District ranks 57th in North Carolina for student dropouts, highlighting historical data Rutherford County Schools’ recent “MythBuster Monday” post claiming consistently low dropout rates is contradicted by state data, a WCAB News analysis shows. In a statement posted on February 23, 2026, the district said:

Kathy Dills, age 67, of Rutherfordton, NC passed away Thursday, February 19, 2026 at her home. Kathy was born Wednesday, July 2, 1958 in Corpus Christie, Texas to the late Bill Pressley and Jean Lindsey Pressley. She graduated with an associate’s degree from Isothermal Community College. Kathy worked for PPG/NEG Industries for several years and proudly worked as a commercial truck driver for many years. Kathy had a heart for underprivileged people having volunteered at Sister

Deputy Caleb Baliles with the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office charged 65-year-old Cornelius White of Asheville with felony Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance. He was initially denied bond due to already being out on pretrial release.

A Marion couple is facing serious drug-related charges after an investigation revealed that a child in their care had been exposed to illegal substances.

Rutherford County’s emergency lines were active around the clock over the weekend, with dispatchers logging 513 total 911 and administrative calls in 48 hours, according to a Rutherford County Emergency Communications radio report obtained by WCAB News.

Early voting continues through Feb. 28 for the March 3 primary.  With just over a week until Primary Election Day, Rutherford County voters are continuing to cast ballots in North Carolina’s 2026 primary election. Statewide election data shows 323,992 people have voted early in person and by mail, with 2,718 in Rutherford County.

A Statesville man is charged with seven felony counts of indecent liberties with a child in a case that stands out because the public arrest warrants identify the minor victims by name.  John Wesley Campbell III was charged Feb. 19, 2026, in Rutherford County District Court records obtained by WCAB News. The seven counts involve three children under the age of 16 and allege offenses occurring between February 2023 and November 2025.

A structure fire that destroyed a secluded mountain rental cabin Friday night unfolded while local firefighters were already deployed to a large woods fire, underscoring mounting demands on rural emergency services in Rutherford County.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Feb. 20 struck down President Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs imposed under a federal emergency powers law, ruling 6-3 that the Constitution gives Congress — not the president — the power to levy import taxes.

Early voting is underway in Rutherford County, giving residents additional opportunities to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day. On Friday, both early voting sites will open at 8 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. Early voting will continue through next week, with the final day set for Saturday, February 28. Voters who do not participate during the early voting period will need to cast their ballots on Election Day, which is scheduled for March 3. Residents can vote early at tw

The State Water Infrastructure Authority approved more than $472 million in funding for 145 water and wastewater projects across North Carolina on Feb. 18, 2026, with communities in western North Carolina among the largest recipients. The awards will help strengthen infrastructure, improve drinking water safety, and increase resilience against storms and flooding.

North Carolina was among 26 states targeted in a nationwide U.S. Department of Transportation effort in January that removed nearly 2,000 unqualified commercial drivers and unsafe vehicles from the roads.

On Feb. 16, the McDowell County Board of Commissioners recognized the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office Community Impact Team for its role in Operation Winter Freeze, a recent county-wide anti-drug operation that yielded 22 arrests and significant drug and weapon seizures. 

What could have been a tragedy turned into one of those “how in the world” moments when a 12-year-old boy was pulled over in Union County after he tried to drive himself to school yesterday morning.

As police and sheriff’s departments around Rutherford County announce a scam has or is occurring in their county, we make sure we make our citizens aware of the latest scam.

A Charlotte man convicted on federal gun and drug charges was sentenced Wednesday to 13 years in prison following a case that stretched across more than two years of court proceedings, according to court records.

A McDowell County jury convicted a western North Carolina man in connection with a 2024 prison escape and kidnapping, and Superior Court records outline the charges, verdicts, and sentencing imposed in the case.

Joseph “Joey” Vickers, age 78, passed away Monday, February 16, 2026 at his home. Joey was born on Sunday, December 14, 1947 in Rutherford County, to the late Grover Vickers and Lillie Burgess Vickers. He served honorably in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany during the Vietnam War. Joey worked for various textile mills for several years. Later, he became the owner and operator of Sandy Mush Rugs. He served as a volunteer fireman for the Sandy Mush Fire Department fo

“In recent days, we have seen growing discussion across our community regarding long-range planning for specific school campuses and the future organization of Rutherford County Schools. We recognize and value the deep care and commitment our community has for its schools, and we want to provide clear context about the planning process currently underway.

State Health officials say that the number of confirmed measles cases is now at 962. Data shows that the total new cases has fallen from 201 the week of January 11 to 71 cases for the week of February 1.