Chad Hedrick
Reporter
Lexington, Ky.
:no_upscale()/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/gray/52195811-afa0-4e19-8f10-8188d47d0ce3.png)
Chad Hedrick joined WKYT in February 2021.
Before coming to central Kentucky, he spent six years at WKYT’s sister station, WSAZ in Huntington, WV where he climbed the ranks from part-time weekend photographer to reporter and weekend anchor.
While at WSAZ, Chad’s primary focus was on eastern Kentucky, including his hometown in Boyd County.
Chad has enjoyed being able to cover his home state these last several years, seeing it as a way of giving back to his community. He is passionate about meeting people, telling their stories, and doing what he can to help them.
He is a Morehead State grad, and an avid Kentucky Wildcat fan.
Chad loves connecting with viewers on social media. You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/EOZ7X6GQUNPPLMAEKP37HQ7BMU.jpg)
21-year-old Jacob Heil was charged with reckless homicide in 2018 following a crash that killed 4-year-old Marco Shemwell.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/EHQ3MH6UNFB3LPBVDOJVUKL77Y.bmp)
The staff at St. Claire Regional Medical Center in Morehead is breathing a sigh of relief as the hospital is finally seeing a noticeable slow down in COVID-19 hospitalizations.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/VP6Y6MFHKFBDJJWI47IN6ZLAFY.png)
Tuesday we heard emotional testimony from Ben Shemwell as he recalled the day his son, 4-year-old Marco, was hit by a car and later died.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/BRKOH3DNWJHNVEYZ3YC3KUOUFU.png)
It was the first day of trial for the man accused of driving drunk and hitting Marco Shemwell.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/HJTRCXP7GZHGRLAUQ3ZNE5I3PQ.jfif)
Before kicking off Friday night, the Bath County football team and community came together for a simple showing of patriotism.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/IGZGNGNCH5BL3LNNLUDJU2AW34.jpg)
A Lexington woman, who has been trying to raise money to return a soldier’s uniform to his family, has now raised what she needs to get to Texas, all thanks to a generous donation.
Two years ago, Donna Parker was taking trash to a dumpster at her work when she came across something inside she knew just didn’t belong.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/PD5XZSL5FBB3ZKSHCKEWMHVF4E.jpg)
On Wednesday, U.S. Army Private Gordon Lee Hardy’s brother was surprised with military medals to honor the 18-year-old who died serving our country.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/N5G43JOM2NEQPNYOSCYBL47AHE.jpg)
Monday Governor Andy Beshear announced plans to reward those on the frontlines.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/SMDOLXOHV5CDBGSZFYVEUGX7LQ.jpg)
The fire happened Thursday morning at an apartment building on Leawood Drive.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/V4YW4SRV45GXPH3DHF7JKIJXPQ.png)
Day in and day out, frontline workers are treating patient after patient, watching as many suffer.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/TF5I6VLP4BFVJCMWUZ3DHE7DUU.jpg)
A new electric vehicle battery plant will create 5,000 jobs in Hardin County.
Though it’s going up in Hardin County, it’s a project that can certainly benefit Kentucky as a whole.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/JIP63DSTM5HP3JZ47HHOZ27VSE.jpg)
After losing her father to COVID-19, Sara Lemp is sharing her story in hopes it will change some perspectives on the virus.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/ISGZ4IIJXZE2VACIPUXEVSA2U4.png)
With Church in town, the crowds will return to Rupp Arena. Organizers said it’s the fullest the venue has been in a while.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/NXJQYGFPABF7NCARTKVPGJMSGM.jpg)
Kentucky is finding itself at the top of the wrong list when it comes to COVID-19.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/G72ONYGUR5HDJNUAIWLRQYOTVM.jpg)
Landon Fletcher was a long time employee of Magoffin County Schools. He died Thursday from complications to the virus.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/LS7OQDELWVHBXMNPWGXMBOPEW4.jfif)
Teachers say they’ll be watching closely in the coming days to see how the General Assembly addresses NTI days and the Kentucky Board of Education’s statewide school mask mandate.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/YB7HDE3LZJEKLH3F2KRDSQITPI.bmp)
Over the weekend, Lexington police responded to at least four shootings. Two of them were downtown, and in the same intersection, just 24 hours apart.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/4DAP4BI2LZAAFFMDM6RCAVGKDY.png)
Teachers across Kentucky are anxiously waiting to see how lawmakers address the limited NTI days districts are given this school year.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/XX2GKH53ZBB6DLEIBJ3XYSBLMI.jpg)
Since losing her husband in 2004, Emily Chamber has always kept to keep his memory alive.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/CETTUJ2HCJEJNAJQVTMQFDP4FU.jpg)
Kentucky Emergency Management officials are preparing to respond to wherever they are needed.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/C23RJ3V3U5DTFJHEXENMPHKOMM.jpg)
Secretary of State Michael Adams announced Monday that special elections will be held on November 2 to fill three vacancies in the General Assembly.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/D7CQQX7T6BCHBDLNTTVYTV225M.png)
A former marine who was injured in battle is opening up about Thursday’s bombing.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/LTW65FM55VEX5MOLIEIWPBYOVE.jpg)
Kentucky state representative Robert Goforth has resigned.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/SMBGMNNFRRFLJDKLSJ4EGVPCWI.jpg)
Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers held a press conference to discuss a new initiative to encourage and incentivize people to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Governor Andy Beshear says we are moving from an alarming to critical stage as hospitals across Kentucky face record rates of hospitalization because of COVID-19.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/HU6WCDDS4BAWRKQIWLBJ7BPT5I.jpg)
Neighbors are cleaning up and drying out after high water got into their homes in Wolfe County. This isn’t the first time this week one home has been flooded.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/WLIUJBNLURGVHFLGXQQNNODUFU.png)
Earlier this month, the Kentucky Board of Education approved emergency regulation that grants fully vaccinated teachers and staff separate time off days for COVID-related situations.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/5K2SVVG4A5CERIGAAZ3V76TU7E.png)
Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 680 in Lexington shared their thoughts on the events unfolding in Afghanistan. For some, they feel their time and sacrifice was in vain.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/WOGAY2N7CNAP7OCRWQXY7XURSY.png)
WKYT talked one-on-one with the governor about the COVID-19 vaccine, misinformation and the state's rapidly increasing hospital capacity rates.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/ISLATJSJYNFZZAIZCCWK7WFHDU.png)
The Make-A-Wish Foundation threw a special ball for one Winchester teen at the Kentucky Castle Thursday night, giving her the full royal treatment. It’s a night her family says she’ll never forget.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/4ME4IHE4CVEURGICQ7NC6GDIWM.png)
Masks have been a polarizing issue throughout the pandemic, now coming to the forefront as the new school year begins. It’s another topic that’s taken a political division.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/SKTSJSOLZBF3HFGZLGW2UMIW7I.jpg)
The surge in cases is leading to a high demand of COVID-19 testing.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/5OOOD2VYGRDKTK3KWKT7VQERSY.png)
Anyone who has been on I-75 south near the Clays Ferry Bridge will tell you traffic is an absolute nightmare.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/YTCLZ4HDZJBUVNL3WCZCZPEKHI.jpg)
It’s undoubtedly a difficult and emotional time for families who have lost nearly everything, and some say they’re traumatized and shutter to think about the next rainstorm.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/OO4BLWJUX5HQXARD6KAT7XVMFI.png)
As much as the Hagers were staples in the Richmond community, they were just as important to Eastside Community Church.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/AGLPYQD4VJBL5PMYRI7DG2V34Y.jpg)
The sailor charged with starting a fire that destroyed the USS Bonhomme Richard last year is from Ashland, Kentucky.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/PBJR42IIOJBLXKTINSX4ZCR53Q.jpg)
Deadly floods hit Carlisle early Friday morning. One woman died and about 100 homes were damaged.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/RJLGBV72FRHXVDD464YZ5HME3Q.png)
Students in Scott County are rolling up their sleeves to get the vaccine.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/EQTBYZGHVFDYRP7IX3NF2GFKSY.png)
So many families have lost almost everything after flash flooding washed through Nicholas County.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/NEFOAW3FKFA4HCCKY4KOI32DGA.png)
Viewers say homes have been washed off of their foundations.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/25GD4UKSK5HWHOQRYXNVMTC3EI.jpg)
Nearly 80 years after he was killed in the attacks on Pearl Harbor, a Somerset sailor is finally home.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/VV6CSJSETNCSVM4OGIM6NWY6Q4.png)
WKYT talked to parents at Jacobson Park just moments after the CDC announced their recommendations.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/W5BE224FH5HZTCPN65H2SIA5P4.jpg)
WKYT’s Chad Hedrick asked Beshear if he was looking at other mandates as other states explore requiring masks and even vaccines for certain fields.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/LXM4UCOGYZA3TKDKYPHDUNMHLY.png)
Next weekend, a sailor from Somerset will finally be laid to rest after he was killed in the attacks on Pearl Harbor.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/OH2G5HMASBDSTJVVWB5OCPQRWU.png)
When students return to UK’s campus in just a few weeks, a housing complex that stood tall over campus will not be there.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/EHIFOXAPZVAUXHRD4SGAIF3XU4.jpg)
Wednesday night doctors and nurses in eastern Kentucky were honored for their work to save lives, but the looming threat from the delta variant is on their minds.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/V6EYJEIUVVFGNBSL5KWT7VSCYM.jpg)
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear says he will be holding a briefing Monday afternoon on the delta variant of COVID-19 that is causing a surge in cases across the Commonwealth.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/FYOTRLQN25HFLIAUU6IKENYRUI.bmp)
Parents likely have a lot of questions about the upcoming school year. Lincoln County starts back August 26 and likely one of the biggest is will students have to wear masks?