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Candidates line up for Martin County races ahead of Friday deadline
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — With the filing clock ticking toward a 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9 deadline, the 2026 May Primary ballot in Martin County is beginning to take shape as candidates line up to seek county and city offices. As of Tuesday, the following candidates had filed for races. The list
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USPS says mail-in ballots might not get postmark on same day they are dropped off
by Jonathan Shorman Kentucky Lantern January 1, 2026 The U.S. Postal Service has adopted a new rule that could create doubt about whether some ballots mailed by voters by Election Day will receive postmarks in time to be counted. A USPS rule that took effect on Dec. 24 says mail might not receive a postmark
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UK first in nation to treat small cell lung cancer patient with new immunotherapy
by Sarah Ladd Kentucky Lantern January 5, 2026 If you smoke and want to quit, call the national quit line at 1-800-784-8669 to speak with a confidential coach. In what could be a “game changer” someday for Kentuckians with small cell lung cancer, the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center has treated the first patient
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Deal is off for sale of for-profit Kentucky recovery provider to Florida company
BY LANTERN STAFF Kentucky Lantern Addiction Recovery Care, a for-profit provider of substance abuse treatment in Kentucky, says its purchase by a Florida company is no longer in the works. A Dec. 31 news release from the Louisa-based company says, “Addiction Recovery Care, LLC and Ethema Health Corporation have decided not to move forward with
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Woman faces fetal homicide charge after using ‘abortion medication’
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT CAMPTON — A Campton woman is facing a first-degree fetal homicide charge following a reported abortion and the burial of a fetus on her Wolfe County property. According to the Kentucky State Police, United Clinic in Campton alerted Post 8 around 2:30 p.m. Dec. 31 after a woman at the facility allegedly
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Man arrested after motorcyle chase
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT MAYTOWN — A motorcycle pursuit that began in the Goose Creek area Friday, Dec. 26, ended miles later in Maytown with the arrest of a Martin man on multiple felony charges, according to the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies attempted to stop a Honda motorcycle after the operator refused to pull over
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Gas pump crash triggers meth bust by Sheriff Kirk
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — What could have been a dangerous collision at an Inez gas station instead became a methamphetamine bust with Martin County Sheriff John Kirk putting four people behind bars Dec. 30 on felony drug charges. A vehicle crashed into the concrete barrier protecting the gas pumps at Horn’s BP
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KSP seeks public’s help locating missing teen
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT MILLARD — The Kentucky State Police Pikeville Post is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing 15-year-old girl from the Millard. Troopers said they were contacted Jan. 1 regarding the disappearance of Star Blair. She was last seen earlier that day on Daniels Branch in Millard, according to state police.
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Big Sandy Regional Detention Center looks to Floyd County for female officers, cites no ‘hirable’ applicants in four counties
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN PAINTSVILLE — Big Sandy Regional Detention Center will temporarily expand its search for female correctional officers to Floyd County after administrators said the jail has not received “hirable” applicants from Johnson, Lawrence, Magoffin or Martin counties. The jail authority voted 4–3 at its Dec. 18 meeting to approve emergency hiring
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Martin County Water District asks PSC to end oversight
Opponents warn system remains fragile BY LISA STAYTON MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Water District is asking the Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) to close a long-running oversight case and lift monitoring requirements imposed more than six years ago, arguing that the utility has made significant financial and operational progress under outside management. The
