PRESTONSBURG, Ky. — The man accused of killing Amber Spradlin will see his bond remain at $5 million, the judge in the case ruled Monday afternoon. Spradlin’s body was found in the Arkansas Creek home of Dr. Michael McKinney on June 18, 2023. She had been stabbed at least 12 times in the neck and head. McKinney’s son, M.K. McKinney, has been charged with her murder. Both McKinneys and family friend Josh Mullins are also charged with eight counts of evidence tampering for allegedly trying to cover up the crime. M.K. McKinney’s bond has been set at $5 million, full […]

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PIKEVILLE, Ky. — Police called to investigate a shoplifting complaint over less than $16 ended up taking the suspect to jail on felony assault and drug trafficking charges. Pikeville Police were called to Walmart Friday night after store security reported that Lori Fields, 64, of Pinsonfork, attempted to take merchandise valued at $15.98. When they arrived and attempted to detain her, the police report accuses Fields of fighting officers and biting one of them on the hand twice, drawing blood. When she was finally arrested and searched, police reported finding a bag containing a large amount of meth, two envelopes […]

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ROXANA, Ky. — The U.S. Bureau of Prisons has given the go-ahead for a new federal prison to be constructed in Letcher County. BOP Director Collette Peters published her agency’s decision to move forward with the purchase of 500 acres at Roxana for the purpose of building a $500 million medium-security prison and minimum-security prison camp, holding more than 1,400 prisoners, combined. “I’m thrilled that the many years of hard work by local leaders in Letcher County have paid off,” U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers said, in announcing the decision. “They have improved broadband and strengthened local infrastructure, in effort to […]

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Election Day is just eight days away, and one local race is entering uncharted territory, as candidates scramble for a place in the state legislature. Two weeks ago, Democratic challenger David Suhr withdrew from the 29th District state Senate race, due to active duty requirements in the military. That appeared to seal a second term for Republican incumbent Johnnie L. Turner, until Turner died last week. Now, 11 candidates have filed to run as write-ins in the serpentine district, which runs from Prestonsburg to Harlan. The hopefuls include:

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PIKEVILLE, Ky. — A federal grand jury has charged a man with distributing fentanyl in Letcher County. Estevean Michael Angelo Brooks is charged with one count of distributing more than 40 grams of the drug in April of 2023, and one count of distributing a smaller amount the following month. If convicted, he would face at least five years and as much as 40 years in prison. Brooks is not known to be currently in custody. Prosecutors have asked the judge to issue a warrant for his arrest.

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