Gov. Andy Beshear criticized Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance during a visit to Eastern Kentucky for not supporting the region after 2022’s deadly floods, but one area resident says the controversial candidate did give money privately.Vance has drawn criticism for referencing his Appalachian roots in Breathitt County in recent campaign appearances, which were also outlined in his 2016 memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.”Though Vance grew up in Middletown, Ohio, he wrote he visited family in Jackson, Kentucky each summer.Beshear has repeatedly called Vance out on the references, saying Vance has taken an opportunistic stance with tenuous ties or support for the…

One of Kentucky’s most anticipated day of politics and food is just around the corner.On Saturday, federal and state elected officials and candidates will be among the crowd to gather at a church picnic to informally kick off Kentucky’s general election cycle.The event is Fancy Farm, and it’s arriving in less than a week. Here’s what to know about the annual gathering:What is Fancy Farm?Fancy Farm is a town in west Kentucky and home to the annual church fundraising picnic held by St. Jerome’s Catholic Church. This year’s picnic will be the 144th.There’s more to the picnic than just massive…

Willie Cauley-Stein was an all-time character in Lexington — a vicious defender and poster specialist on the court, but an artist and big personality away from it. Kerr Kriisa? Well, he’s a character, too. Erratic, but electric as a player, someone toes the line between confidence and cockiness. That’s how he became college basketball’s ultimate villain, a guy you loved if he was on your side, but hated if he wasn’t. And he likes having fun when he’s not playing, as well. In a crossover of generations, the Kentucky basketball of then sat down with the Kentucky basketball of now…

I was driving back from Myrtle Beach yesterday afternoon. After a whirlwind visit to the coast moving my son from one living arrangement to another as we try to get him out of college, my mind was wandering behind the wheel. Summer’s coming to an end soon. Fall will be here. There’s two things I love to do in the fall: watch football and visit breweries/distilleries/vineyards. I was making a mental list of the vineyards we’ve been to that I’d like to see again. Then, no sooner did I get home than I came across mention of Parker Binns Vineyards…

Going out to eat is one of our favorite things to do. The food is prepared for you. Someone brings it out and you don’t have to clean up afterwards. But finding that perfect place is hard to find. When folks do find it, word gets out. The Most Famous North Carolina Restaurant Is … Now restaurants can get famous overnight. Thanks so social media. The right or wrong word gets out. And if you do it right and keep doing it right. You can get Insta famous and quickly. The food experts at lovefood.com are taking some of the…

The best fast food breakfast? There are a million players trying to get your money for breakfast on the go. From local coffee shops, national chains like Starbucks, breakfast long haulers like McDonald’s, and newer entries into the market like Subway and Wendy’s the options are seemingly endless. I personally don’t venture out too much in this space. If I get fast food breakfast it’s almost always Chick-fil-A, perhaps a bite to eat from Starbucks but that’s mainly if I’m on vacation. So despite the newly named best fast food breakfast being North Carolina born and bred, I’m sad to…

Hunger relief is a top priority and we’re committed to doing our part to fight food insecurity in our local communities. Post this “At Smithfield, hunger relief is one of our top priorities and we’re committed to doing our part to fight food insecurity in our local communities,” said Steve Evans, vice president of community development for Smithfield Foods. “Through the incredible work of Thelma’s Kitchen and A Place at the Table, we can help ensure that no one goes hungry while fostering a culture of respect for the neighbors being served.” Thelma’s Kitchen was founded by longtime Kansas City…

Food Lion has expanded its home deliver service to 12 stores in North Carolina. Food Lion is expanding its To Go grocery pickup service to 12 additional locations in North Carolina beginning July 29. With the availability of this service at these stores, the grocer is now offering Food Lion to Go Pickup or Home Delivery at 1,108 stores in its 10-state operating area. Food Lion continues to expand this service across the towns and cities it serves, furthering its commitment to making grocery shopping easy, fresh and affordable.“We continue to offer Food Lion To Go at additional stores to help our customers spend…

It’s no secret we have some fantastic fast food options here in North Carolina. But there are also some fast food chains missing in North Carolina. While I don’t eat a lot of it I don’t think I would be able to survive without Chick-fil-A. We have some great North Carolina-born fast food restaurants as well like Bojangles, Cookout, and Biscuitville. Of course, we have all the heavy hitter chains like Mcdonalds’, Burger King, Wendy’s, etc. Just as Bojangles, Biscuitville, and Cookout are North Carolina institutions there are chains local to other parts of the country that we (unfortunately) don’t…

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – The YMCA of Southeastern North Carolina’s Food Services Department is providing free meals for children in Burgaw, Rocky Point, Shallotte, and other communities across the region.“This summer, the YMCA has had the opportunity to reach beyond the walls of our Y with Summer Food Service Program Rural Non-congregate Open Sites, where all children 18 and under are given free meals,” says Amy Hobbs, Director of Food Services at the YMCA of Southeastern North Carolina. “We are serving rural communities in three surrounding counties, Pender, Brunswick, and Sampson, and it has been so rewarding.”Children will be provided…