Victor Puente
4 p.m. News Anchor/Reporter
Lexington, KY
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I was born in Germany to parents serving in the Army.
I grew up in Clay City, Kentucky and developed a love of journalism while writing for my high school newspaper.
After graduating from Eastern Kentucky University I started working as a news videographer at another station in town, before joining WKYT to be a multi-media journalist. I shoot, write, and edit my own stories.
I also anchor our 4 o'clock show with Amber Philpot and have a podcast, Conversations with Victor and Andrea, where we talk to the people of WKYT.
UK officials said the closures were intended to decrease hospital admissions and increase capacity for COVID-19 patients.
Basketball games and concerts are still happening at Rupp Arena. Governor Beshear says Rupp Arena has enough people to strictly enforce COVID-19 guidelines.
Kentucky has seen more COVID-19 in November than any other month and there are still ten days to go.
Ky. Restaurant Association president says they didn’t anticipate new restrictions would be so severe
Gov. Andy Beshear announced new restrictions on Wednesday to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in Kentucky.
The United States is battling a huge surge in COVID-19 cases across the country, and that includes Kentucky.
As COVID numbers continue to rise in Kentucky, Fayette County is pausing sports and activities for the next two weeks.
Leaders with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, also known as OSHA, said the fines come after a months-long investigation into the school’s transportation department.
Kentucky is seeing a serious rise in cases and Lexington is no exception. Friday, health leaders announced 189 cases. It’s the third-highest case count we’ve seen.
Fayette County has received more than 670 complaints of COVID-19 related violations.
Friday, Nov. 13, would have been the start of Kentucky’s high school football playoffs, but, like so many things, those plans have been changed because of COVID-19.
As COVID-19 numbers continue to spike in Lexington, the health department says news of a vaccine shouldn’t cause people to get complacent. Especially, since it’s a long way from getting to the general public.
We now know those thousands of fans weren’t able to attend, but, for hotels, it wasn’t all bad news.
In the days leading up to the election, Fayette County Clerk Don Blevins Jr. asked everyone who could to vote early. The day after the election, he believes that effort paid off.
He says, during the football game Friday night at Tates Creek, Pulaski County players used racial slurs against a Black Tates Creek player.
With Lexington now in what’s known as the “red zone,” Governor Andy Beshear said people should follow the state's recommendations.
The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department is reporting 143 new COVID-19 cases from Thursday.
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The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department is reporting 130 new COVID-19 cases from Wednesday.
Kentucky is on track to hit another milestone this week, the commonwealth has almost given out two million COVID-19 tests.
When the pandemic first started, Governor Andy Beshear moved swiftly, enacting restaurant restrictions, as well as a mask mandate in July.
Hospitals in Lexington have told us despite the rising numbers statewide, the number of COVID-19 patients they’re seeing has held steady, but it could start rising.
Leaders in Lexington discussed racial issues in the community and possible solutions Friday. It was the latest meeting for the city’s Commission for Racial Justice and Equality.
The concern over COVID-19 concern is one reason the Fayette County School Board voted Monday night to stick with virtual learning for the rest of 2020.
During his Tuesday briefing, Governor Andy Beshear talked about another surge in COVID patients and the potential need for increased hospital capacity.
The State Board of Elections ratified the 120 plans submitted by county clerks.
Here in Kentucky, we’re already a week into early in-person voting. The Fayette County Clerk says more than a quarter of Lexington’s registered voters have already voted.
When new COVID-19 restrictions went into place, one way a lot of restaurants were able to keep serving as many people as they could was to expand their outdoor seating. But with temperatures starting to drop, they’re going to have to make some adjustments in the coming weeks.
That contract provides 24/7 security to the attorney general through the end of the year. He has received national attention because of his handling of the Breonna Taylor case.
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Senator Mitch McConnell and retired Lieutenant Colonel Amy McGrath faced off in their first, and likely only, debate Monday night on WKYT.
At the beginning of the semester, University of Kentucky students were required to get a COVID-19 test if they were going to be on campus. This week, we learned those students will also be required to get a flu shot by the end of the month.
As COVID-19 numbers across the state continue on an upward trajectory, there have been questions about where potential patients will go. The chief medical officer at Baptist Health says they're ready for the potential surge.
The president of Lexington’s Fraternal Order of Firefighters says this year their toy program will be needed more than ever.
Governor Andy Beshear says the state is beginning to see a real rise in COVID-19 cases. If it continues, he may put restrictions back in place, and that could really hurt restaurants.
Staring around 1:30 on Saturday, Lexington and university police started patrolling the area near campus where students usually party, like State and Elizabeth streets.
Gov. Beshear urges people to continue to be vigilant when it comes to taking precautions in public.
Lexington Police tell us a man was arrested at his apartment in Nicholasville after he was able to use fake identities and fraudulent checks to buy more than $300,000 worth of cars.
The University of Kentucky has released all of the changes fans can expect for this weekend’s home football game.
WKYT's Victor Puente takes a look back at what has happened since Breonna Taylor's death.
A Lexington COVID-19 testing site is cleaning up after becoming the target of vandalism.
The COVID-19 numbers for Fayette County can be pretty different, depending on where you’re getting them.
The University of Kentucky says it’s doing what it can to slow the spread of the coronavirus on campus.
The president of the Fayette County Education Association, Jessica Hiler, said the school board had said they would reevaluate every four to six weeks.
Dr. Steven Stack answered questions from state representatives and senators for about two hours Thursday afternoon.
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It’s important to remember there are real people behind the statistics we see.
Tuesday marks six months since Lexington’s first COVID-19 case. Since then, there have been almost 6,500 confirmed cases and 61 deaths.
A Lexington doctor describes the difference between allergies and something more serious.
In just a few days, it will be exactly six months since Kentucky’s first reported case of COVID-19 was announced.
When the Kentucky Derby was shifted to this weekend, the events surrounding it were also impacted.
The city of Lexington is asking for more people to get tested for COVID-19.
Thoroughbred industry leaders, Senator Mitch McConnell and Congressman Andy Barr were among those present Monday afternoon for the announcement of a national oversight body for horse racing.
As week two of classes comes to an end, leaders at the University of Kentucky are optimistic about how things have gone so far. They’ve tested almost 23 thousand students and staff for the coronavirus, but still have a few to go.