Johnson County, Ky – A Johnson County man is charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty after investigators say he was caught on video abusing his dog. A criminal complaint filed by Johnson County Animal Control Officer Bo Robbins alleges that on November 14, 37-year-old Tyler Spradlin of South Locust Grove Road in Stambaugh was recorded picking up his dog and throwing it to the ground “in injurious mistreatment to the animal.” He is charged with second-degree cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor, and is scheduled to appear in court on February 25 on that charge.

Prestonsburg, Ky – Many cancer patients who previously could not give blood are now eligible to donate under updated Kentucky Blood Center guidelines. The center’s medical director says people who have completed treatment for many organ cancers and melanoma can now give blood one year after treatment ends, while those with blood cancers remain permanently deferred. Some cancer medicines and other health issues can still block donation, so each donor is screened. Kentucky Blood Center says it needs about 400 donors a day to supply more than 70 hospitals statewide, and one donation can help save up to three lives.

Letcher County, Ky – It’s still unclear who will preside over the case against former Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines, who is charged with the 2024 murder of District Judge Kevin Mullins. Stines’ attorneys want Special Judge Christopher Cohron removed, claiming he was seen next to Mullins at a Judicial Commission on Mental Health meeting. The Kentucky Supreme Court’s deputy chief justice says Cohron should first decide whether to recuse himself; if he refuses, the defense can file an affidavit about Cohron and ask the deputy chief justice to review it.

Williamson, Wv, – Mediation in a Pike County murder case has not produced an agreement, but prosecutors say negotiations are still underway. The case involves 39‑year‑old Charles Ray Blevins and 30‑year‑old Demetra Smith of Williamson, West Virginia, who both face murder charges in the shooting death of Adrian Smith near the flood wall in South Williamson; Blevins also faces handgun and persistent felony offender charges. Prosecutors say the killing is believed to stem from a dispute between Demetra and Adrian Smith, who are not related, and that Demetra is accused of helping set up the encounter by telling Blevins where and when the victim would be; both remain in the Pike County Detention Center as talks continue.