WISE, Va. — A federal drug investigation involving six defendants in Southwest Virginia and southern West Virginia is now public after the case was unsealed this week following the arrest of the final suspect. The investigation began in November 2025 and focused on an alleged conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and other controlled substances. The defendants are Zechariah Luke Thomas, Dakota Allen Thomas, Joyce Roseann Clower, Jeffrey Shane Wells, Jonathan Houston Hamilton and James Michael Hill. Each is charged with conspiracy to distribute meth and fentanyl and possession of meth with the intent to distribute. According to the federal affidavit: Federal […]

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FRANKFORT, Ky. — Retired Floyd District Judge Eric D. Hall has been honored with the Judge Robert W. Heaton Award for his contributions to Kentucky’s judiciary and his service to his colleagues and community. Hall received the award Sept. 15 during the Kentucky District Judges College. Judge Jimmy “Blue” Marcum and Judge Tyler Green presented Hall with the award. The Judge Robert W. Heaton Award is presented to an elected or retired Kentucky district judge who has demonstrated enduring friendship among colleagues and judicial leadership. According to the award criteria, recipients are recognized for contributing to the Commonwealth of Kentucky […]

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PIKEVILLE, Ky. — The suspect in a set of viral videos that showed police officers using force to arrest a man has been identified.And he now faces a list of charges after police say he resisted arrest and assaulted a Pike County sheriff’s deputy and a Pikeville police detective during the incident Tuesday afternoon. According to the police report, Cory M. Thomas, 34, of Powells Creek Road, was arrested following an incident on River Drive in Pikeville. The citation lists charges of second-degree disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and third-degree fleeing or evading police as well as two counts each of […]

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WISE, Va. — Patients and staff at the Health Wagon of Wise will benefit from a $5,200 grant from the Appalachian Power Foundation that will provide much-needed emergency medical training equipment and supplies. The grant was written by Lisa D. Rife, BS Educ, NRP, EMS, a paramedic with 10 years of experience who previously worked as a teacher and grant writer. Rife said she plans to use the new equipment to provide American Heart Association Basic Life Support and CPR training, including instruction on the use of automated external defibrillators, or AEDs. She will also teach “Stop the Bleed” courses […]

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PRESTONSBURG, Ky. — Prosecutors are opposing a request by the man charged with killing Amber Spradlin to reduce the financial conditions of his bond and allow him to be released for work while he awaits trial on a murder charge. Attorneys for M.K. McKinney filed a motion last month making that request.In their motion, they argued that recent DNA test results weakened the case against their client, and that he should not be held under the same strict conditions as a result. McKinney is charged with murder in the June 18, 2023, death of Spradlin, whose body was found in […]

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