Following Homeland Security Secretary's visit to Chimney Rock on April 7, Rutherford County Sheriff Aaron Ellenburg said it reinforced that Rutherford County remains a priority in Washington.

Speaking at a milestone celebration of one of North Carolina’s most defining historical moments, Governor Josh Stein honored the 250th anniversary of the Halifax Resolves while urging modern Americans to embrace unity in an increasingly divided era.

Rutherford County sits near the bottom of North Carolina’s wage scale for service-sector jobs, according to newly released data, highlighting the uneven impact of the state’s long-running economic shift away from manufacturing.

Newly released autopsy reports and a preliminary federal investigation are providing additional insight into the Dec. 18, 2025, plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport that killed seven people.

A new statewide audit of federal spending is raising concerns that could affect programs and services across western North Carolina, including in Rutherford County and surrounding communities.