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.
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.
Sirens, a loud bang, and a police helicopter flying over a neighborhood, all part of a wild police chase in Lexington on Wednesday.
Lexington police have charged three teenagers, in connection with a deadly shooting at Fayette Mall.
As colleges across the country are moving back online, classes are still happening in-person at the University of Kentucky.
For months now, cases of COVID-19 have been discovered by testing people. But new science shows it can also be found by testing their sewage.
Scott County’s judge-executive, Joe Covington, told WKYT the county was already working on a plan to expand internet access, and then the pandemic hit.
Students tell us they’re aware of the coronavirus, but they’re also feeling pretty safe with the steps the university has taken.
The people in charge of getting the campus ready for the return of students told us they’ve been working on this since students were sent home in March.
In Kentucky there is no law that says how old a child has to be before they can be home alone, but there are some good guidelines.
Across the country, schools are opening in different ways as districts decide their best way forward in the midst of a pandemic.
The plan for the fall semester at the University of Kentucky includes facilities where students who test positive for COVID-19 can be isolated. Today WKYT learned more about how the university will be helping those students through the process.
For parents, knowing their kids will be going to school online doesn’t answer all of their questions.
One concern for the state while trying to control the spread of COVID-19, is large gatherings.
Health officials say there are a few reasons the numbers in Lexington could be rising, while the rest of the state is leveling off.
The University of Kentucky continues to prepare for the start of the fall semester.
You can wait in a line or make an appointment for a week from now, but, even then, it could be a while before you get your results.
The university has multiple COVID testing sites set up across campus.
This act of kindness stated with a post on Facebook and a little more than a day later dozens of people had pitched in hundreds of dollars to help out someone they’ve never met.
Commissioner Julian Tackett said a couple of weeks ago they were still planning for fall sports. That was before the alarming rise of COVID-19 cases here in Kentucky.