Tendall Coffey, age 74, of Forest City, passed away Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at Rutherford Regional Medical Center.

Jean Ann Krishak, age 87, of Forest City, passed away Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at Henderson Care.

From our news partner The Shelby Independent - www.shelbyindependent.com A Cleveland County man is behind bars in Gaston County after assaulting a Cherryville police officer; drugs and a concealed weapon were also in his possession, according to reports. Wednesday evening, at approximately 6:30 p.m., officers with the Cherryville Police Department responded to a reported civil disturbance at Ronald's Grill, located at 604 W. Church Street, Cherryville, NC. When officers arr

Joseph D. Cooper with three felony counts of Possession of a Weapon of Mass Destruction, felony Possession of a Firearm by Felon, and two misdemeanor charges — Resisting a Public Officer and Assaulting a Government Official. Cooper was issued a secured bond of $175,000.

The Forest City Board of Commissioners moved quickly through a full agenda this week, approving an annexation request, adopting a zoning text amendment, swearing in a new police officer, and receiving updates on holiday events and long-term planning for the nation’s 250th birthday celebration. 

North Carolina officials say the state is not among those facing federal threats to cut administrative funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) after complying with federal data-sharing requirements this fall.

Lake Lure ushered in the holiday season with its annual tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 3, a festive celebration that stood in sharp contrast to last year’s scaled-down event following Hurricane Helene.

District Attorney Ted Bell is pushing back against a newly filed petition calling for his removal from office — a petition brought forward by former Word of Faith Fellowship member Matthew Fenner, who alleges Bell has failed to move forward with prosecutions tied to claims of assault within the church.

Tyree Levon Hickman, age 40, of Forest City, passed away Monday, December 1, 2025 at Rutherford Regional Medical Center.

Republican Michael Whatley will go through at least a three-candidate primary in his bid for a U.S. Senate seat from North Carolina.

McDowell County authorities have charged 22-year-old Gavin Michael Terry of Nebo with felony possession of a Schedule I controlled substance.

Governor Josh Stein took aim at Duke Energy’s proposed rate hike on Monday, calling the increase excessive and applauding Attorney General Jeff Jackson’s move to intervene.

Federal officials say the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles will implement a series of reforms to strengthen voter-registration safeguards after a review by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina found that ineligible individuals were improperly added to the voter rolls through DMV processes.

The Rutherford County Board of Commissioners closed out 2025 at their Dec. 1 meeting with a full agenda that included leadership elections, a major property sale, public input on zoning and fees, and a detailed year-end report from the Department of Social Services (DSS).

The plan’s costs are still increasing by about 6% a year while revenue from premiums is only going up about 3%, first-term Republican state Treasurer Brad Briner said in a news conference.

After serving three consecutive terms on the Rutherford County Board of Commissioners, including time as Chairman, Bryan King has announced that he will not seek re-election in the upcoming election cycle.

Pamela Suzanne Batten was born in 1948, the first of four children of Dr. Woodrow and Mary Gordon Batten.

Palmer Lee Earley Jr, known as Tommie, was called home on November 24, 2025.

“Buy-Now-Pay-Later loans may seem simple and safe, but they can lead to surprise fees and growing debt,” Jackson said in a statement.

Gov. Josh Stein announced Monday that longtime public safety leader Eddie Buffaloe will retire as North Carolina’s Secretary of Public Safety at the end of the year, praising his decades of work in law enforcement and emergency response