Breaking News

A Boone County man is behind bars in the Whitley County Detention Center after being arrested early Sunday morning for allegedly kidnapping a teenager and strangling her among other offenses. Judge Fred White entered a not guilty plea Monday morning for Roy Wesley Cox, 18, of Erlanger, during his arraignment in Whitley District Court on charges of kidnapping-minor, first-degree strangulation (domestic violence related), third-degree unlawful transaction with a minor, first-degree unlawful imprisonment and fourth-degree assault. White set his bond at $100,000 cash, appointed the public advocate’s office to represent Cox and scheduled a Aug. 18 preliminary hearing in his case. The alleged incident happened Saturday at approximately 6 p.m. in Corbin, according...

A flightless bird caught the attention of several people in Williamsburg Thursday afternoon. At approximately 2:19 p.m., an Emu was spotted near IGA, which is off US25W between Main Street and Cumberland Avenue. Williamsburg Police Chief Jason Caddell said the bird apparently got loose on a farm off KY-26 a day or two ago. “How it ended up in Williamsburg, I have no idea,” he said. “Luckily, the owner was there with it by the time we got there.” (Photo courtesy of Tom Shelley)

One person died, who was found laying in a driveway near Corbin Thursday morning, but authorities say foul play is not currently suspected. “At this time, there doesn’t appear any foul play to have been involved. At this time, we don’t suspect any,” said Whitley County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Tony Dingess, who is the investigating officer. The victim’s name is not being released pending notification of next of kin. The man was discovered at approximately 10:43 a.m. at 3390 Cumberland Falls Highway. “A passerby observed him lying in the driveway,” Dingess said. “He appeared to be suffering from a gunshot wound.” Whitley County EMS responded to the scene and transported the man to Baptist...

A Williamsburg woman died after being struck by a train Monday afternoon in southern Whitley County. Whitley County Coroner Andy Croley pronounced Loretta Dean, 41, dead shortly before 2 p.m. Monday at Baptist Health Corbin. “She was walking on the tracks right around the Cool Camp area and was struck by an oncoming train,” Croley said. No autopsy was ordered. She died from multiple blunt force injuries, Croley said.

Corbin is getting a Kroger Marketplace. The Corbin Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing Thursday afternoon to consider a request for a plat approval for a Kroger Marketplace. The store will be built on the old King’s Truck Stop property in southern Laurel County off Exit 29. The new store will sit on nearly 19 acres of land and measure approximately 100,000-square-feet. It will be approximately 40,000 to 50,000-square-feet larger than a typical store. In other words, the two existing Kroger stores in Corbin would come close to fitting inside the new store. Construction is expected to take approximately 10 to 12 months to complete, weather permitting. The start date is contingent...

Former acting chief of the London Police Department Bobby Day resigned from the department Monday. A letter, which is addressed to London Mayor Tracie Handley, served as formal notice of his resignation with the City of London, effective on July 20, 2026. The letter, which was written on what appears to be Ousley and Wiese, PLLC letterhead, stated that Day is represented by the firm. The attorney explained in the letter that Day accepted a position with the London Police Department after a distinguished career and retirement from the Kentucky State Police. After assisting in the creation of the Laurel County School System Police Department, Day decided to return to public service...

A Whitley Circuit Court Jury convicted a Corbin man Thursday afternoon for the rape of a girl under the age of 12 years old and recommended a life sentence, according to court officials. The two-day trial concluded with the jury convicting Preston Coffey, 27, of first-degree rape and first-degree sexual abuse. Jurors recommended a life sentence for Coffey on the rape charge and a 10-year prison sentence on the sexual abuse charge. “I am exceptionally pleased with the verdict. It is so satisfying to see that jurors in Whitley County still take abuse of children seriously and still believe children and still deliver justice on behalf of kids,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney...

The City of London officially has a interim new mayor, and it a familiar face, who briefly served as mayor before. Then Mayor Randall Weddle announced Friday morning he was resigning effective July 12. The London City Council unanimously voted during a special called meeting Monday to accept Weddle’s resignation as mayor. The council went into an approximately 84-minute executive session to discuss proposed or pending litigation against the council or on behalf of the council and to have a discussion which might lead to the appointment of an individual employee or member. Then council members returned to regular session and voted 4-0 to appoint Tracie Handley as interim mayor. Council members John...

The Kentucky Court of Appeals ruled Friday morning a special judge was wrong last year when he overturned the London City Council’s removal of Mayor Randall Weddle from office. “The circuit court erred in determining there were no sufficient grounds to remove the mayor from office and therefore erred in overturning the removal andreinstating Weddle,” according to the Court of Appeals ruling, which was rendered at 10 a.m. Friday. Weddle announced Friday morning on the Mayor Randall Weddle Facebook page he was resigning as mayor effective July 12. “Our judicial system has now spoken, and while this is not the outcome I had hoped for, I respect the rule of law, the...

London Mayor Randall Weddle has announced he is resigning. Weddle announced on the Mayor Randall Weddle Facebook page late Friday morning he had submitted his resignation as mayor of the City of London effective July 12, 2026. “This effective date is intended to provide the City Council sufficient time to ensure a smooth transition and appoint someone to serve the remainder of my term. Serving as mayor has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. I will always be grateful for the trust the people of London placed in me and for the opportunity to work every day to make our city an even better place to live, work,...