The McDowell County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing woman.

North Carolina’s new Gang Prevention and Intervention Task Force held its first Prevention Working Group meeting Tuesday morning — and it opened with a misunderstanding of the state’s public meeting laws.

When federal judges in Richmond take up a case about who can and cannot join the U.S. military, the impact reaches far beyond the courtroom.

A months-long joint investigation by the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, the Tri-City Violent Crimes Task Force (TCVCTF), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) concluded this week with multiple arrests, search warrants, and the seizure of a substantial quantity of illegal drugs.

A McDowell County jury has convicted 41-year-old Joshua Lane Wilson on multiple felony drug charges following a high-profile case stemming from a traffic stop in August 2024.

The Rutherfordton Town Council closed out the year on Wednesday, Dec. 3, with a meeting that touched on free-speech concerns, affordable housing, and updated rules for digital billboards. Three days later, the town capped the week with its annual Christmas parade.

With temperatures dropping across the region, the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office and its Reading Impact Opportunity Team are calling on the community to help keep recently released individuals warm this winter.

The Town of Rutherfordton approved a $40,000 settlement in early November 2025 to resolve a federal lawsuit filed by former police officer Kelby Trejo, according to documents obtained by WCAB News.

Gaining five times more in the last week, Republicans have moved to the cusp of eclipsing Democrats in voter registrations in North Carolina for the first time.

Timothy Dale “Tim” Bailey, age 56, of Rutherfordton, passed away Friday, December 5, 2025 at his home.

Larry “Bud” Splawn, age 82, of Rutherfordton, passed away Thursday, December 4, 2025 at Rutherford Regional Medical Center.

Michael Isaac Randall, age 62, of Ellenboro, passed away Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at Rutherford Regional Medical Center.

Brenda Smith Peeler, age 78, of Cliffside, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at Atrium Health-Cleveland in Shelby.

Rutherford County law enforcement and emergency services responded to nearly 400 calls over the past weekend, according to a radio report released by Rutherford County Emergency Communications.

All three incumbent members of the Rutherford County Board of Commissioners — Chairman Bryan King, Vice Chairman Alan Toney, and Commissioner Michael Benfield — have confirmed they will not seek new terms, marking a sweeping shift in county leadership ahead of the 2026 election cycle.

Deputy Jared Cody of the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office charged 39-year-old Christopher Blake Fowler of Nebo with felony possession of methamphetamine.

Funded by a $256,000 planning grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, with a $64,000 match from Dogwood Health Trust, the project represents a major step in creating a coordinated, data-driven strategy for safer travel.

A newly released federal letter obtained by WCAB News confirms Duke Energy sought and received approval to withhold technical nuclear safety information from public view, even as regional concerns grow over emergency planning around the McGuire Nuclear Station.

The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office is alerting residents to several recurring scams that have begun resurfacing as the holiday season approaches.

During the morning hours of December 1, 2025, an unknown suspect damaged the front glass door of Key Largo, located at 2795 US 221A in Henrietta.