EDITOR’S NOTE: There has been an update to this story, after the judge agreed to allow McKinney to meet with his attorneys on a more limited basis than the attorneys had been asking. You can read that story at https://mountain-topmedia.com/after-confusion-judge-allows-murder-suspect-limited-release-to-meet-with-attorneys/. PRESTONSBURG, Ky. — Media reports that M.K. McKinney has been granted “temporary release” from house arrest are not accurate, Mountain Top News has confirmed. McKinney is accused of the June 18, 2023, the murder of Amber Spradlin. Spradlin’s body was found in the home of McKinney’s father, Prestonsburg dentist Michael McKinney. Both McKinneys and family friend Josh Mullins are also […]

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PRESTONSBURG, Ky. — A blood-spattered door and a bloody handprint found next to the body. Those are just two of the dozens of pieces of evidence still waiting to be tested in the Amber Spradlin murder case, even as it heads to trial in 11 days. One week after Special Judge Eddy Coleman denied a prosecution request to delay the trial, Commonwealth’s Attorney Brent Turner filed an 11th-hour request for the judge to reconsider. In doing so, he provided the most complete accounting of the outstanding evidence the public has seen yet. Turner says much of the evidence could prove […]

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PRESS RELEASE: UK ATHLETICS LEXINGTON, Ky. – Justin McBride, a 6-foot-7 forward, has signed with the Kentucky men’s basketball program it was announced on Thursday.  McBride averaged 15.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game at James Madison a season ago.  The Plano, Texas, native was a third team pick for the All-Sun Belt team after appearing in all 31 games and making 30 starts for the Dukes in 2025-26. He is the first JMU player since Matt Lewis in 2019-20 to average at least 15 points and five rebounds per game for the season. McBride logged 22 games in double-digit […]

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BELFRY, Ky. — A complaint about squatters resulted in two people being arrested on burglary charges.And one of them was later charged with drug trafficking after being found with meth and fentanyl at the jail. Police were called to Cow Branch Road at Belfry Wednesday evening over a report of people staying in a vacant home without permission. There, they encountered Vangie Thacker, 52, on the front porch and could hear a man and woman arguing inside. When they went inside to investigate, the man and woman ran away and couldn’t be located. Thacker told police she had been staying […]

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PIKEVILLE, Ky. — To celebrate America turning 250, KET, in partnership with the Kentucky Historical Society and the America250KY Commission, will host a free screening of Ken Burns’ The American Revolution at the Appalachian Center for the Arts in Pikeville on Tuesday, May 12. The event will begin at 6:30 pm and feature a one-hour screening of the documentary followed by a panel discussion. This event is free but registration is encouraged at KET.org. Full event information is available at KET.org. For information on ticketing, attendees should contact The Appalachian Center for the Arts at (606) 262-4004 or [email protected]. KET is Kentucky’s largest classroom, providing […]

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