hall earlier this year, including his access to judicial offices, resources, security credentials and courthouse facilities. 

The Commission noted that, under state rules, the reinstatement order is public record. To see the reinstatement order in its entirety, click here. 

FLOYD COUNTY, Ky. (WMDJ) — A Sunday traffic stop on Ky. Route 114 led to the arrest of a Pikeville man after deputies reported finding drugs and cash during the encounter.

Deputies with the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle driven by Austin Jones of Pikeville for multiple traffic violations. During the stop, K9 "Zoe" was deployed and alerted to the presence of illegal narcotics, prompting a further search.

Deputies said the search resulted in the discovery of drugs and cash. Jones was taken into custody and lodged in the Floyd County Jail.

He is charged with driving under the influence and three counts of trafficking in a controlled substance.

The picture below was shared by the Floyd County Sherrif's Office. This is what deputies and K9 "Zoe" found during the stop.

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WMDJ) — Pike Circuit Judge Howard Keith Hall has been cleared of all federal charges after jurors returned a not guilty verdict Monday in U.S. District Court in Frankfort. The decision came at the conclusion of a trial that began Nov. 10 and stretched more than a week.

Hall had faced allegations connected to his time as Pike County Attorney. Federal prosecutors claimed that an assistant in the office, Michael Shane Hall, was paid over several years without performing duties for the position. The reported pay and benefits totaled more than $440,000.

Hall stepped away from the county attorney’s office in 2020 to run for circuit judge, winning the election later that year. After his indictment this spring, the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission temporarily barred him from serving while the case moved forward.

Following the verdict, Hall’s defense team said the family will take time to recover after months of uncertainty. They also pointed to the political backdrop surrounding the case, noting the tensions that accompanied both the 2020 judicial race and the 2022 county attorney election.

Hall is expected to resume his judicial role, with any questions about future recusals addressed as needed.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WMDJ) — Today in a press release, Congressman Hal Rogers announced that federal funding tied to the bill that reopened the government last week will provide major upgrades for first responders in Eastern Kentucky. The package, signed by President Donald Trump after a 43-day shutdown, included three fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills and two community project requests submitted by Congressman Rogers.

The legislation sets aside nearly $4 million for construction of a new Pikeville Police Department headquarters and more than $3 million for a new fire and emergency operations facility in Louisa. Both projects were cleared in the final spending agreement.

In Louisa, the new center will house the fire department, police department and the city’s communications operations under one roof, with space to support future EMS services. The $4.2 million project is expected to take up to two years to complete once work begins.

Pikeville’s new police station is estimated at $5 million and is also expected to require roughly two years of design and construction. City leaders say the current department has exceeded the capacity of its decades-old building and needs additional space for a growing force.

Rogers submitted 15 total funding requests for southern and eastern Kentucky—nearly $150 million in all—and said he remains optimistic that additional projects will advance as Congress moves through the remainder of the appropriations process.

To see the full list of projects, you can click here.

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WMDJ) — A weekend drug investigation led Pikeville Police to arrest two Louisville men who officers say were transporting several pounds of meth into Pike County.

According to police, the case began when an informant reported that 33-year-old Andrew Billingslea planned to deliver a large quantity of meth to Pikeville early Sunday morning. Officers monitored U.S. 23 and soon noticed two vehicles traveling toward the city at unusually slow speeds, a pattern investigators associate with the use of multiple trail cars to avoid attention during drug transport.

Both vehicles pulled into a gas station, where officers detained Billingslea and the second driver, identified as 35-year-old Jonathan Jones. A K-9 unit alerted on both vehicles, and officers later recovered approximately 3.2 pounds of meth along with three cell phones. One of the vehicles was seized while the other was a rental.

Billingslea and Jones were charged with first-degree trafficking in methamphetamine.
Both men are being held at the Pike County Detention Center on a $25,000 bond each.

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WMDJ) — A Floyd County teenager will spend the next eight years in state prison after admitting to his role in a 2024 shooting at the Pikeville Parking Garage.

On Nov. 14, Special Judge Thomas Smith ordered 18-year-old Brandon Poston, of Oklahoma Hollow in Allen, to serve the sentence on charges of second-degree assault and possession of a handgun by a minor. Poston entered guilty pleas to the charges in September.

According to information released by Pikeville Police, the incident began when Pikeville 911 received reports of gunfire at 3:51 a.m. on Oct. 6, 2024. While officers were on their way, Pikeville Medical Center informed dispatch that a person with a gunshot wound had arrived at the emergency department.

Responding officers later determined the shooting took place on the top level of the parking garage. Those involved had already left by the time investigators reached the scene. Through the investigation, Poston was identified as the person responsible.

His sentence follows a recommendation from the office of Pike Commonwealth’s Attorney Bill Slone.

Poston has remained in the Pike County Detention Center since May.

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WMDJ)— The Pikeville Police Department say a coordinated enforcement effort on November 14th led to the service of several sealed indictment warrants tied to recent drug trafficking investigations.

Officers carried out the operation to target individuals suspected of distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Pike County area. Police said 11 sealed warrants connected directly to the investigations were served, and four additional unrelated warrants were issued when officers encountered people with active charges.

During the effort, police seized five illegal firearms, recovered drug paraphernalia, and located multiple stolen items, including a motorcycle, a camper and a U-Haul trailer.

Those arrested on indictment warrants included:

• Brian Young, 47 of Pikeville – first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (less than 2 grams meth, first offense).
• Joey Spears Jr., 46 of Pikeville – same charge.
• Darren Bartley, 42 of Pikeville – multiple first-degree trafficking charges involving meth, and persistent felony offender (second degree).
• Bridget Bolden, 50 of Pikeville – first-degree trafficking (meth, first offense).
• Samantha Jo Sexton, 33 of Cumberland – first-degree trafficking (2+ grams meth) and first-degree promoting contraband.
• Anthony Barron, 61 of Jenkins – first-degree trafficking (meth, second offense).
• Henry Cleaver, 48 of Elkhorn City – multiple trafficking charges, including fentanyl, and persistent felony offender (first degree).
• James Elkins, 65 of Lick Creek – four counts of first-degree cocaine trafficking.

LOUISA, Ky. (WMDJ) — A Lawrence County man is facing several charges after police say two separate calls on Wednesday led them to the same suspect.

The first call came from the Louisa city garage, where workers discovered a battery missing from a military surplus truck used by the Louisa Fire Department. Officers reviewed security footage from a nearby church and identified 41-year-old Christopher Lee Shannon, of Louisa, as the person who took it. Police went to his home and found the battery sitting outside, but Shannon himself was nowhere to be found.

While officers were still in the area, a second call came in reporting a burglary just around the corner. When police arrived, they found Shannon on the porch of the home holding a window fan and arguing with the resident. After a brief struggle, he was taken into custody.

According to police, the resident said Shannon forced his way inside and caused damage throughout the house. Officers found a back door that had been pried open with a crowbar, two broken windows, and a water heater that had been drained after a valve was opened.

Shannon was charged with theft of vehicle parts, burglary, assaulting an officer and several additional offenses. He is being held at the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Paintsville.

HAZARD, Ky. (WMDJ) — A woman faces multiple charges after Hazard Police said she waved a gun during an altercation at the Walmart parking lot Thursday morning.

According to a press release from the Hazard Police Department, officers were called just before 10 a.m. after receiving reports that a woman was cursing at employees and arguing with the people in the vehicle next to her. Witnesses told police the woman pointed a gun out of her window and waved it around during the confrontation.

When officers arrived, they found the vehicle and safely removed the woman without incident. Police said multiple witness statements and surveillance video confirmed the reports.

The woman was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, wanton endangerment, and terroristic threatening.

INEZ, Ky. (WMDJ) — A Lexington woman faces charges after Kentucky State Police said she used her 10-year-old daughter to help smuggle drugs to an inmate at the USP Big Sandy federal prison in Martin County.

Troopers said the incident happened in April, but 32-year-old Shakaree Carter was arrested Friday on an indictment warrant. Police were called to the prison on Airport Road in Inez after staff reported possible contraband activity.

Officials said Carter had been acting suspiciously during a visit with an inmate. According to investigators, Carter, her daughter, and the inmate went into a restroom together. Surveillance footage later showed the inmate using the child to block the camera’s view before reaching into the child’s pocket to retrieve drugs and put them in his mouth.

Staff detained the inmate and took him to a hospital for evaluation. Police said Carter admitted she brought roughly 15 Suboxone strips inside a rubber glove with plans to give them to the inmate.

Troopers said they also found marijuana in Carter’s vehicle. She was indicted on charges of first-degree unlawful transaction with a minor, first-degree promoting contraband, and possession of marijuana.

FLOYD COUNTY, Ky. (WMDJ) — A Hueysville man is facing multiple felony charges after police say he led Kentucky State Police on a high-speed chase Monday morning.

Just before 10 a.m., KSP was patrolling KY 850 in the David area reported meeting a 2007 Suzuki Grand Vitara that crossed the double yellow line and continued into a curve on the wrong side of the road. When the trooper attempted to turn around to conduct a traffic stop, the driver accelerated toward KY 404.

At the intersection, police say the driver, later identified as 39-year-old Jeffery S. Lumpkins of Pine Valley Road, ran a stop sign and continued onto KY 404, reaching speeds up to 78 miles per hour in a 55 zone while still driving on the wrong side of the roadway.

The pursuit continued onto KY 1210 toward Martin, where Lumpkins nearly struck another vehicle before turning onto an abandoned mining road. Officers said Lumpkins eventually jumped out of the SUV and attempted to flee on foot but was caught shortly afterward.

Police reported finding a glass pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine, five clonazepam pills, digital scales, and approximately 200 small baggies typically used for drug packaging. Lumpkins was also found to be driving on a suspended license, with expired registration and insurance.

He was taken to the Floyd County Detention Center on charges including first-degree fleeing or evading police, wanton endangerment, drug-related offenses, and multiple traffic violations.

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WMDJ) — Mountain Water District has filed an application with the Kentucky Public Service Commission seeking approval to raise water rates across its service area.

The Pike County-based district serves more than 16,700 retail customers and provides wholesale water to Elkhorn City, Jenkins, Martin County Water District, and Mingo County Public Service District.

According to the filing, the district’s current rates are not generating enough revenue to cover rising operating costs and debt payments. The proposed adjustment would increase total revenues by about $2.19 million, or 22.6 percent overall.

If approved, the new rates would take effect December 10, 2025. For most residential customers using a 5/8-inch meter, the average monthly bill would rise from about $44.77 to $54.80, an increase of $10.03 or 22 percent.

Wholesale customers, including Elkhorn City and Mingo County, would see a 13.5 percent increase. The district is also proposing to raise customer deposit requirements from $75 to $114 for residential accounts and from $150 to $190 for commercial accounts.

Mountain Water District says the increase is necessary to maintain financial stability and ensure reliable service after inflation and prior rate structures failed to meet revenue projections.

PIKEVILLE, KY (WMDJ) — A Pikeville woman has pleaded guilty to a federal drug charge, months after being stopped at a Kentucky State Police roadblock in Magoffin County.

Jodi M. Nichols, 48, of Pikeville, was indicted by a federal grand jury in London earlier this year on a charge of possessing more than 50 grams of meth with intent to distribute. The charge carries a potential sentence of five to 40 years in prison.

Police say Nichols was stopped at a KSP traffic safety checkpoint along the Mountain Parkway near mile marker 70 on May 28. Troopers reported finding about half a pound of meth inside her 2006 Toyota Camry. 

Nichols was arrested on the federal indictment in September and pleaded guilty Monday. She is scheduled for sentencing on February 12 in federal court.

FRANKFORT, KY (WMDJ)— The federal trial for suspended circuit judge Howard Keith Hall is now underway.

Hall was indicted earlier this year by a federal grand jury on charges of mail fraud and theft of government property. Prosecutors allege Hall paid someone more than $440,000 in salary and benefits for little to no work while serving as an assistant county attorney.

His defense team had previously asked the court to dismiss the charges, but a federal judge denied that request in October.

Hall remains suspended from his judicial duties pending the outcome of the case.

PIKEVILLE, KY (WMDJ) — A Pike County man initially charged by state police with possessing child pornography is now facing federal prosecution.

In a press release on October 29th, Kentucky State Police said that 34-year-old Charles Michael Hopkins of Virgie was arrested after they'd received a tip that he had been uploading and downloading explicit images of children online. Federal officials have since taken over the case.

Documents filed in U.S. District Court outline the investigation, which began in June when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children sent a report to KSP. Additional reports followed the next month, leading police to obtain a search warrant for Hopkins’ home.

Agents say several electronic devices were seized during the search. Hopkins reportedly acknowledged having received and shared illegal images online, but denied producing any of them.

He was initially charged with possession of child pornography, an offense that carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison. The federal case remains under investigation.

PRESTONSBURG, KY (WMDJ) — The upcoming trial for the man accused of murdering Amber Spradlin in 2023 has been delayed to allow time for additional evidence testing.

Special Judge Eddy Coleman granted a request from Floyd Commonwealth’s Attorney Brent Turner to postpone the trial of 25-year-old Michael “MK” McKinney III, who is charged with murder and evidence tampering. Two others, 57-year-old Michael McKinney II and 25-year-old Josh Mullins, are also charged with evidence tampering in the case.

The trial had been scheduled to begin December 1 but will now be replaced with a pretrial hearing. Turner requested the continuance in October after the Kentucky State Police Crime Lab reported that DNA testing was still in progress. The court determined that moving forward without the completed results would limit key evidence needed in the case and that additional time for testing could benefit both the prosecution and defense.

Defense attorneys had previously asked for a speedy trial, stating they were prepared to proceed. Evidence testing is expected to be completed by early 2026.

SOMERSET, KY (WMDJ) — Congressman Hal Rogers, the longest-serving current member of the U.S. House of Representatives, has officially filed for re-election to represent Kentucky’s 5th Congressional District in 2026.

Rogers, who first took office in 1981, filed his paperwork Thursday in Somerset. His announcement comes just days after receiving an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, who called Rogers a strong advocate for Eastern Kentucky.

In his re-election statement, Rogers said he plans to continue focusing on economic development, infrastructure improvements, and disaster recovery across southern and eastern Kentucky. He emphasized the region’s resilience through challenges like flooding and the decline of the coal industry.

Rogers, 87, currently represents 33 counties in southern and eastern Kentucky. As of this writing, he is the only candidate to file in the race. Prestonsburg attorney and Democrat, Ned Pillersdorf, has previously announced plans to run.

UPDATE: Two other Republicans have filed to run. Jacob Trimble and Benjamin Hurley. 
Source: https://www.fec.gov/data/elections/house/KY/05/2026/

FRANKFORT, KY (WMDJ) — Kentucky Congressman Andy Barr has officially filed to run for the U.S. Senate.

The Republican submitted his paperwork Friday at the Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office, formally launching his 2026 campaign. Barr had announced his intent to seek the seat earlier this year after Senator Mitch McConnell said he would not seek reelection.

Barr has represented Kentucky’s Sixth Congressional District since 2013. He serves as chairman of the House Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy Subcommittee and is also a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

He joins a growing Republican field that includes former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Lexington business executive Nate Morris. On the Democratic side, declared candidates include Kentucky House Minority Leader Pamela Stevenson and former Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath.

The filing deadline for the race is January 9, 2026, with Kentucky’s primary election set for May 19, 2026.

PIKEVILLE, KY (WMDJ) — A Pike County couple is facing felony charges after allegedly fleeing the scene of a crash that caused serious injuries.

Police say the crash happened Tuesday on U.S. 23 near the entrance to Ratliff’s Creek Road. Witnesses reported that a truck hauling a trailer lost a tire, which struck the windshield of an SUV and seriously injured the driver.

Instead of stopping, the truck reportedly turned onto U.S. 119. Officers later located the vehicle, and the driver ran from the scene before being found lying in a ditch.

Police arrested 41-year-old Jarrad Wayne Hicks, who told officers he fled because he had a suspended license and active warrants. His wife, Cara Nichole Hicks, 44, was also taken into custody after police said she refused to cooperate during the arrest.

Both were booked into the Pike County Detention Center and charged with leaving the scene of an accident with serious injuries and tampering with physical evidence.

PRESTONSBURG, KY (WMDJ) — A Floyd County man charged in a deadly shooting at the Auxier bridge will remain held on a $1 million cash bond.

Larry Johnson, 68, of Auxier, is charged with murder in the April 25 shooting of 48-year-old Steven Adkins of Prestonsburg. Investigators said the two men were arguing near the bridge when the shooting occurred.

Johnson’s attorney, Ned Pillersdorf, recently renewed a request to lower the bond, arguing that evidence indicates Adkins struck Johnson before the shooting and that toxicology results showed methamphetamine in Adkins’ system. The motion also cited plans to present evidence of Adkins’ violent reputation when using drugs.

Assistant Attorney General Floyd Anthony Skeans opposed the motion, saying there was no significant change in the case circumstances. Floyd Circuit Judge Johnny Ray Harris denied the request Thursday, keeping the $1 million bond in place.

A pretrial hearing is set for November 20.

MARTIN, KY (WMDJ) — At the October regular board meeting, the Floyd County School District announced it has been awarded nearly half a million dollars through a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to improve safety for students and staff across the district.

The award comes through the School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP), administered by the Department’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office. Each year, the COPS office offers a limited number of competitive grants to school districts and local governments nationwide to strengthen security and emergency response capabilities.

Chief Safety Officer Thomas Gearheart, Chief Communications Officer Bobby Akers, and Digital Learning Coach Jason King worked together to prepare and submit the district’s application for the grant.

Floyd County’s application focused on upgrading the district’s outdated intercom systems, many of which are between 30 and 40 years old. Chief of Safe Schools Thomas Gearheart said the project will bring every school under one modern, unified communication network, allowing emergency alerts to be broadcast instantly across the district instead of school-by-school.

The total project cost is about $625,000, with the grant covering 75 percent and the district contributing the remaining 25 percent as a required match. Once completed, the new system will improve coordination with local law enforcement, ensuring faster notification in the event of countywide emergencies or safety concerns.

Gearheart said the project is scheduled to take place over the next three years, with completion expected by October 2028, and added that the district continues to pursue every opportunity to enhance safety and preparedness for all students and staff.

PIKEVILLE, KY (WMDJ) — Prosecutors in the Amber Spradlin murder case have filed responses opposing a bond reduction and supporting a delay in the upcoming trial to allow additional forensic testing.

Attorneys for M.K. McKinney, who is charged with Spradlin’s 2023 murder, filed motions last week objecting to the Commonwealth’s request for a continuance and asking to lower his $5 million bond.

Commonwealth Attorney Brent Turner says the delay is necessary to complete testing of blood and DNA evidence collected from multiple locations within the McKinney home. The Commonwealth’s response noted the large amount of evidence due to the severity of the crime.

Officials said laboratory staff are expediting the process by testing more than the standard number of samples at once. However, two major submissions containing DNA, blood, and hair evidence are still pending.

McKinney is scheduled to appear before Judge Eddy Coleman on Thursday for a pretrial conference, where the motions will be reviewed.

LOUISVILLE, KY (WMDJ) — Federal investigators say an engine detached from the UPS jet that crashed Tuesday morning in Louisville. The death toll as of this writing is now at 12, including a child. 

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder have been recovered. These devices are often called black boxes. They sustained heat damage but remain intact. 

The aircraft, a 1999 McDonnell Douglas MD-11F with registration number N259UP (not the one pictured), was cleared for takeoff on Runway 17-Right when flames were seen coming from the left wing. Inman said airport surveillance video shows the left engine separating from the plane before impact. That engine was later found on airport property.

The plane briefly lifted off the runway before striking several structures outside the airport, leaving a debris field about a half-mile long.

Gov. Andy Beshear confirmed the updated death toll late Wednesday afternoon. The NTSB will lead the investigation with assistance from the FBI and expects to remain in Louisville through next week.

PIKEVILLE, KY (WMDJ) — The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky has announced that Pikeville will no longer serve as a place of holding federal court after this year.

According to General Order 25-15, signed by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, the Pikeville division will officially close on December 31, 2025. The order follows approval from the Judicial Council of the Sixth Circuit, certified by Chief Judge Jeffrey S. Sutton.

Beginning January 1, 2026, cases that would have been filed in Pikeville will be reassigned to other divisions. Cases from Johnson, Magoffin, and Martin counties will move to the Ashland Division, while cases from Pike, Letcher, Floyd, and Knott counties will be handled by the London Division.

All pending Pikeville cases will also be transferred to those courts as part of the transition.

The order officially discontinues all business of the federal court at Pikeville, ending decades of service to Eastern Kentucky residents who have relied on the courthouse for hearings and filings.

The change takes effect at the end of this year.

PIKEVILLE, KY (WMDJ) — Attorneys for the man accused of killing a Floyd County woman are objecting to a proposed delay in his upcoming trial, arguing that their client’s right to a speedy trial should be upheld.

Michael “M.K.” McKinney is charged with the June 2023 murder of Amber Spradlin at his family’s home on Arkansas Creek Road. He, his father, local dentist Dr. Michael McKinney, and family friend Josh Mullins are also charged with eight counts of tampering with physical evidence.

The trial is scheduled to begin December 1, but prosecutors recently asked for a continuance, citing pending DNA analysis that will not be complete before that date. Defense attorney Steven Romines filed an objection Friday, saying the Commonwealth already claimed to have sufficient evidence when McKinney was indicted, arrested, and held on a $5 million bond.

The defense filing also argues that any additional delay would be unfair to the defendant while he remains in custody. Both sides are expected to appear in Pike Circuit Court on Thursday for a pretrial hearing to discuss this motion, the bond reduction motion, and the Commonwealth's motion of continuance.

BETSY LAYNE, KY (WMDJ) — The Betsy Layne Fellowship Church has reached out to WMDJ to share that it’s stepping up to help families affected by the ongoing federal government shutdown.

To support those who rely on the WIC Program, short for Women, Infants, and Children, the church has provided funding to make baby formula, baby food, and milk available for eligible customers at the Save A Lot stores in Prestonsburg and Martin.

WIC is a federal program that provides nutrition support, healthy foods, and health referrals to low-income pregnant women, new mothers, and young children.

Both Save A Lot locations confirmed the effort on Saturday to WMDJ and on social media Sunday, noting that WIC cardholders can show their card and speak with store management for assistance. The initiative aims to help help local families while federal funding remains on hold.

FRANKFORT, KY (WMDJ) — Former Kentucky Governor Martha Layne Collins, the Commonwealth’s first and only female governor, has died at 88.

Collins served as Kentucky’s 56th governor from 1983 to 1987. Her administration focused on education and economic development, including the landmark deal that brought Toyota’s first North American manufacturing plant to Georgetown in 1986, a move that created thousands of jobs across the state.

Before becoming governor, Collins served as lieutenant governor and acted as governor for more than 500 days during her term. After leaving office, she was president of St. Catharine College in Springfield and later taught leadership courses at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Gov. Andy Beshear said her leadership helped lay the foundation for a stronger Kentucky and that her legacy will continue to impact families for generations.

COAL RUN, KY (WMDJ)  — Both north and southbound lanes of U.S. 23 at the Rural King intersection in Coal Run are being rerouted due to a serious accident involving two pedestrians struck by a vehicle.

Coal Run Police, Kentucky State Police, and emergency crews remain on scene and say traffic delays are expected to continue late into the evening and possibly into the early morning hours. Drivers are urged to find alternate routes if possible.

Coal Run Mayor Andrew Scott said more information will be released when available and asked the community to keep the injured individuals in their prayers.

This is a developing story and we'll provide updates as they become available.