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Fentanyl plaguing south central Kentucky

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Fentanyl plaguing south central Kentucky


BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – An 18-year-old dies, and a juvenile is hospitalized after what is presumed by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office to be a fentanyl overdose in Bowling Green.

Drug overdose leads to one dead, one hospitalized in Bowling Green

WCSO and local drug task forces have raised concerns over fentanyl-related overdoses, incidents and deaths in the area, as the drug, and its deadly nature plague south central Kentucky.

“Two high school kids or they were little about high school, about 19 years old. Last year they split a split an M30A blue fentanyl pill. They bought it and they split it. One took one, half one took the other. One of them overdosed and died, and one of them lived because that one that overdosed and died had a hot spot of fentanyl in it,” Director of the South Central Kentucky Drug Task Force Jacky Hunt said.

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The South Central Kentucky Drug Task Force has reported the amount of fentanyl pill seizures in 2024 is seven times what it was in 2023; that year having 50 interceptions, and 2024 seeing 350 already this year.

“I have [spent] 20 plus years in narcotics alone,” Hunt said. “These last few years I’ve never seen a drug like fentanyl, ever.”

The DTF over the past two years has investigated over 120 known fentanyl overdose cases in Logan and Simpson Counties alone.

Although recent statistics from Kentucky’s Office of Drug Control Policy show that in 2022, fentanyl-related deaths have decreased 5% from 2021, the number of pill seizures and recent fentanyl-related overdoses are still concerning numbers to law enforcement agencies.

“Roughly just in round numbers, one-third of the overdose death cases in Kentucky are attributed to methamphetamine and the other two-thirds to fentanyl,” Director of the Warren County Drug Task Force Tommy Loving said. “I think the fentanyl is probably the worst thing we’ve seen because it is so deadly and so unpredictable.”

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Warren County Sheriff Brett Hightower is urging the community to not buy or use any pills or drugs from a third party, because substances such as Valium, Xanax, and marijuana, have the potential to be laced with fentanyl.

“So many people think it’s just one pill, but one pill can kill and. And that’s all it takes. You absolutely cannot take any pill it seems like right now, period, that’s from the street in any way,” Hightower said.

Administering Narcan can save the life of someone experiencing a fentanyl-related overdose.

Narcan distributors in Kentucky can be found here.

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Kentucky woman, 35, charged with homicide after using abortion pills then burying fetus in backyard

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Kentucky woman, 35, charged with homicide after using abortion pills then burying fetus in  backyard


A Kentucky woman was charged with fetal homicide after allegedly using abortion pills and burying the fetus in a Christmas-wrapped lightbulb box in her backyard — when she got pregnant following an affair.

Melinda Spencer, 35, was arrested Wednesday after going to a Campton health care clinic, where she told staff members she used medication purchased online to end her pregnancy, which is illegal in the state, according to Kentucky State Police, FOX 56 reported.

Police said Spencer allegedly admitted to taking the pills on Dec. 26 and burying the fetus — described as a “developed male infant” — two days later in a shallow grave at her Flat Mary Road home.

Melinda Spencer, 35, was charged with fetal homicide after taking abortion pills to end her pregnancy in Kentucky, where that is illegal. Kentucky State Police

After obtaining a search warrant, cops found the remains wrapped in a white rag and stuffed in the holiday-decorated box inside a plastic bag, court documents showed.

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Spencer later confessed that she allegedly ordered the pregnancy-ending drugs after conceiving with a man who was not her boyfriend, claiming she didn’t want him to find out, police said, per the outlet.

Authorities said she wanted to “abort the fetus on her own.”

Cops found the remains wrapped in a white rag and stuffed in the holiday-decorated box inside a plastic bag in her backyard. AP

It’s unclear how long she was pregnant before taking the pills.

An autopsy has reportedly been scheduled to establish how developed the fetus was.

In Kentucky, nearly all abortions are illegal, with a doctor only authorized to perform one to prevent death or serious injury to the mother.

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The deadly offense makes her eligible for the death penalty. Getty Images

There are no exceptions for rape or incest.

State law also bars the distribution of abortion medication.

Spencer was charged with first-degree fetal homicide, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and first-degree promoting contraband, the outlet reported.

The homicide offense makes her eligible for the death penalty. She also faces life behind bars if convicted.

Spencer is being held at Three Forks Regional Jail in Beattyville.

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Lancaster resident describes Kentucky earthquake experience

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Lancaster resident describes Kentucky earthquake experience


LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – A 3.1 magnitude earthquake hit Kentucky Sunday afternoon with an epicenter between Richmond and Lancaster, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The USGS “Did You Feel It” survey received reports from people in Richmond, Danville, Stanford, Lancaster and Lexington.

Caroline Boyd, a retired nurse from Lancaster, was reading at home when the earthquake began at 12:47 p.m.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say shaking but it felt like a rumbling in my basement or even outside,” Boyd said.

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Boyd said she felt and heard the ground beneath her rumble followed by a loud boom.

“I thought to myself what on earth is that? Because there is no trains or train station nearby, so I knew it was not a train. So, I just sat there and listened. I would say it lasted about 10 to 15 seconds,” Boyd said.

After the tremor, Boyd called her neighbors and then the sheriff’s office. Dispatchers told her there had been an earthquake.

Dustin Price, deputy director and public information officer for Garrad County Emergency Management Agency, said the agency first heard from Bluegrass 911 about reports of a loud boom and shaking.

“Approximately we were able to confirm through the state that there was a confirmed 3.1 magnitude earthquake that hit through Garrad County,” Price said.

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No injuries or property damage were reported, according to Price.

Boyd said she was thankful the earthquake did not cause more serious problems.

“Even if I would’ve had to relocate if there was a problem. I have two pets, so it could’ve been really bad,” Boyd said.

Garrad County EMA said they are thankful for all the agencies who helped respond to the incident.

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3.2 magnitude earthquake with no immediate reports of damage confirmed in Garrard County

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3.2 magnitude earthquake with no immediate reports of damage confirmed in Garrard County


GARRARD COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — Governor Andy Beshear reports that a 3.2 magnitude earthquake has been reported in Garrard County.

“This range does not typically produce sizable damage – just shaking – and thankfully, that is all that’s been reported so far,” Beshear said on social media Sunday.

According to the Lincoln County EMA, the earthquake happened around 12:47 p.m. with a shallow depth of 8 kilometers.

NWS Louisville reports the location of the quake to have been near the Garrard/Madison County line.

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Multiple agencies are also reporting no immediate reports of damage.





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