Morning Anchor Amelia Lee Leaving WYMT, Moving to Lexington Team

Amelia Lee, who joined WYMT in June 2024, delivered her final broadcast for Mountain News on November 14, 2025. During her time at the station she served as a reporter, a weekend anchor and producer, and most recently as a morning anchor. Station reporting indicates she will join the morning team at WKYT in Lexington in December, marking a transition from a regional outlet focused on southeastern Kentucky to a larger market outlet based in the state capital area.

For viewers in Hazard and Perry County the departure is more than a personnel move. Morning broadcasts play a central role in delivering timely information about local government meetings, school announcements, road conditions, and community events. A familiar anchor who combined reporting and producing responsibilities often functions as a connective figure between civic institutions and residents. Lee’s exit may create a gap in those routines, and viewers who rely on Mountain News for early day updates will need to adapt to a new team.

The change also highlights broader institutional challenges for local newsrooms. Smaller stations frequently operate with limited staffing, requiring employees to fulfill multiple roles. When a journalist who has covered the community departs for a larger market, the remaining newsroom must either redistribute responsibilities or reduce the depth and frequency of localized reporting. That dynamic has implications for accountability and public oversight of local government, since robust local reporting contributes to informed voting and civic participation.

WYMT will now face the task of staffing its morning operations and maintaining continuity in coverage. For local government offices and community organizations the transition period will test existing communication channels. Officials and civic groups that depended on Mountain News for coverage should prepare for changes in editorial priorities and outreach practices. Viewers can expect announcements from the station about anchor replacements and schedule adjustments in the coming weeks.

Lee’s move to WKYT reflects a common career trajectory in broadcast journalism, where reporters move from regional to metropolitan outlets. For Perry County residents the key concern is how well local news needs are met during and after the transition. Maintaining consistent coverage of county commissions, school boards, courts, and community events is important for transparency and civic engagement. Local leaders, newsroom managers, and residents all share a stake in ensuring that the loss of a familiar broadcaster does not lead to diminished access to information that supports civic life.