Trent Knuckles

I remember the day I moved to this area. It was in late October or early November 1996. It was brutally cold and snow was flying around in the air. I’d been to Corbin only one other time in my life — about two weeks prior for a job interview. I had almost nothing. I’d recently graduated from UK. I had a bed and a desk, a couple small hand-me-down bookcases, an uncomfortable wicker chair, a small TV that I had to set on a laundry basket, and a kitchen table. My apartment looked pretty sparse! My vehicle — a gray, 1983 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme that my grandmother gave me. I was...

Ever since the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for states to allow betting on sporting events across the board in 2018, there’s been high interest in the idea. Initially relegated to Nevada, it’s now been approved by 20 states. Kentucky had an opportunity to be one of the first to get in on the action, but a bill to allow it didn’t make it through the 2019 legislative session. That represented an estimated $20 million worth of lost revenue that could have gone into the state coffers. In the meantime, many of Kentucky’s surrounding states have passed such bills. Some of them, like Indiana, are already seeing a windfall. Others, including...

I was a reporter covering Corbin city government in 2004 something wild happened. The current mayor of the town, Scott Williamson, abruptly resigned. He had about a year and a half left on his term. A replacement was needed. The city’s Board of Commissioners appointed Amos Miller to be mayor. I’ll be honest, at the time, I sort of didn’t know what to expect. As a city commissioner, Amos rarely spoke. When he did, it was to the point. He was difficult to read. So I wasn’t really sure he was the best choice for mayor. Forgive me on that one. I wasn’t from Corbin. I didn’t grow up here. So, I...

I was sitting across from Bob Terrell one day at the old L&N Depot Building conducting an interview with him. I remember it like it was yesterday. He was Director of Economic Development for the city of Corbin at that time. He was trying to get the city to do something — rename a street in honor of some Redhound sports legend, I believe — and he was getting some pushback on the idea. There were complications. I asked him why he wanted to forge ahead on something when it appeared to be an uphill battle. I’ll never forget what he told me. “I don’t think we should give up on things just...

I’ve run for elected office twice in Corbin, and voters trusted me both times to represent them on the City Commission. I met many of you face-to-face while going door-to-door during both of those races. It was a great way to really get to know my town. I consider that a great honor. I was not born and raised in Corbin. I’m a outsider. But people here have accepted me like I’ve lived here all my life. I’d say for many of you, it’s hard to really understand how much that means to someone like me. Corbin is the most welcoming, accepting, friendly community I’ve ever called home. I get...

The other day, I got in the shower to get ready for work. I turned on the faucet … and all that came out was cold, wet torture. It’s a heck of a way to start your morning! A cold shower. Shaving with cold water. Not fun at all. I went downstairs to check the pilot light on my water heater. It was out. I started the process of relighting it, but had to wait 10 minutes for any possible latent gas to disburse, according to instruction. So, I went back upstairs. I figured I’d check the pilot light on my gas logs. It was out too! It started to dawn on me...

There’s been a story circulating nationally this week about a North Carolina man who won a $750,000 judgment against his wife’s lover for ruining their marriage. I was intrigued. I had to know how this was possible. Apparently, there are seven states in the US (Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah, New Mexico, Hawaii), and Puerto Rico, where so-called “Home Wrecker” laws are still a thing. The legal harm that serves as a basis for these lawsuits is termed “alienation of affection.” In case you are wondering, you can’t sue the person who stole your spouse from you in Kentucky. The Kentucky Supreme Court ruled in 1922 that nobody “owns”...

I was watching the two main candidates for Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture debate on KET Monday night when the subject of “medical marijuana” came up. The challenger, Robert Conway, gave a full-throated endorsement to the idea that doctors should be able to prescribe marijuana in Kentucky for patients who could benefit from its use. The incumbent, Republican Ryan Quarles, who is clearly the better of the two candidates in this race, isn’t against the idea, but he prefers that the state legislature take the lead on the issue. There was some back-and-forth that ensued about leadership and how this is an “issue of morality” and a bit of finger pointing and even...

I just broke up with Netflix. It was sudden and abrupt. We had a long relationship, but it just had to end. I didn’t “let her down easy,” so to speak. Didn’t even really call or text. Just did the deed swiftly with the click of a mouse button. Sorry Netflix. It wasn’t you, it was me. Maybe that’s not true. Maybe it WAS you. I couldn’t stand the pressure anymore. When I saw a story about how the streaming content service planned to debut something like 27 new series between now and the end of the year … I just couldn’t do it anymore. I’m getting entertainment fatigue. There would literally be times...

The situation in Harlan with miners of the Blackjewel coal company not being paid back wages is a textbook case of government flat failing to do its job, enforce the law and protect its citizens. The company declared bankruptcy weeks ago, and images of miners protesting have made national news. Politicians across the spectrum have been hyperventilating to let everyone know, willing to listen, that they support the down-on-their-luck miners. In just another example of why having newspapers is so important, the Lexington Herald-Leader pointed out there is a law on the books that mandates new mining companies pay bonds to ensure workers get paid if things go south. Blackjewel didn’t pay. Turns...