Wise County, Va – Virginia State Police say Union High School head football coach Travis Turner has been officially listed as a missing person and is now wanted on 10 felony warrants. Turner was last seen November 20 and disappeared during an undefeated season for his team. He faces five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor, with additional charges possible. Police have used search-and-rescue teams, drones and K-9s around his home in Appalachia and say that while the priority is finding him safely, he is now considered a fugitive. Anyone with information is urged to contact Virginia State Police Division 4 at 276-484-9483 or email questions@vsp.virginia.gov.

 

Pike County, Ky -Two minors are recovering after a Tuesday night shooting in Pike County, during a gathering in the Island Creek community on Ray’s Branch involving three juveniles. A verbal argument reportedly led one juvenile to shoot the other two, sending both victims to the hospital in stable condition. Troopers and detectives spent hours combing the surrounding area, including nearby creeks and ditches, for evidence while releasing limited details because everyone involved is underage. The suspected juvenile shooter has been detained and taken to the Breathitt County Juvenile Detention Center.

 

Virgie, Ky – Thirty-four-year-old Charles Michael Hopkins, of Virgie, was indicted on one count of possession of child pornography after police searched his home last month, acting on a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Investigators say Hopkins first claimed he deleted images he was sent online, but later admitted saving and sharing some images involving infants because he liked the adults in them. If convicted, he faces a possible sentence of 5 to 20 years in prison and is currently on home detention awaiting his court appearance.

 

Frankfort, Ky – Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman says his office has reached a proposed settlement with East Kentucky Power Cooperative to scale back its requested rate hike for customers, including Big Sandy RECC members. Under the deal, which still needs approval from the Public Service Commission, residential customers would see their bills go up by less than five dollars a month, and EKPC has agreed not to seek another rate increase on families for at least three years. Proceeds from the settlement will support a two-billion-dollar plan to build two new power stations and upgrade an existing coal plant.