Kentucky
How organizations and police departments are fighting rising human trafficking in Kentucky
KENTUCKY (WKYT) – National media coverage of the Jeffrey Epstein case has shed light on the subject of sex trafficking.
Those who track these types of crimes say sex trafficking and exploitation are on the rise in Kentucky, saying the Commonwealth is in the top ten among other states.
Detective Ricky Lynn runs the kentucky state human trafficking task force. He’s been investigating sex trafficking cases for 19 years and says these types of crimes are on the rise.
Lynn says last year, the state’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services reported 500 children were trafficked. Research conducted by Detective Lynn shows that the COVID-19 pandemic era contributed to the increase.
“Those numbers in the state of Kentucky went up 40%. Kids were not in school; businesses were not open. So then at that point, it sparked a lot of research in the state of Kentucky, like how bad really is family-based trafficking,” Lynn said.
Detective Lynn recalls solving one case that revealed 36 sex crime victims.
Lynn says there are thousands of children sold online every day. These are websites that are not listed on the dark web.
Jani Lewis is the executive director of Natalie’s sisters, an organization designed to reach out to women who are sex trafficked and exploited. She says three factors play a role in these crimes: poverty, substance abuse and lack of employment.
sot lewis
“These are women not dressed up on the street corner, these are women who could be a housewife or a student just walking down the street,” Lewis said.
This could be a solution to the problem.
Secretary of State Michael Adams has launched a program called Kentucky Businesses Against Trafficking.
“We’re helping train them and their employees on how to spot the signs of human trafficking and also know how to report it to law enforcement,” said Secretary Adams.
You can find more information about Kentucky Businesses Against Trafficking on the Secretary of State’s website.
Copyright 2025 WKYT. All rights reserved.
Even in the era of the transfer portal and NIL, fans of a team will still focus on and care about recruiting. That’s especially the case with the Kentucky Wildcats. Fans are already up in arms about Kentucky’s recruiting for the class of 2026, or, in their case, lack thereof.
Only one player is signed for the class of 2026, after 4-star point guard Mason Williams announced his commitment to play for the Cats on Friday. On the board. Still work to do.
Chris Washington Jr., an Alabama decommit and top-35 senior prospect, is a new target for Mark Pope and UK ahead of the spring signing period in mid-April. The staff reached out to his AAU coach, Bobby Maze, to gauge the athletic wing’s potential interest. This is all according to Kentucky Sports Radio.
Washington is a 6-9, 195-pound forward who originally committed to Alabama, but decommitted in November. Kentucky is now included among the likes of Tennessee, Oregon, Oklahoma State, USC, and SMU that are interested in Washington.
“It’s a good program,” Washington said of Kentucky while adding, “Honestly, I just want to go where I’m wanted — and the play style. I got to go where I fit in and where the coaches really want me. (My recruitment is) open. Whenever the time is right.”
Only four players ranked ahead of him remain available in 2026, including No. 1 Tyran Stokes. That tells you just how big of a prospect Washington will be in the spring signing period.
Kentucky has swung and missed in recruiting a lot recently. But there is still time to get things moving in the right direction this spring on both the high school front and in the transfer portal.
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WKRC) — A Kentucky man was arrested Thursday after police said he was riding a horse while intoxicated, reports WBKO.
Bowling Green police said they found 48-year-old Jorge Luis Hernandez on a horse, partially slumped over, as it walked along a road. He and the horse then began traveling on a sidewalk, according to an arrest record.
Police said Hernandez had a “strong odor of alcoholic beverage” and had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and delayed movements. Hernandez said he had just left the liquor store and had a liquor store bag tied to the horse’s saddle.
Hernandez was arrested and charged with operating a non-motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicants.
Kentucky
Kentucky Newsmakers 3/29: Senate Candidate Charles Booker; Kentucky League of Cities Pres. Mayor Paul Sandefur
LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – On the latest edition of Kentucky Newsmakers, WKYT’s Bill Bryant talks with Kentucky Senate candidate Charles Booker and Beaver Dam Mayor and Kentucky League of Cities President Paul Sandefur.
Copyright 2026 WKYT. All rights reserved.
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