Floyd County, Ky – Floyd County judge‑executive candidate Dr. Debra Hall entered an interim agreed order with the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure in 2013 after an investigation into her prescribing of controlled substances. Under that order, her license was placed under board‑set conditions, including keeping detailed logs of all controlled‑substance prescriptions, completing a clinical skills assessment and remedial education, and taking a controlled‑drugs prescribing course, with ongoing monitoring. In a consultant report to the board, Dr. Surinder Kad wrote that Hall’s chronic pain management departed from acceptable standards, described her prescribing pattern as gross incompetence, and said her practice posed a danger to the health, welfare and safety of patients or the public. Hall publicly stated during her current campaign that there has “never been any action” against her medical license.

Floyd County, Ky – A Floyd County man is facing a felony drug charge after deputies say they found methamphetamine in his home. According to an arrest citation, Floyd County Sheriff’s Deputy David Pennington served a search warrant April 16 at the Ky. 979 residence of 55‑year‑old Mark William King in Grethel. Pennington wrote that deputies found King hiding behind a closet door before detaining him. A search of King’s bedroom allegedly turned up baggies containing more than two grams of a substance King admitted was methamphetamine, along with digital scales and baggies with residue. King was lodged in the Floyd County Detention Center on a charge of first‑degree trafficking in a controlled substance, at least two grams of methamphetamine, first offense.

Richmond, Ky – A former Eastern Kentucky University professor has accepted a plea agreement in connection with the 2019 death of his wife, avoiding a trial that had been scheduled for early February. On Tuesday, Glenn Jackson was sentenced to 14 years, the recommended term under the agreement. Jackson entered an Alford plea, allowing him to maintain his innocence while acknowledging that enough evidence exists for a conviction. He pleaded guilty to reduced charges of manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with evidence. He had originally been charged with murder in April 2020.

Letcher County, Ky – The Kentucky Supreme Court has rejected a request to remove the judge presiding over the murder case involving Shawn Stines. Stines is accused in the Sept. 19, 2024, shooting death of Kevin Mullins. In its decision, the court said there is no basis to question the impartiality of Special Judge Christopher Cohron, despite defense claims about his proximity to Mullins during a judicial meeting just days before the incident. The court noted that simply attending the same event and sitting near the victim does not amount to a conflict requiring recusal.  As a result, Cohron will remain on the case, though the defense can raise the issue again on appeal after a final ruling.