Welcome back to Cops & Congress – Night Owl Edition.
Yes, I write stories during off-hours—because holding power accountable isn't always a 9-to-5 job. I’m naturally a night owl, and often that’s when the truth becomes clearer.
This post is only for paid subscribers. If you’re not one yet, I understand. That’s why I offer a free trial, and I encourage you to try it out. But here’s the reality: between driving to meetings, sitting through hours of public comment, editing videos, pulling public records, and verifying every detail, this work takes time, effort, and gas money. I can’t do it for free.
If you appreciate this kind of independent reporting—especially when others don’t show up—your support makes it possible.
This newsletter is supported by readers like you. At Lake Lure News and Cops & Congress, facts come first, followed by clear, thoughtful commentary and original reporting you won’t find anywhere else. Your support keeps local, independent journalism strong. A subscription for yourself (or as a gift) keeps you connected to the decisions shaping the community and helps ensure I can keep delivering the stories that matter most. Situational awareness: A scoop is exclusive reporting—when no one else is on the story. It’s not just breaking news. It’s journalism with impact. Now, on to the story.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated.
RUTHERFORDTON, N.C. — Speaking before the Green Hill Precinct of the Rutherford County Republican Party on July 12, North Carolina House Representative Jake Johnson (R-District 113) offered blunt updates on several major state issues — including the status of permitless carry legislation, frustrations with federal disaster recovery programs, and ideas to incentivize volunteer firefighters and EMTs with deeply discounted hunting and fishing licenses.
Johnson, who represents Polk and parts of Rutherford and McDowell counties, spent over an hour fielding questions and comments from local voters and this journalist, offering details on legislation, timelines, and budget decisions affecting western North Carolina.
“We will be back up there at the end of the month. I think it's the last three days of July,” Johnson said of the legislature’s potential return for a veto override vote on permitless carry when I asked for his take on Governor Stein’s veto. “If we have the numbers... people have been given notice that we could override on that day”.
Background: What Prompted the Meeting
The gathering at the Green Hill precinct came amid ongoing frustrations in Rutherford County over recovery delays from Hurricane Helene and a pending override vote on Senate Bill 50 — the so-called “constitutional carry” bill. Many attendees voiced concern about FEMA delays, the cost of licenses, the availability of public data from local law enforcement, and uneven economic recovery across tier-one counties like Rutherford.
I asked about the lack of digital crime maps and incident logs across local police departments. North Carolina courts are transitioning from paper to digital with eCourts. Rutherford County is part of the last group of counties to make the switch in October.
“I think once [eCourts] gets rolled out, this part will be easier, county to county, municipality to municipality,” Johnson said, explaining that disparate record systems like Southern Software and Criminal Justice Law Enforcement Automated Data Services (CJLEADS) make current access slow or inconsistent.
Top 10 Takeaways from the Meeting
Listen to this episode with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Cops & Congress by Annie Dance to listen to this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.
