LONDON, Ky. — A Floyd County school bus driver has been indicted in federal court on allegations he attempted to induce a student into a sexual relationship. Andrew D. Lewis, 40, of Prestonsburg, is charged with one count of attempted online enticement. The indictment says he attempted to persuade a minor to engage in sexual activity that would likely result in a criminal charge of first-degree sexual abuse. The charge carries a potential sentence of anywhere between 10 years and life in prison. According to Prestonsburg Police, Lewis is also facing pending charges of first-degree sexual abuse and tampering with […]

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ASHLAND, Ky. — More information about a settled whistleblower complaint against Addiction Recovery Care has been made available, after court records were made public. ARC announced the settlement July 16 with the U.S. Department of Justice, but provided no details other than to say it involved “civil claims related to historical Medicaid billing practices.” “Reaching a resolution with the Department of Justice represents an important milestone for ARC,” President and Chief Executive Officer Cassandra Webb said. “We approached this process transparently, cooperatively and worked diligently to identify and resolve the billing issues involved. The resolution provides greater certainty for our […]

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — At a recent evidentiary hearing, West Virginia regulators signaled possible approval of a request from utilities Mon Power and Potomac Edison to build a new natural gas plant, along with three solar energy projects. The proposals are planned for Monongalia County. Critics said an associated rate hike would cost households around $2.5 billion and the move is a push to accommodate energy demands from a prospective data center. Dani Parent, executive director of the group West Virginia Citizen Action, said residential bills are projected to increase by several hundred dollars before the plant begins operating. “This is going to begin showing up […]

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ASHLAND, Ky. – Addiction Recovery Care, LLC (“ARC”), and its affiliates Pioneer Health Group, LLC and Science Hill Family Care, LLC, have agreed to a civil judgment of $16,205,774.05 in favor of the United States to resolve allegations that they defrauded the Kentucky Medicaid program. ARC, headquartered in Louisa, Kentucky, operates residential and outpatient drug rehabilitation facilities throughout the state. Along with its affiliates, ARC offers behavioral healthcare and medical healthcare services to patients at their rehabilitation facilities.  The judgment, announced today by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Office of the Kentucky Attorney General, is part of a civil settlement […]

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BELFRY, Ky. — A Pike County man is facing up to 10 years in prison, after he was arrested for striking another man with his car Sunday night. Police were initially called to a report of two neighbors — Robert Blankenship Sr. and Ethan Marcum — fighting in the middle of Big Creek Road at Belfry, following a disagreement about the location of a property line. At some point, a car driven by Blankenship’s son, Robert Lee Blankenship Jr., 27, struck Marcum, knocking him down. The younger Blankenship admitted to police that he hit Marcum, but said it was unintentional […]

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