A 34-year-old Hindman man, Travis Thomas, died Sunday morning in a two-vehicle crash on KY 15 in the Whitesburg community, Kentucky State Police said. Troopers said his northbound 2023 Dodge Ram struck the rear of a 2022 Ford F-150, pushing it into the southbound lane. The Dodge then hit a guardrail, left the roadway and went down an embankment. The Letcher County Coroner’s Office pronounced Thomas dead at the scene, and KSP is investigating.
An incumbent representing a Lexington district in the Kentucky House will run unopposed after the opponent dropped out of the race. The headline did not name either candidate.
Fayette County voters eligible to vote absentee in November have until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday to request a ballot, the county clerk’s office says. Clerk Susan Lamb said eligible residents can apply at GoVote.Ky.Gov, including people who will be away during voting hours or cannot vote in person because of age, illness or disability. Completed ballots are due by 6 p.m. Nov. 3 and can be mailed or placed in the drop box outside the clerk’s office at 162 E. Main St. in Lexington.
Winchester-based Kentucky soft drink maker Ale-8-One says its limited-edition Cranberry Ale-8 is beginning to arrive on regional store shelves ahead of the holidays. The company says the seasonal drink is made with real sugar, contains no artificial colors or flavors, and is caffeine-free. Founded in 1926, Ale-8-One will offer the cranberry flavor at participating retailers for a limited time, while supplies last.
Lexington Emergency Management Director Robert Larkin plans to retire Jan. 1, ending a 35-year public safety career serving the city, officials announced. He has led the division since 2024, after serving as planning chief and assistant chief in the Division of Fire and Emergency Services, and spent more than 34 years in the Kentucky Army National Guard, retiring as a brigadier general. City officials expect to name a successor in early December ahead of winter weather season.
A lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court alleges the Department of Homeland Security collected sensitive data on Kentucky voters after the state refused to provide it. Voting-rights and electronic-privacy groups cite DHS emails and memos, including one saying information from Kentucky and five other states was being prepared for entry into Palantir’s ELITE system. The Kentucky secretary of state’s office said voter rolls had not been improperly accessed or altered.
Patrice Jetter and Garry Wickham say they cannot afford to marry because SSI and Medicaid benefits may be reduced if they wed or live together. The New York couple’s experience is featured in “Patrice: The Movie,” which follows their disability-rights advocacy, including demonstrations and a mass-wedding performance in Washington, D.C. They are calling for policies that protect benefits regardless of marital status and raise SSI’s asset limit.
Lexington Emergency Management Director Robert Larkin plans to retire Jan. 1, 2027, after 35 years in the city’s public safety service. He has led the division since 2024, following service as a planning chief and assistant chief in Fire and Emergency Services; he also retired from the Kentucky Army National Guard as a brigadier general. Mayor Linda Gorton plans to announce his successor in early December.
Lexington police and AAA Bluegrass are urging Kentucky drivers to slow down and move over for roadside workers and stranded motorists, ahead of National Move Over Day on Oct. 17. State law requires drivers approaching a vehicle with flashing lights to change lanes when safe or slow down if they cannot. Kentucky State Police data show 190 roadside-related crashes in 2025, killing 12 people. Officials say the precautions apply year-round.
Churchill Downs contributed $570,000 since July 1 to three Republican political committees, bringing its donations to them this year to $712,500. The groups have spent a combined $668,158 on independent advertising to support state Sen. Julie Raque Adams of Louisville, more than any other Kentucky House or Senate candidate has received this year. Adams is seeking a fourth term in November against Democrat Sarah Cole McIntosh.
Oregon leading wide receiver Evan Stewart is facing a charge of driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII). The available report does not include details about the alleged incident or the status of the case.
The University of Kentucky’s annual Donations for Citations drive runs Oct. 19-30, allowing students and employees to waive one regular $35 parking citation with 10 nonperishable food items or five personal care items for Big Blue Pantry. Donations can be dropped off at UK Transportation Services’ Customer Service Center, 721 Elizabeth St. Other outstanding citations must be paid, and citations waived through the drive cannot be appealed.