Samantha Valentino
Reporter
:no_upscale()/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/gray/69d1575a-d5ed-45ad-aea9-dd1bb084f9bc.png)
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.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/74WQAF3YUREUDPNOEPT2Z43XUA.jpg)
The community is coming together to help the town of Millersburg after a fire destroyed five buildings, including the post office and apartments.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/QICBXZNVG5CVBP7R5BWIFSA6CI.jpg)
Hundreds of yellow hearts line a hall in The Pavilion in Georgetown, honoring those who lost their lives to COVID-19.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/TDXT2A3QABBGLN4GNKQWIIBQOY.PNG)
As we enter the early days of summer and the temperatures begin rise, we’re seeing an increased number of people on motorcycles out on the roads.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/YYN5W5DUJFGVHHGHSNFJKSDTRM.jpg)
A major milestone in the construction of a new Lexington hospital was made Tuesday morning.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/2D6M7Y22RZHO3LQATPCQJYGRJU.jpg)
Soon, the community will be able to find historic property records with information about enslaved people dating back to the late 1700s through 1865. At one time, downtown Lexington was the site of one of the biggest slave markets in the southeastern United States.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/SZKYAX4DLFE3JLL363YXW6KGNM.bmp)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/ZRY457CWFNC3JGE56WWV5OO4YA.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/2AFORLFFUNFWZK53BQI5FTMK6I.jpg)
Students from the Stewart Home and School in Frankfort worked together to create a horse for LexArt’s Horse Mania.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/TEDLKQGXXJH5LIPZMT2UEJZIYM.jpg)
Multiple cooling centers have been opened in Lexington amid this week’s heat wave.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/T6T37RMWQJAFHJXZFVA2CPPHDU.jpg)
Kentucky summer camps are having to make some adjustments due to the heat wave.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/HUZPWJLCOFFGTH2UEO3WGNAYVM.jpg)
Fayette, Woodford and Clark counties are back in the “red zone” for high levels of COVID-19, according to the CDC.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/3QE7QVMSXBGDHDYJSH6I7PGXCI.jpg)
A Lexington teen is taking the big stage, representing Kentucky at the national level.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/ASKMRGEJXRD3TBZGTNQ7ZX6XFE.jpeg)
It’s a troubling trend - suicide rates among children are rising. Not only nationally, but in Kentucky too.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/SW7EZ73ANJAXNCIK3IUQ5VNF3Q.jpg)
The new location expands the existing partnership between the two to help feed students and families during the summer.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/YWB32WEJFFCYPJCC7OSVAEBTAM.jpg)
After being closed for two years because of the pandemic, the Christian Appalachian Project has reopened its thrift store in Mount Vernon.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/3BD2SQ724NCKFDVTK7DV7GHYHM.jpg)
Katie Eddington lost her leg after a lawnmower accident when she was six years old
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/ZGZLB5XQ2FE6HMRUTLE3TV52DA.png)
Kameron May fell through a skylight in April.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/L3K43URRR5BMZKIM36IUWF75WM.bmp)
The KHSAA, in partnership with the Kentucky Department for Public Health, is helping people get their shots by giving out free vaccines and boosters Friday at the state track meet.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/CIQIPZVY4ZANXPWEI2Q5YMS4D4.jpg)
The case against the man accused of killing his wife and two daughters is moving forward.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/DMON3DSW7NA4VMCFSPGCNI4IWU.jpg)
Lexington Fire Dept. shares tips for safe grilling this Memorial Day weekend
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/FTS3LXDAERHZVNQCLVDARNHDZQ.jpg)
Memorial Day weekend is the first time Lexington pools are fully open in three years.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/WCVAPXERVNA5TOT4ZOBHDVQ7RA.jfif)
Throughout the day Friday and into Saturday, students will cross the stage inside Rupp Arena and make the transition from high school students to alumni.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/ZYCZVJQIJNAZXGSERIK3MMANCA.jpg)
An exciting partnership allows FCPS students to learn more about careers in STEM.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/2GPVQZBO7ZG4JN2NRCMZLE46TY.jpg)
A suspect has been taken in by the Williamsburg Police Department after they found him at the bloody scene of a domestic disturbance call.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/JAKFCKAUIVCAJLDHLNCG2BJMHY.jpg)
After falling more than 100 feet, Joshua Alexander has made an almost full recovery
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/AD4XLAXFB5DJPPFUHIL22RSPBQ.jpg)
Many counties across Kentucky experienced severe thunderstorms Thursday night.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/5BXTYYPHQFHORL3EXEYW5LTUKM.jpg)
Severe thunderstorms blew through several Kentucky counties Wednesday night, bringing hail and strong winds.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/AE7NHYSKUBE2HJYV7IJJSCR5PU.jpg)
Drivers in Lexington can expect delays in the downtown area starting Monday. City officials say they’re beginning paving work on Vine Street between Quality and East Main streets.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/MZXJPMURQ5GSRBQI65XMBJ33PY.jpg)
The American Heart Association hosted a Heart Walk at Keeneland on Saturday
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/BFXL2CFYDZFJLGNSMUGBAKAQ7U.jpg)
The shortage is growing across the country, and it’s a struggle moms are facing here in central Kentucky.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/THV2JIGQKJFLHBPFEHJM33BJXM.jpg)
Lexington’s early voting location is at Kroger Field. Early voting started at 8:30 a.m. Thursday morning.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/7CAGBL2GT5CZVOCIMJBRMN6Y64.PNG)
There is an ongoing shortage of baby formula, across the country. Some stores are putting limits on how much parents can buy, creating an added strain for families.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/MJ7NYXJY5NGJBNDQSR5FUBR55Q.bmp)
Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm hosts their 17th annual “Homecoming” event on Sunday
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/EVORQV4CQNDJBH5WRYUV6JESBA.jpg)
Residents in Pulaski County are still dealing with the aftermath from Friday’s storms.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/IRZUAV6XSBC3XAXZ7O5YNRQ2WI.jpg)
One graduate hopes to give back to her underserved eastern Kentucky community after crossing the stage.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/SLMXTA7KCJH2BF5JHTKCMP44IE.jpg)
For the past eight years, Peace Walks have been held in the East End neighborhood of Lexington to honor victims of gun violence.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/3VDETXKKMFAM3E2YHU6VHCCZRQ.png)
Twelve years ago Friday, Lexington police officer Bryan Durman died after being struck by a hit-and-run driver while on duty.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/PNRPYAHE3VFQ7FKGWCTZNSWKQ4.png)
The University of Kentucky, in partnership with Blue Grass Community Foundation, hosted “An Evening with Heather McGhee” on campus Thursday night.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/FJ2LCP2MONHULL5W5PK5QMENLQ.jpg)
People in Madison and Woodford counties are grieving this week following two separate crashes, killing a teen and child student.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/P5HOJ2X7FZGDHI37TE6TDBDAOE.jpg)
A Lexington Christian Academy teacher is currently battling stage two colon cancer, and the community has come together for him in a special way.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/6ZO36JYQTZFZXHDP2QH3547T4A.png)
Governor Andy Beshear hosted an Easter celebration at the Capitol Saturday afternoon.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/CAMB35SNZ5DZ5LWZCZ2R36EDQU.png)
With Easter this weekend, it’s a time many reflect on giving back to the community. One Lexington nonprofit is celebrating by giving back to the community.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/WPXS5ADVQFBZTNPYXRXA72TD2A.png)
The American Association of Nurse Practitioners honored 26 of UK Healthcare’s physicians and nurse practitioners for their work on the frontlines.