Republican Michael Whatley has the greatest polling deficit yet to Democrat Roy Cooper, trailing the former two-term governor by 8.7% in a sample released Thursday.

More than a year after Hurricane Helene slammed the Hickory Nut Gorge, Henderson County officials presented a detailed draft plan for long-term recovery at Bat Cave Baptist Church last week

The move clears the way for North Carolina to complete November payments for approximately 600,000 households.

A criminal-justice law passed this year is expected to send even more people into North Carolina’s already overburdened involuntary commitment system — a system hospital leaders and former law enforcement officers say is stretched thin, unsafe, and in urgent need of overhaul.

In early 2025, the Tri-City Violent Crimes Task Force began an investigation into criminal gang activity in the Tri-City area, focusing on a group identified as “448.”

On November 13, 2025, Tyree Delante Boyce of Rutherfordton was served with multiple indictments, including three counts of trafficking opium or heroin. Boyce was issued a secured bond of $750,000.

However, Leavitt said she didn't have a timeline for mailing the checks, something that would likely require congressional approval.

The nation’s No. 2 producer – 1 in 5 of all grown in America by more than 900 farmers overseeing 53 million trees on more than 33,000 acres come from the state – won’t be plagued by a hurricane disrupting the industry.

The end of the shutdown marks the resumption of essential federal services for communities nationwide, including Rutherford County.

Of all tests taken, 72.1% were scored a 3, 4 or 5 – demonstrating that a student is qualified to receive college-level credit for that subject. Since 2021, the number of exams with qualifying scores has roughly doubled to an all-time high of 123,394 qualifying scores in 2024-25.

“North Carolina’s veterans have given selflessly in service to our country. When you’ve spent a career helping others, asking for help can be difficult,” said Governor Josh Stein.

The Carolina Climbers Coalition (CCC) and Access Fund have finalized the purchase of Lower Ghost Town, a 16.5-acre property in Chimney Rock, marking the conclusion of a 25-year effort to provide public access to one of North Carolina’s most challenging and scenic climbing areas.

More than 100 people filled the Bills Creek Community Center on Nov. 11 to hear details about the project, which is planned for property near the Lake Lure line.

In Wednesday’s Senate hearing on Capitol Hill before the Committee on Indian Affairs, Sen. Thom Tillis said the level of unity and support has never been greater. And it’s a fight that began 137 years ago, three years after recognition by the state of North Carolina.

The package now heads to the Republican-controlled House for approval and then the president’s desk, meaning the government will likely reopen by the end of the week.

"It's time to say enough is enough," said Shores. "Let's do what's right, put education first, let's stand together and take back control of our schools, our future and our opportunities."

The portal helps modernize a compensation program that last year approved 2,449 paper claims submitted by mail. In 2024, the program reimbursed victims of violent crime and their families $9.8 million.

Long’s death was not formally on the council’s agenda, but Rhodes’ remarks underscored the broader theme of accountability threaded through the evening’s presentations.

A 73-year-old man experiencing homelessness in Rutherfordton was arrested this week after allegedly threatening to “handle” police officers “with a rifle." 

McDowell County Sheriff Ricky T. Buchanan has announced he will not seek re-election when his current term ends in 2026.