Derek Operle
News DirectorA native of western Kentucky, Operle earned his bachelor's degree in integrated strategic communications from the University of Kentucky in 2014. Operle spent five years working for Paxton Media/The Paducah Sun as a reporter and editor. In addition to his work in the news industry, Operle is a passionate movie lover and concertgoer.
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The Mayfield candle factory destroyed by December’s deadly tornado outbreak will be closing permanently, according to a letter sent to the state by the plant manager earlier this week. -
A partnership between Kentucky’s attorney general and local officials in Dawson Springs and Hopkins County was launched Tuesday in an effort to prevent contractor fraud as area residents recover in the aftermath of December’s tornadoes.
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Health departments across the region and country are dealing with a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases as the omicron variant of the virus continues to spread. Some western Kentucky departments are finding themselves overwhelmed by the sheer amount of new cases.
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The heads of McCracken County and Paducah’s local governments came together before the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce Thursday to address the state of their community heading into the new year.
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Winter weather is coming to western Kentucky. The National Weather Service projects chilly temperatures and up to six inches of snow in western Kentucky, western Tennessee and southern Illinois tomorrow and much of the area is under a winter weather advisory.
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Kentucky State Police are investigating a fatal shooting by a police officer that occurred early Wednesday morning at the Mayfield-Graves County Fairgrounds.
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National Weather Service: Storms, temperature drop expected in west Kentucky, Tennessee this weekendA National Weather Service briefing Monday forecasted heavy rain and the chance of severe thunderstorms in the region on New Year’s Day followed by a return to winter temperatures after a set of cold fronts moves through.
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The American Red Cross is offering assistance to families impacted by the recent tornados in Mayfield. Families seeking help can establish a case number at the Blue Building SportsPlex through Friday afternoon.
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Gov. Andy Beshear gave a brief update Friday morning on the number of people still missing and the death toll connected with the lethal tornado system that tore across western Kentucky last week.
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WKMS News Director Derek Operle interviewed Tim Marshall, one of the principal researchers into enhancing storm warnings and the scale used to determine the severity of storms and tornadoes, by phone Tuesday. Marshall was one of the experts called to western Kentucky by the National Weather Service to assess the tornado damage in Mayfield and Dawson Springs.
