Samantha Valentino
Reporter
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Samantha Valentino joined the WKYT team in April 2022.
She grew up in Connecticut where she fell in love with journalism at a young age. Samantha moved to Lexington in 2018 to study broadcast journalism and criminology at the University of Kentucky.
While at UK, she helped create the University of Kentucky's podcast "Bowman's Friends," hosted WRFL 88.1 F.M.'s news program "Campus Voices," and worked as an anchor, reporter, and producer for the UK Student News Network.
Samantha came to WKYT part-time just before graduating from UK and switched to full-time the day after crossing the graduation stage.
Updated: 10 hours ago
|By Samantha Valentino
While they might be pretty to look at, the trees are known to cause not so pretty damage.
Updated: Mar. 24, 2023 at 4:06 PM EDT
|By Samantha Valentino
A fake GoFundMe claiming to support the family of Eli Hill has opened up questions about the legal ramifications of fraudulent GoFundMes.
Updated: Mar. 21, 2023 at 3:50 PM EDT
|By Samantha Valentino
The CDC is sounding the alarm on a potentially deadly fungal threat.
Updated: Mar. 19, 2023 at 2:19 PM EDT
|By Samantha Valentino
Those against the bill have concerns about its potential mental health impacts on the LGBTQ+ community.
Updated: Mar. 18, 2023 at 5:52 PM EDT
|By Samantha Valentino
Parents planning surprise for their 6-year-old-son with cancer
Updated: Mar. 17, 2023 at 4:34 PM EDT
|By Samantha Valentino
Ky. lawmakers who broke from party lines on an "anti-LGBTQ" bill explain why they made that decision.
Updated: Mar. 14, 2023 at 12:04 PM EDT
|By Jeremy Tombs and Samantha Valentino
They’re now calling it the “Do No Harm Act”, but LGBTQ advocates say that’s exactly what it will do.
Updated: Mar. 14, 2023 at 11:48 AM EDT
|By Samantha Valentino
Lawmakers took a big step forward for those who want medical cannabis legalized in Kentucky.
Updated: Mar. 13, 2023 at 3:27 PM EDT
|By Samantha Valentino
In 2020 and 2022, bills legalizing medical marijuana passed the House only to die in the Senate. This session, Senate Bill 47 was filed by Senator Stephen West, R-Paris, and would create a medicinal cannabis program.
Updated: Mar. 11, 2023 at 3:45 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
Tenants at College Park Apartments in Winchester say they’ve been living in the dark for over a week.
Updated: Mar. 10, 2023 at 11:38 AM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
The Jessamine County Sheriff’s Office says they’re investigating White Heaven Outfitters in Nicholasville for illegal raffling.
Updated: Mar. 6, 2023 at 3:38 PM EST
|By WKYT News Staff and Samantha Valentino
Fayette County Public Schools have canceled classes for Tuesday.
Updated: Mar. 5, 2023 at 3:22 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
Kentucky Utilities say that they’re working to restore power as quickly and safely as possible. They’ve called in crews from other states to help get the lights back on.
Updated: Mar. 4, 2023 at 2:59 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
Crews have been out in Lexington today working to clean up roads, homes, and historic grounds following damage caused by yesterday’s severe storms...The Henry Clay Estate saw extensive damage across their property.
Updated: Feb. 27, 2023 at 4:42 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
Some Kentuckians are calling on lawmakers to start the process of removing slavery from the state's Constitution.
Updated: Feb. 24, 2023 at 3:57 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
House Bill 288 would make several changes to the way this misconduct is handled.
Updated: Feb. 22, 2023 at 9:17 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
A new bill to make Juneteenth a state holiday was filed in the General Assembly Wednesday.
Updated: Feb. 21, 2023 at 10:28 AM EST
|By WKYT News Staff and Samantha Valentino
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School Principal Marlon Ball has filed a lawsuit against the FCPS Board of Education and other school officials.
Updated: Feb. 20, 2023 at 10:13 AM EST
|By WKYT News Staff and Samantha Valentino
According to the Frankfort Police Department, it happened on Saturday at a home on Elkhorn Drive.
Updated: Feb. 19, 2023 at 12:27 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
A new study found that contracting COVID-19 could give you strong protection against reinfection for up to 10 months.
Updated: Feb. 18, 2023 at 12:43 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
It’s been cold for the past few days in Lexington, but hundreds of people went outside and ‘walked for warmth’ on Saturday morning to raise money for the Lexington Rescue Mission.
Updated: Feb. 17, 2023 at 7:38 AM EST
|By Jim Stratman, Phil Pendleton and Samantha Valentino
Flooding continued to cause problems in southeastern Kentucky into Friday morning.
Updated: Feb. 14, 2023 at 11:48 AM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
The University of Kentucky is a public university with many public buildings. While students must use their IDs to scan into residence halls, public buildings, like the Gatton Student Center, are unlocked during normal business hours.
Updated: Feb. 13, 2023 at 4:54 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
Valentine’s Day is Tuesday and for one Mount Sterling couple, the holiday is especially significant.
Updated: Feb. 12, 2023 at 11:56 AM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
Lexington Police asking drivers to stay safe on Super Bowl Sunday
Updated: Feb. 11, 2023 at 3:30 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
Major Ott says during the winter months it’s common for the Lexington Fire Department to come across unhoused people struggling in the cold.
Updated: Feb. 10, 2023 at 3:28 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
For the first time in three decades, the Kentucky House of Representatives has moved forward with an impeachment petition.
Updated: Feb. 7, 2023 at 12:54 AM EST
|By WKYT News Staff and Samantha Valentino
Lexington police have confirmed the city's first homicide of 2023.
Updated: Feb. 6, 2023 at 6:14 AM EST
|By WKYT News Staff and Samantha Valentino
The man charged in connection with three cold case abductions and sexual assaults is to appear in court Monday.
Updated: Feb. 5, 2023 at 3:14 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
Gas prices continue to fluctuate in Kentucky
Updated: Feb. 3, 2023 at 4:49 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
The Jessamine County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help locating a trailer they say was stolen at Southland Christian Church.
Updated: Jan. 31, 2023 at 11:49 AM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
Eviction cases from a Lexington apartment complex headed to court Tuesday morning.
Updated: Jan. 30, 2023 at 11:46 AM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
In response to the video, Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weather said he was “angered and saddened by the acts of those who had sworn to protect and serve.”
Updated: Jan. 29, 2023 at 2:20 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
Lexington doctor weighs in on spread of COVID vaccine misinformation
Updated: Jan. 28, 2023 at 1:40 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
Issues continue for residents at Veridian Apartments
Updated: Jan. 27, 2023 at 4:25 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
This week is the six-month anniversary of historic flooding in eastern Kentucky. In Breathitt County, many people are still working to rebuild their homes.
Updated: Jan. 24, 2023 at 4:08 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
A group of high school students was in the state capital Tuesday to share their ideas to make Kentucky schools safer.
Updated: Jan. 23, 2023 at 4:23 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
We are 23 days into 2023, and Lexington has not seen its first homicide. That’s the longest the city has gone into a new year without a homicide in a decade.
Updated: Jan. 22, 2023 at 2:30 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
UK researcher hopes study can help combat food insecurity
Updated: Jan. 21, 2023 at 12:49 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
Women make up 50% of the overall workforce, but only 28% of the STEM workforce according to Dell.
Updated: Jan. 20, 2023 at 4:19 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
For the first time in the Commonwealth’s history, state police will wear body cameras.
Updated: Jan. 19, 2023 at 4:55 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
A Scott County deputy filed a lawsuit against the City of Georgetown and two police officers for negligence after he was hit by friendly fire and paralyzed.In 2021 a judge all but ended the lawsuit. Morales appealed, and oral arguments were heard in Frankfort on Thursday.
Updated: Jan. 16, 2023 at 12:50 PM EST
|By WKYT News Staff and Samantha Valentino
A possibly stolen car was involved in a multi-county police chase Monday.
Updated: Jan. 15, 2023 at 1:45 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
After a failed campaign for the US Senate against Senator Rand Paul, former State Representative Charles Booker said that his work isn’t over.
Updated: Jan. 14, 2023 at 3:14 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
After picking up their groceries, customers can check in on their health with free glucose, cholesterol, BMI, and blood pressure screenings at Walmart stores across the country.
Updated: Jan. 13, 2023 at 5:01 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
Heart health experts explain what you should do if someone you know suffers a cardiac arrest.
Updated: Jan. 9, 2023 at 5:57 PM EST
|By WKYT News Staff and Samantha Valentino
Jonelle Patton, the director of Lexington’s E-911 center, told us for our initial story that staffing shortages were partially to blame for the long call times.
Updated: Jan. 9, 2023 at 4:20 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
As Omicron subvariant XBB1.5 is making it's way through the county, experts give tips on how to protect yourself.
Updated: Jan. 8, 2023 at 12:53 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
We’re taking a closer look at several of the issues that will be back on the table when they return in February
Updated: Jan. 7, 2023 at 3:07 PM EST
|By Samantha Valentino
Singleton’s mother was killed in the Charleston church massacre in 2015
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