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2+ hour, 5+ min ago (313+ words) MADISON COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) " A Richmond barbecue restaurant is back in business after receiving crucial support to recover from winter storm damage that threatened to shut down operations permanently. Smitty's Southern Style BBQ on East Irvine Street has been serving the community for more than a decade, filling the area with the aroma of smoked ribs and pulled pork. What started as a food truck in 2010 quickly grew into a beloved restaurant built on family recipes and the legacy of founder Fred Smith. "Fred Smith, he was a great guy. Some people liked him, some people loved him. There was no in between. He was a great guy. Funny guy. Down to earth," said Jeffery Robinson, the restaurant's current owner. After Smith passed away, his stepson Robinson and mother stepped in to continue the business. Robinson took on the owner…...

4+ hour, 5+ min ago (244+ words) It's state championship weekend in Kentucky high school football. The quest for a 2025 state title has reached the last round, with the Class 6A championship set for Saturday afternoon at Kroger Field in Lexington. The KHSAA championship in Kentucky's largest classification has come down to the South Warren Spartans (13-0) vs. the Trinity Shamrocks (12-2). Trinity quarterback Zane Johnson (2,763 passing yards, 51 TDs) is a frontrunner for Mr. Football. South Warren is led by running back Kayden York (1,008 rushing yards, 21 TDs). Opening kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 6 with a live TV broadcast on NFHS Network. Trinity routed St. Xavier in the state semifinals 50-7, while South Warren got past Ryle 36-20. Trinity's only two losses this season were to teams from Cincinnati " St. Xavier (Ohio) and Archbishop Moeller, with each loss by only three points. Trinity is the reigning back-to-back 6A state champion, carrying…...

7+ hour, 20+ min ago (49+ words) An investigation is underway after a car crashed into a McDonald's drive-thru in Gardena early Friday morning. Los Angeles police responded to the crash at 850 Rosecrans Ave. around 12:30 a.m. Multiple people hurt after 10-vehicle chain-reaction crash on I-95 in Richmond...

7+ hour, 35+ min ago (155+ words) The Kentucky Wildcats and Gonzaga Bulldogs take center stage on Friday night in a top-25 college basketball matchup. The game is at 7 p.m. on ESPN2 and being played at a neutral site, Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Kentucky is ranked 18th in the AP Top 25, and Gonzaga is No. 11. How to watch online: If you don't have ESPN2, you can watch on several streaming services, including ESPNUnlimited, DIRECTV, Sling or FuboTV. ESPNUnlimited requires a subscription; DIRECTV and Fubo offer free trials, and Sling has a one-day pass option. Who: Gonzaga vs. Kentucky When: Dec. 5, 2025 Where: Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Live stream: ESPNUnlimited (subscription required), DIRECTV (free trial available), Sling (day pass available) or FuboTV (free trial available). Kentucky vs. Gonzaga recent history: The teams played an overtime thriller in 2024 in Seattle, with then-No. 4 Kentucky beating then-No. 7, 90-89. Watch the highlights here:...

11+ hour, 11+ min ago (247+ words) Kenny Darby has found a new home in the Southeastern Conference. The prolific 4-star WR from The Boot is following former LSU offensive coordinator Joe Sloan and Oregon playcaller Will Stein to Lexington. Darby committed and signed with Kentucky on Friday, picking the Wildcats over the likes of Colorado, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Houston, which all made strong late runs for the No. 28-ranked WR in the Rivals300. Darby was verbally pledged to Mississippi State as an underclassman, then flipped to LSU shortly after landing an offer from Sloan and the previous coaching staff in Baton Rouge at the tail end of his junior season for Bossier City (La.) Airline High School "The biggest reason is I picked Kentucky because I wanna start my own trend," Darby told Rivals of his decision on Friday. "I wanna be a part of…...

13+ hour, 5+ min ago (114+ words) ST. CROIX COUNTY (WQOW) - A New Richmond man has been sentenced for killing his wife earlier this year." Gordon Laakso, 71, was charged with first-degree intentional homicide, strangulation and suffocation, and hiding a corpse in March 2024." As 18 News reported, officers found his wife dead in a rural area of Polk County after a call for a welfare check." Laakso pleaded guilty to an amended county of first-degree reckless homicide in September as part of a plea deal." Friday in court, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison followed by six years of extended supervision. He was credited for the 278 days already spent in jail....

13+ hour, 35+ min ago (46+ words) The Gonzaga Bulldogs beat the Kentucky Wildcats 94-59 during a game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. The Gonzaga Bulldogs beat the Kentucky Wildcats 94-59 during a game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025....

13+ hour, 36+ min ago (124+ words) Livestream brought to you by: RICHMOND COUNTY, N.C " Richmond County Commissioners voted to replace the board's current chair and vice chair during their regular scheduled meeting, Tuesday. Commissioner Jeff Smart is the new chair of the board, and commissioner Jason Gainey is the new vice chair. Smart replaces former chair Rick Watkins, and Gainey replaces former vice chair Andy Grooms. Commissioner Jamie Gathings said he had some concerns with decisions Watkins made without the board's approval. He said that is one reason he decided to nominate Smart for the position. Smart had previously been chair of the board. Commissioner Justin Dawkins said he also voted for Smart and Gainey because he wanted new leadership. Dawkins said their new roles started immediately....

14+ hour, 22+ min ago (207+ words) Kentucky's rough start to a much anticipated 202526 men's college basketball season has turned from disappointing to dumpster fire." Can't lie'this uk team has no heart! This is hard to watch smh Finally, Friday's debacle, which started with the positive vibes of the return of point guard Jaland Lowe but quickly turned into the worst showing of the Mark Pope era. Kentucky (54) isn't just losing, it's getting punked by any team with a pulse through the season's first month." "We feel the responsibility that we have to this university and this fan base, and all the boos that we heard tonight were incredibly well deserved, mostly for me," Pope said postgame. "As a former player, I'm pissed at the coach, too," Pope said when asked about Cousins's scathing tweet." It's a near-unthinkable place for this program to be after Pope pressed…...

16+ hour, 53+ min ago (39+ words) Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry took the stage at Wednesday's New York Times DealBook summit, where she shocked the crowd by blasting California Governor Gavin Newsom. Snow Day! Richmond news and weather update for Friday, Dec. 5, 2025...