A petition filed Monday in Rutherford Superior Court requests the removal of District Attorney Ted Bell, citing delays and alleged mismanagement in a criminal case involving an alleged assault on a former Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) member.

A round of freezing rain is making for a hazardous start to Tuesday across portions of western North Carolina.

Voters in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District will once again head to the polls in 2026, and candidates are beginning to declare their intentions.

The “tier” rankings, starting with 1 for the most economically distressed and 3 for the least distressed, are used as a factor in determining state grants and other forms of assistance.

While several provisions passed with near-unanimous support, major debates surfaced over policies to restart executions, expand gun access on private school campuses and broaden the state auditor’s investigative reach.

During the search at 415 Claxton Drive, investigators located illegal narcotics and firearms in the home. Four individuals were taken into custody on various charges.

Lieutenant David Jones charged 26-year-old Laken Faith Hensley of Marion with two counts of felony Assault with Physical Injury to a Law Enforcement Officer, misdemeanor Ethnic Intimidation, and misdemeanor Resisting a Public Officer. Her bond was set at $153,000 secured.

A routine traffic stop by the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office ACE (Aggressive Criminal Enforcement) Team on November 26, 2025, resulted in the discovery of a substantial quantity of suspected fentanyl and several other narcotics.

In Rutherford County, most local candidates — including those running for three seats on the Board of County Commissioners — will file at the county’s new elections office at 145 College Ave. in Rutherfordton.

The Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (DJJDP), which runs 12 detention centers and five youth development centers, says it is already using the report’s data to guide improvements.

CBP leaders said officers continue to intercept unsafe and fraudulent products entering the country, underscoring the risks behind deals that appear too good to be true.

Rollins said auditing from state-supplied data has resulted in removal of about 700,000 people; 5,000 dead people were found to be getting benefits; and one individual was a recipient in six states.

Communities across Rutherford County and the broader western North Carolina region — including Charlotte — are grappling with heightened anxiety following a wave of recent federal immigration operations.

Emergency Medical Services responded to 111 EMS and rescue-related calls for medical incidents across the county.

Multiple gang-related indictments have been filed following an extensive investigation by the Tri-City Violent Crimes Task Force into criminal activity involving the gang known as “448.”

Noel Skomars Harden, age 78, of Rutherfordton, passed away Friday, November 21, 2025 at Willow Ridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Ray Fisher, age 87, of Forest City, passed away Friday, November 21, 2025 at his home. Ray was born December 2, 1937 in Rutherford County to the late Estelle Fisher.

Barbara Rosenmarkle, age 79, of Spindale, NC, passed away Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center.

To make the scam seem legitimate, the call appeared to come from a FEMA phone number. Authorities remind residents that phone numbers can be spoofed to look official.

Following an investigation, detectives were able to confirm the thefts and recover the stolen items from a location in Old Fort.