Jeff Lee, age 61, of Forest City, passed away Monday, December 22, 2025 at Atrium Health-Cleveland in Shelby.

Candidate filing for North Carolina’s 2026 election cycle closed at noon Friday, Dec. 19, finalizing the field for local, state and federal races that will appear on Rutherford County ballots next year.

Santa Claus will make a special appearance in Rutherfordton on Tuesday, Dec. 23, as part of the town’s annual Santa Drive-Through, scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m.

A man accused of choking a woman until her vision dimmed was brought before a judge days after his arrest, as newly filed warrants spell out graphic injury allegations and a strict court-ordered no-contact directive.

Doris R. Daves, age 92, passed away Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at Atrium Health-Cleveland in Shelby.

Pastor Helen Adams, 87, quietly transitioned into her eternal rest with the Lord on December 19, 2025.

Lorene “Pete” Scoggins, age 79, of Rutherfordton, passed away Friday, December 19, 2025 at Rutherford Regional Medical Center.

Marie Cole, age 76, of Forest City, passed away Sunday, December 21, 2025 at her home.

Detective Derrick McGinnis with the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office has charged 27-year-old Joshua Mark Cline of Marion with felony Larceny of Chose in Action and felony Forgery of an Instrument.

On Dec. 19, Renew NC, North Carolina’s housing recovery program, announced that the deadline for western North Carolina homeowners to apply for assistance through the Single-Family Housing Program (SFHP) has been extended to January 31.

President Donald Trump and Republican leaders, including U.S. Rep. Tim Moore, used an economic rally in North Carolina to sharpen their message ahead of the pivotal 2026 midterm elections.

A Marion man is facing felony charges after investigators say he was responsible for multiple thefts of communication wire near a local elementary school.

The National Transportation Safety Board provided an update Saturday on its investigation into the recent aircraft crash in Statesville.

Cleveland County deputies scored a major win on Dec. 16, seizing 138 pounds of crystal meth—worth an estimated $3 million—before it could reach local communities.

Governor Josh Stein visited the town of Old Fort yesterday to update residents on new funding committed by the North Carolina Division of Water Infrastructure to improve the town’s water system.

Seven people, including retired NASCAR star Greg Biffle, his wife, and their children, were killed on Dec. 18 when a small jet crashed at Statesville Regional Airport.

Former North Carolina Gov. Jim Hunt, the longest-serving governor in state history and a nationally recognized champion of education, died Thursday, according to his family. He was 88.

North Carolinians hold K-12 education accountability most with state lawmakers based on money, an Elon University Poll released Wednesday says.

Josh Nalley, age 33, of Forest City, passed away Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at his home.

Wayne Lowery, age 86, of Ellenboro, passed away Monday, December 15, 2025 at Hospice of the Carolina Foothills.