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.
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Central Kentucky Ford dealerships said the newly-announced Ford battery plant is going to be a big boost for them.
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As the pandemic altered life in 2020, new crime statistics reveal the number of violent crimes committed in Kentucky increased to their highest levels in more than a decade.
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For Colton Ryan, the Broadway show "Dear Evan Hansen," will always have a special place in his heart.
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Doctors said efforts to get vaccinated last year led to a mild flu season. But with hospitals already at capacity, a bad flu season could overwhelm hospitals.
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The Kentucky National Guard is at Baptist Health Lexington. The hospital is overrun with COVID-19 patients and is also having staffing issues.
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As we continue to set records with hospitalizations, one of Lexington largest hospitals will be getting some help from the National Guard.
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In 2020 Kroger Field limited capacity to 20 percent. So having fans back this past weekend was a big deal, and it also saw some restrictions that not everyone followed.
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The need for COVID-19 testing has surged, along with cases. But in some areas, those tests have become harder to find.
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Health experts say you get the best protection from COVID-19 from the vaccine. But some are trying other drugs meant for livestock instead of humans.
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Overdose deaths in Kentucky rose by almost 50 percent in 2020, killing close to 2,000 Kentuckians.
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There have now been more cases in Lexington in August than April through July combined and Kentucky’s hospitals are struggling to keep up.
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As of Tuesday, almost 1,900 are in the hospital because of the virus.
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We’re now 17 months into the COVID-19 pandemic and those on the frontlines have worked tirelessly to save lives.
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Hundreds of students in Fayette County who won’t be able to return on to school on Monday because they’ve either tested positive for Covid, or are quarantined.
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As hospital beds continue to quickly fill, doctors from all three of the city’s came together Thursday to urge people to get the vaccine.
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As COVID-19 cases surge, many store owners are worried about losing business. We found two stores in Lexington that are thriving, but that doesn’t come without pandemic challenges.
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At the Kroger Field testing site, some folks are waiting more than an hour for a COVID-19 test.
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New data is in from the census bureau, and it shows some changes for Kentucky.
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The Kentucky Children’s Hospital tells us the rising COVID-19 numbers are leading to more sick kids.
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Earlier this month, Baptist Health Lexington put new visitor restrictions in place because of the rise in COVID-19 numbers. Over the next few days, the other major hospitals in Lexington will join them.
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Even though the governor‘s mask mandate upset some parents, we’ve heard from students and pediatricians who say it was the right move.
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A pediatrician says more children in the commonwealth are contracting the virus.
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The rise in COVID-19 cases has led many groups to re-institute mask mandates and vaccine requirements.
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People in Nicholas County are still cleaning up after devastating flooding hit the county last week. But now, they’re facing more problems. Many are struggling with insurance claims for the damages to their homes and businesses.
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We want to warn you, some of the details may be hard to read.
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More companies are now backtracking to have employees wear masks, and some businesses are also requiring customers to cover up.
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After the heavy rain and flooding hit the county, people living in Powell County have been without water. Some say it’s been more than a day since they’ve had running water.
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The spread of the delta variant has already led to a change in mask policy for state employees. Right now, private businesses can decide on their own if they want to require them.
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During an event Wednesday morning at the Hope Center in Lexington, Governor Beshear brought up the fact that almost everyone in the room was wearing a mask.
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As cases rise, so are vaccinations. More than 30,000 people were vaccinated in Kentucky last week, which is 10,000 more than the week before.
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Kentucky’s Commissioner for Public Health, Dr. Steven Stack, says, despite a new increase in COVID-19 cases, he thinks most events this year will be allowed to go on as planned.
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A new school year is quickly approaching in Kentucky. Districts will have students in classrooms again, but for some, that’s the only option.
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The director of the health department, Mark Hensley, says the increase of cases is because of the delta variant and is creating a slightly greater demand for vaccinations, but there’s still a long way to go.
In the heart of the pandemic, many hospitals were overrun with COVID-19 patients. But, how are they faring now?
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The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department says scammers have posed as workers trying to get people to pay for a COVID-19 test.
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COVID-19 cases are rising across the country and in Kentucky. Here in Lexington, the health department is seeing a growing number of breakthrough cases.
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The City of Lexington recorded 53 cases for Tuesday’s update, the highest one-day increase in the last three months.
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Several health departments said they believe the lower COVID-19 numbers can partially be attributed to fewer people getting tested.
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Kentucky is continuing to see an increase in new COVID-19 cases.
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A man was arrested early Thursday morning in Winchester after a chase, his third in less than a year, according to authorities.
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Although Kentucky is re-open, the pandemic is not over. The Delta variant is spreading quickly, now accounting for half of the nation’s COVID-19 cases.
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Many businesses are still struggling to fill open job positions, but not all job listings are real. One Lexington business owner says he found a fake job listing for his restaurant.
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The Ichthus Music Festival hasn’t happened for the past six years, but a new group is reviving the festival at its original location.
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Starting next week, they’ll host a series of clinics at 18 sites, spread out across three days.
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Wednesday is your last chance to sign up for Kentucky’s first vaccine lottery drawing.
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Governor Andy Beshear is encouraging Kentuckians to get back to work with an incentive program, but not everyone is one board. Some businesses are taking a stand on what they think are unfair benefits.
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Several laws that passed in the last legislative session go into effect on Tuesday.
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The historic theater on Main Street closed back in October.
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Concerns about the new delta variant of COVID-19 are mounting across the country.
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The latest survey released by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky asked adults about their attitudes toward vaccines in general.