PIKEVILLE, Ky. — The SOAR Summit has announced that Gayle Manchin, Federal Co-Chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission, will deliver the keynote address at the closing plenary session of the 2024 Summit. Manchin will speak on Friday, Oct. 18, at the University of Pikeville, bringing a close to the three-day event with her vision for advancing economic opportunity and community development across the region. As Federal Co-Chair of the ARC, Manchin has advocated for economic revitalization, workforce development, and sustainable growth throughout Appalachia. Her leadership has played a pivotal role in reshaping the region’s future, and her insights at the […]

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PIKEVILLE, Ky. — A court case involving a Letcher County cockfighting ring is winding down, as the last three defendants plan to plead guilty this week. Six people were originally indicted in the case by a federal grand jury back in July of 2023. Two have already entered guilty pleas, while another died before his case was resolved. That leaves three defendants, who are all scheduled to enter guilty pleas in U.S. District Court in Pikeville on Thursday. Virgil Saylor and Tina Miller have each signed agreements pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit animal fighting, while Chris Prater will plead […]

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ABINGDON, Va. — Four of the 10 people arrested on charges of distributing meth and fentanyl in southwestern Virginia have signaled that they intend to enter guilty pleas, while an 11th person has now also been arrested. Back in August, authorities began a roundup of a dozen suspects charged in connection with a drug ring centered on Wise County, where many of the defendants live. Now, Matthew Ryan “Red” Addington, Ashley Linden Beverly Jr., Brittany Chantae Rose and Cody Allen Rose have each signed plea agreements agreeing to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute more than 40 […]

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INEZ, Ky. — A Martin County couple was arrested after police were called to their home on a social services complaint. Deputies were called Friday to a Rockhouse Road home, where James Long, 46, and Patricia Long, 43, live with three minor girls, ranging in age from 4 to 17. Deputies saw trash littering the outside of the home when they arrived, but then found even more inside the home. The police report notes the home’s floors were impassable with trash, moldy food containers and dog feces, and the house had an odor of animal urine and feces. The home […]

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FRENCHBURG, Ky. — A jury has recommended that a Menifee County man spend the rest of his life in prison, after he pleaded guilty to killing a Pike County woman. Anthony Hall, 40, of Wellington, pleaded guilty to killing his girlfriend, Jodi Stapleton, 35, of Pikeville, back in 2020. Authorities say Stapleton died from injuries sustained after Hall savagely beat her in the face, head and body. He was later arrested after he fled to South Carolina. Prosecutors had planned to introduce evidence at trial that the killing was the end result of a pattern of domestic violence by Hall. […]

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