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.
Updated: 21 hours ago
|By Victor Puente
Here in Lexington, we’re still in Phase 1A when it comes to widespread vaccinations. But some other counties are moving into other phases,and that includes vaccinating teachers.
Updated: Jan. 20, 2021 at 12:30 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
Now, Chuck Mix, the co-chair of that task force, tells WKYT they’re focusing on three areas.
Updated: Jan. 19, 2021 at 6:10 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
Following the holidays, Harrison Memorial Hospital says they saw an increase in the number of COVID patients. But what's even more troubling is the hospital says more of those patients needed a ventilator.
Updated: Jan. 15, 2021 at 11:47 AM EST
|By Victor Puente
Hospitals in Lexington had told us that they were concerned get-togethers around Christmas and New Year’s would lead to a surge in cases that could overwhelm them. So far, we’ve managed to avoid that.
Updated: Jan. 14, 2021 at 5:08 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
Barr said the security failures at the Capitol need to be investigated, but ultimately, the people who directly caused the damage are to blame.
Updated: Jan. 14, 2021 at 2:44 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
The pandemic, and resulting job losses, have left a lot of people who have never had to ask for help, reaching out. That’s been evident for the people at Kentucky River Foothills.
Updated: Jan. 13, 2021 at 1:12 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
Event organizers are preparing for the first concert at Rupp Arena in ten months.
Updated: Jan. 8, 2021 at 12:16 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
Governor Andy Beshear wants to focus on the state’s unemployment issues.
Updated: Jan. 7, 2021 at 6:09 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
A lot has happened in the hours after yesterday’s assault on the U.S. Capitol, and lawmakers around the state are still responding to the events in Washington. Our Victor Puente spoke with Congressman Andy Barr about the historic day.
Updated: Jan. 7, 2021 at 12:14 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
We are continuing to hear from Kentucky’s congressional delegates. All of them are denouncing Wednesday’s violence in our nation’s capital.
Updated: Jan. 6, 2021 at 12:02 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
The health department in Lexington says the demand for COVID-19 vaccines is so great right now they’re starting a waitlist for sign-ups.
Updated: Jan. 5, 2021 at 6:06 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
Many people have questions about when they will be able to get the vaccine.
Updated: Jan. 4, 2021 at 12:02 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
State health leaders predicted a holiday spike in cases, much like the one we saw after Thanksgiving. Already the state’s positivity rate tops 11 percent-- the highest it’s been in weeks.
Updated: Jan. 1, 2021 at 4:50 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
“As tough as it’s been on us, imagine how tough it’s been on our parents and our grandparents that are trying to teach their kids at home,” said Superintendent Jeff Saylor. “We have a lot of students that, no matter how hard you work, we’ve not been able to meet their needs.
Updated: Dec. 30, 2020 at 5:18 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
COVID-19 vaccines continue to be distributed across the commonwealth.
Updated: Dec. 29, 2020 at 9:20 AM EST
|By WKYT News Staff and Victor Puente
Craig Pennington was being held in the Marion County Detention Center for the 2016 double murder of Crystal Warner and Bobby Jones.
Updated: Dec. 28, 2020 at 4:51 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
Doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were given out to the public at a Lexington Walgreens over the Christmas holiday.
Updated: Dec. 28, 2020 at 12:28 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
Local leaders were set to be vaccinated against COVID-19 this morning, but that was before a last minute change of plans. We're also learning more about an unplanned vaccine rollout at a local Walgreens on Christmas day.
Updated: Dec. 24, 2020 at 5:12 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
New antibody treatments are available for some Lexington COVID-19 patients. One is from Regeneron, which gained popularity after it was given to the president.
Updated: Dec. 23, 2020 at 4:54 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
Lexington police tell us up through November of this year, they’ve taken reports on 1,760 thefts from vehicles.
Updated: Dec. 17, 2020 at 5:13 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
The FDA could soon approve Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine. If it clears, it would be the second vaccine in the United States.
Updated: Dec. 16, 2020 at 5:21 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
In the coming weeks, doses will be given to those in health care and long-term care facilities.
Updated: Dec. 15, 2020 at 11:59 AM EST
|By Victor Puente
Fayette County Public Schools is planning for a possible return to in-person learning early next semester.
Updated: Dec. 14, 2020 at 5:11 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
By the end of Tuesday, two Lexington hospitals will have started vaccinating some of their frontline workers against COVID-19.
Updated: Dec. 11, 2020 at 11:53 AM EST
|By Victor Puente
Public health officials are encouraging everyone who can to get tested for COVID-19.
Updated: Dec. 10, 2020 at 11:04 AM EST
|By Victor Puente
The health department announced 451 new COVID-19 cases from Wednesday. That sets a single-day record.
Updated: Dec. 9, 2020 at 6:29 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
Starting Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., people will be able to drop off new toys to bins outside of Fayette County’s six public high schools. Then they’ll be taken to kids in elementary schools that feed into each of them.
Updated: Dec. 8, 2020 at 11:18 AM EST
|By Victor Puente
Stacy Roof, the president of the Kentucky Restaurant Association, told us missing out on a lot of holiday business has been pretty tough.
Updated: Dec. 7, 2020 at 4:21 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
The pandemic and the mandates from Governor Andy Beshear are having an unexpected side effect, a shortage in propane.
Updated: Dec. 4, 2020 at 12:07 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
The University of Kentucky is one of the 11 hospitals receiving the first shipment in Kentucky. They’re also part of a national distribution readiness test.
Updated: Dec. 2, 2020 at 6:17 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
Our Victor Puente explains how Delivery Co-op works and the high-tech option they’re testing.
Updated: Dec. 1, 2020 at 6:13 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
A well-known Lexington restaurant says it could stay closed for the next few months, and it’s just the latest restaurant forced to make these difficult decisions because of the pandemic.
Updated: Nov. 30, 2020 at 12:29 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
Now that Thanksgiving is over, Lexington’s hospitals are preparing for a possible surge in patients.
Updated: Nov. 26, 2020 at 5:21 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
Even though the hundreds of people who would normally come have a meal aren’t able to, the Salvation Army knows there is still a big need.
Updated: Nov. 25, 2020 at 3:45 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
Brewed owner Andrew Cooperrider has made it clear they have no intention of stopping indoor dining, saying he’s staying open until he’s in handcuffs.
Updated: Nov. 24, 2020 at 10:35 AM EST
|By Victor Puente
UK officials said the closures were intended to decrease hospital admissions and increase capacity for COVID-19 patients.
Updated: Nov. 23, 2020 at 11:46 AM EST
|By Victor Puente
Basketball games and concerts are still happening at Rupp Arena. Governor Beshear says Rupp Arena has enough people to strictly enforce COVID-19 guidelines.
Updated: Nov. 20, 2020 at 12:03 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
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
Updated: Nov. 19, 2020 at 10:59 AM EST
|By Victor Puente
Gov. Andy Beshear announced new restrictions on Wednesday to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in Kentucky.
Updated: Nov. 17, 2020 at 11:51 AM EST
|By Victor Puente
The United States is battling a huge surge in COVID-19 cases across the country, and that includes Kentucky.
Updated: Nov. 16, 2020 at 12:19 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
As COVID numbers continue to rise in Kentucky, Fayette County is pausing sports and activities for the next two weeks.
Updated: Nov. 16, 2020 at 11:33 AM EST
|By Victor Puente
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.
Updated: Nov. 13, 2020 at 11:28 AM EST
|By Victor Puente
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.
Updated: Nov. 11, 2020 at 11:20 AM EST
|By Victor Puente
Fayette County has received more than 670 complaints of COVID-19 related violations.
Updated: Nov. 10, 2020 at 5:34 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
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.
Updated: Nov. 9, 2020 at 11:51 AM EST
|By Victor Puente
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.
Updated: Nov. 6, 2020 at 4:37 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
We now know those thousands of fans weren’t able to attend, but, for hotels, it wasn’t all bad news.
Updated: Nov. 4, 2020 at 12:07 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
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.
Updated: Nov. 2, 2020 at 12:36 PM EST
|By Victor Puente
He says, during the football game Friday night at Tates Creek, Pulaski County players used racial slurs against a Black Tates Creek player.
Updated: Oct. 30, 2020 at 12:01 PM EDT
|By Victor Puente
With Lexington now in what’s known as the “red zone,” Governor Andy Beshear said people should follow the state's recommendations.