Sitemap - 2025 - Cops & Congress by Annie Dance
SCOOP: Sheriff details why Ellenboro case escalated only after victim’s post
Hazard Mitigation, Housing, and Roads Remain Focus of Hurricane Helene Recovery
Shining a Light on Justice: Reflecting on 2025 and Looking Ahead to 2026
Exclusive court records: Governor-appointed judge freed man now charged with murder
Who's running for office in 2026?
SCOOP: Rutherfordton Man Arrested on Felony Strangulation Charge
‘Emergency landing’ text sent before deadly Statesville plane crash, NTSB says
7 killed, including NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and family, in Statesville plane crash
Exclusive: Feds Let Duke Energy Withhold Nuclear Safety Details From The Public
22 Senators Oppose Marijuana Rescheduling After President Trump's Executive Order
WATCH (Exclusive): Chimney Rock leaders highlight $20M recovery efforts
Breaking News: Rutherford County Manager Steve Garrison Resigns
WATCH: NC lawmakers press courts official on eCourts costs, performance and accountability
Rutherfordton Police Delete Public Record, Apologize After Backlash About Homeless Man
Border officials cite record enforcement and say over 62,000 migrant children have been found
WATCH (Exclusive): Lake Lure Town Council Wraps Up 2025
NC lawmakers press judicial officials on eCourts
Cops & Congress Podcast on Courts: Judicial Candidate Drops More 'Chapters' of Allegations
WATCH (Exclusive): NC Gang Prevention Task Force Chair Tries to Shut Down Transparency
Cops & Congress Podcast: A Police Officer, Alleged Discrimination & A Taxpayer-Funded Settlement
WATCH: Rutherfordton Town Council Reviews Housing, Digital Sign Rules; Holiday Parade Draws Crowds
Cops & Congress Podcast #2: Judicial Candidate Drops Bombshell 'Chapters'
Cops & Congress Expands With New Podcast for 2026 Election Coverage
Three Rutherford County Commissioners Will Not Seek Re-Election in 2026
WATCH: Forest City Welcomes New Officer, Advances Zoning Changes and More
Trump Responds to Guard Member Killed in D.C. Shooting, Vows Sweeping Immigration Halt
COURT REPORT SCOOP: Victim Files Petition Seeking Removal of DA Ted Bell From Office
New NC Laws as of Dec. 1: Public Safety Changes and Expanded Oversight
WATCH (Exclusive): November Chimney Rock Town Council Meeting
COURT REPORT SCOOP: Mooresboro Man Charged With Resisting Deputy
WATCH (Exclusive): Lake Lure Council Rejects Sewer Request for 300 Tiny Homes
Spindale Shooting Leads to Arrest of 20-Year-Old
Domestic Violence Shooting in Spindale Leaves One Person Injured
Public Comment Deadline Today for Proposed NC 'Dwelling Insurance' Hike
SCOOP: DSS Workers Threatened During Federal Government Shutdown in Rutherford County
Watch (Exclusive): Residents Pack Bills Creek Meeting On Proposed Tiny Home Project
SCOOP: Recording Revives Scandal Shadows as 2026 District Attorney Race Heats Up
Helene’s Havoc to Hickory Nut Gorge Healing: Recovery Plan Maps Path Forward
SNAP November Benefits Expected In NC Today
Exclusive: Repeated "Defiance" of Court Orders Alleged in United Way of Rutherford County Lawsuit
Shutdown Deal Nears Finish Line, and What It Says About North Carolina — and the Country
SCOOP: Forest City Man Charged with Felony Assault With a Tie Rod
Gov. Stein Administration Fails to Fund Low-Income Heating Assistance, Blames Congress
SCOOP: Cleveland County Deletes Online References to Deputy Charged With Murder
FAA to Cut Flights 10% at Major Airports Amid Historic Shutdown
Asheville Man Who Fled to CT Sentenced For 2020 Murder
UPDATE: Two Charged With Murder in Forest City Home Invasion
SCOOP: Lawndale Man Charged in Deadly Forest City Home Invasion
Two Weekend Shootings Under Investigation in Rutherford County, No Arrests Reported
SCOOP: Marion Man Faces Additional Charges For Secret Peeping
Lake Lure Council Questions Dam Timeline, Reviews Sewer and 100th Anniversary Plans
SCOOP: Marion Man Arrested on Felony Child Exploitation Charges and Secret Peeping
Sheriff Ellenburg Highlights Victim Rights During Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Exclusive: Here's what happened at the latest Lake Lure meeting
North Carolina Sues USDA Over Withheld Food Aid During Federal Shutdown
SCOOP: Highway Patrol Report Contradicts D.A. in Fatal Rutherfordton Police Car Vs. Pedestrian Crash
Forest City Police Identify Victim in Fatal Home Invasion; Search Underway for Missing Dog
WATCH: Federal Shutdown Could Cut Off Food Benefits for 12,000 in Rutherford County
Rep. Jake Johnson Announces Re-Election Bid for NC House District 113
ICYMI: D.A. Ted Bell Blasts Iryna’s Law
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Extends Lake Lure Recovery Work For One Month
WATCH: Stein Highlights DMV, Recovery, and Workforce Gains While Critics Question Timing and Spin
District Attorney Clears Officer Before Highway Patrol Releases Report, Pedestrian Dead at 77
Exclusive: Mike Hager Enters Republican Primary Against Incumbent State Rep. Jake Johnson
Breaking News: Backyard Flock in Rutherford County Tests Positive for Avian Influenza
WATCH (Exclusive): Top Ten Takeaways from the October Lake Lure Town Council Meeting
North Carolina Republicans Move to Redraw Congressional Map Ahead of 2026 Midterms
Where the Dollars Go: Inside Rutherford County Schools’ $100+ Million Education Budget
WATCH: Rutherford County School Board Holds Lengthy October Meeting
SCOOP: Commissioner and Detective Linked to 30+ Pending Cases
Exclusive: What’s Really Happening at Lake Lure?
Major Meth and Weapons Bust in Rutherford County After Yearlong Special Unit Investigation
State Rep. Cecil Brockman: “People will just attack me, not even knowing me one day in their life.”
Reach Your Community & Support Independent Reporting
Forest City Council Draws Line in the Sand Over Property Rights and Government Reach
SCOOP: Names Released in Rutherfordton Police Car vs. Pedestrian Incident
CERT Rutherford Invites Public to Learn Disaster Response Skills at October 11 Meeting
North Carolina Launches “Operation Crash Reduction” to Combat Dangerous Driving
Fall Colors Return to Hickory Nut Gorge — Tourism Vital as Area Recovers from Hurricane Helene
$40 Million Mistake? My Year Tracking Hurricane Helene’s Fallout in Rutherford County
SCOOP: A Suspect Ran From Deputies Onto My Property — Here’s What Happened Next
Rutherford County Commissioners Grapple With FEMA Delays, Tourism Decline, and a Local News Void
Rutherford DSS Struggles With Security Gaps, Staffing Losses as State Lures Away Workers
In Case You Missed It: NCGA Holds Rare Hurricane Helene Oversight Hearing
Spindale Man Arrested for Bostic Fentanyl Death; Charged With Death by Distribution
Who Owns the Truth in North Carolina?
Exclusive: Lake Lure Mayor’s Statement on Storm Deaths Raises Questions
State Auditor Highlights Uneven Spending of Hurricane Helene Recovery Funds
Rutherford County Schools Lead Recovery Efforts with $3.5 Million in Hurricane Helene Funding
Thank You — Let’s Keep Digging Together
Former Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges
ICYMI (Exclusive): Chimney Rock town council meeting, Sept. 16, 2025
One Year After Hurricane Helene, Lake Lure and Chimney Rock Celebrate Resilience
No flush order one year after Hurricane Helene, Lake Lure sewer repairs continue amid recovery
Exclusive details: Double murder suspect extradited to Rutherford County
Fact check: O’Leary Lied to Congress on SBA Timeline as Helene Anniversary Nears
SCOOP: Former Town Manager Arrested Over 2014 Allegation
Update: Rutherfordton Man Charged in Child Exploitation Case, Released on Bond
Key Intersection To Close as $190M U.S. 221 Bypass Moves Forward
SCOOP: Rutherfordton bull rider held without bail on Polk County charges
WATCH - Exclusive: Chimney Rock Board Backs Bubba O’Leary’s Rebuild, Expands Short-Term Rentals
Exclusive details: Lake Lure walks back Congressman's FEMA funding announcement
SCOOP: Marion Woman, Former Church Employee, Faces Multiple Felony Charges
Exclusive video: Spindale Council Approves Highway Agreement, Celebrates Centennial Milestones
When Felony Charges Don’t Come With a Mugshot
SCOOP: Man Charged in Child Exploitation Case After 3,500 Images Seized
Hundreds Gather in Forest City, Thousands More Watch Online to Honor Charlie Kirk’s Life
SCOOP: Rutherford County Detention Officer Arrested on Extortion, Harassment Charges
Exclusive Video: Lake to Reopen by May 2026 in Lake Lure
One Million Rising Push Forward with “Lawful” Resistance Amid National Shock, Eyes 2026 Midterms
Forest City Honors 9/11 Heroes, Pays Tribute to Charlie Kirk
Top Ten Takeaways: Sept. 8 Rutherford County Commissioners Meeting
Exclusive: Rutherford County Airport Faces “Safety Issue That We’ve Had for Years,” Manager Says
Rep. Moore: FEMA to Fund Chimney Rock Repairs After Hurricane Helene
ICYMI: Rutherfordton Council Talks Housing, Road Projects, and R-S Central’s Centennial Parade
Historic Discovery at Rutherford County Dog Campground
SCOOP: ICE Cites “No Bed Space” as Homeless Man Arrested in Chimney Rock State Park Bonds Out
Rutherford County School Board Approves Budget, Recovery Projects, and New Diploma Rules
WATCH: Stein Launches AI Council, Warns Hurricane Helene Recovery Will Take Years
RCSO Confirms Fentanyl Bust at Forest City Motel
Exclusive video: FEMA Scrutinizes Duke Energy's McGuire Nuclear Plant Emergency Preparedness
Exclusive video: Moffitt Tells Rutherford GOP Energy Will Define Political Battles for Decades
Governor Stein Names Political Ally Phil Feagan to State Board
NCDOT Ride-Along Reveals Chimney Rock and Bat Cave $25M Temporary Repairs
NC Elections Chair Arrested After Police Say He Put Pills in Granddaughters’ Ice Cream
Exclusive: Crash at Chimney Rock Post Office Compounds Delays After Hurricane Helene
Lake Lure Recovery Hits 1 Million Tons of Debris
Wanted Man Captured After Barricading in Rutherford County Home
Exclusive: Chimney Rock Village Approves Recovery Plan
Exclusive details: Two Charged with Murder in Morganton near Lake James
SCOOP: What’s Next in the United Way of Rutherford County Lawsuit
When the Fourth Circuit Speaks, Rutherford County Better Listen
Exclusive: Chimney Rock Planning Board Eyes Temporary Signage to Guide Visitors Amid Village Changes
SCOOP: Chimney Rock Village Reopens but Waiting on State for FEMA Funds
Exclusive details: Recidivist Offender Arrested in Child Exploitation Case
Local News Still Matters: Why I’m Joining WCAB
Exclusive: Rutherford Social Services Board Confronts Security Gaps as Leadership Faces Absences
From Neighborhood Disputes to Big Funding News, Forest City Town Council Covers It All
Exclusive: Spindale Board Weighs Housing, Infrastructure, and New Website in Busy Meeting
SCOOP: Chimney Rock State Park Alarm Triggers Emergency Response
WATCH: Crime Radar Maps and the Hunt for Truth in Rutherfordton and Beyond
Exclusive: Town Council Holds First Meeting at New Location
Two Sponsored Posts for $50 — Limited-Time Offer from Cops & Congress
Exclusive: Federal Rule Change Could Reshape Rutherford County’s Safety Net
Rutherfordton Town Council Weighs Infrastructure, Zoning, and Storm Recovery in August Session
President Trump Declares Crime Emergency, Federalizes D.C. Police in Sweeping Crackdown
ICE Uses New Courthouse Strategy: Dismiss Cases, Then Arrest Immigrants Outside
Flood Advisory Issued for Rutherford County
SCOOP: Former Chimney Rock Restaurant Owner Arrested After Crash
East Rutherford Champions Honored as School Board Tackles Budgets, Boundaries, and Bus Routes
Exclusive details: Lake Lure Flowering Bridge to be demolished for $190k following hurricane damage
WATCH: Rutherford Co. Commissioners Approve Public Safety Software Switch
WATCH: Rutherford County Commissioners meeting (their version)
Exclusive details: Rutherford County Approves New Public Safety Software
Forest City town council meeting, Aug. 4, 2025
Exclusive: Why Preparedness Matters Now More Than Ever
‘Radical Roy’ vs. ‘MAGA Mike’: High-Stakes Senate Showdown Brewing in North Carolina
UPDATE: Inmate Charged With Murder in Rutherford Jail Overdose Case
NC House Overrides Governor’s Veto, Enacts Immigration Detainer Law Amid Protests
Exclusive details: SBI Notified After Suspected Overdose at Rutherford County Jail
Exclusive details: Marion Woman Sentenced for False Shooting Threats to Isothermal Community College
SCOOP: Homeless Man Charged with Assault, Held on ICE Detainer in Rutherford County
Rutherford County Man Sentenced After Pleading Guilty in Fatal Overdose Case
Special report: Delayed emergency aid, missing answers, and a growing chorus for change
Exclusive: Sheriff Ellenburg Launches Re-election Bid as 2026 GOP Primary Race Takes Shape
Top 10 takeaways from newly declassified report on "Russia Hoax" claims
An evening of conversation, community, and curiosity in Rutherfordton
Exclusive details: Lawsuit Dismissed Against Rutherford County Commissioner Hunter Haynes
SCOOP: Record fentanyl seizure from Forest City home leads to arrest of couple
Exclusive: Five people are dead, 820 crimes reported—and the public was told almost nothing
Rutherford County GOP slams RCS school management over financial crisis
Exclusive: Rep. Jake Johnson speaks plainly on guns, FEMA, and more
Exclusive video: Governor Stein touts progress, urges patience at GROWNC meeting
Exclusive video: Lake Lure officials move forward on recovery, regulation and relocation
Rutherford County ends state of emergency using outdated letterhead—again
Exclusive: Chimney Rock Village planning board approves vacation rental permits
Three Trustees Sworn In at Isothermal Community College
NC suspends expiration dates on driver licenses—but only within state lines
Top 10 takeaways from the July Rutherford County Commissioners meeting
Lawsuit demands Commissioner Haynes choose: Deputy Sheriff or board seat
Why a 2012 court case could shape the future of short-term rentals in WNC after Hurricane Helene
SCOOP: Lake Lure police now using drones to enforce lake ban after Hurricane Helene
Exclusive details: Repeat sex offender arrested after 'encounter' on Thermal Belt Rail Trail
Rutherfordton town council eyes federal grants and gears up for high school centennial
NC Governor: 'We cannot simply accept' President Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill'
🇺🇸 🎇 4 reasons to support my independent journalism before Independence Day
Where to celebrate Independence Day in the Lake Lure area
Exclusive details: School Board approves $62M interim budget amid closures and mounting questions
Grand jury returns indictments in Catawba Co. mass shooting: Six men face dozens of new charges
Exclusive: Chimney Rock Village adopts new budget, pursues $5.5M grant funding
Chimney Rock State Park reopens nine months after Hurricane Helene
Exclusive: Chimney Rock planning board grapples with zoning questions amid short-term rental boom
School board votes to close two schools, keeps one open after four hour long meeting
“No Kings Day” protest in Rutherfordton draws scrutiny amid claims and contradictions
Exclusive details: Rutherford County school board considers closing three schools amid budget crisis
Missing names, mounting tensions: County Commissioners' school budget response draws scrutiny
Lake Lure Assisted Living and Town Officials Join Forces to Rebuild After Hurricane Helene
🇺🇸 🎇 4 reasons to support my independent journalism before Independence Day 🇺🇸 🎇
Paws on duty: Rookie joins Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office
Exclusive: Congressman rallies Rutherford Co. Republicans with bold agenda
Rutherford County Cops Uncover Drugs, Child Abuse, and Probation Violations
What's really happening in Lake Lure
ICYMI: Governor Josh Stein unveils budget during a stop in Rutherford County
Exclusive: Chimney Rock planners move forward with major recovery vision after Hurricane Helene
Exclusive: Sheriff reflects on peaceful ‘No Kings Day’ protest in Rutherford County
SCOOP: Man and his girlfriend arrested after Forest City shooting and Ellenboro standoff
Who’s really behind ‘No Kings Day’?
Exclusive: What happened at the June Lake Lure town council meeting
Exclusive video: Governor's Hurricane Helene recovery committee meets virtually
Exclusive video: Rutherford County Commissioners approve budget with no tax increase
RCS School board meeting June 4, 2025
Exclusive details: Traffic stop leads to trafficking charges
NC House passes resolution supporting Israel
Exclusive details: Why a little-noticed labor bill deserves everyone’s attention
Exclusive video: Rutherford County fallen officer memorial service
Exclusive details: One dead after 12 shot during NC house party, with 'complicated scene'
Exclusive video: 10 key takeaways from Rutherford County’s heated budget workshop
Rutherford County Commissioners budget workshop
Exclusive details: Pentagon ends “5 Things What You Did Last Week” reporting initiative
Rutherford County last to launch private property debris removal: What you need to know
SCOOP: Chimney Rock officials consider short-term rentals amid recovery from Hurricane Helene
Golden Dome: An aerospace engineer explains the proposed nationwide missile defense system
May 21, 2025 Rutherford County Social Services Board meeting
Rutherford Co. school board meeting - livestream part 2
Rutherford Co. school board meeting - livestream part 1
Exclusive details: Feds investigating Mexican Navy ship crash at the Brooklyn Bridge, killing two
Exclusive details: Kentucky truck driver fined over $4k while helping clean up Lake Lure
Vance honors fallen officers, affirms Trump team’s backing of law enforcement
SCOOP: Chimney Rock checkpoint to end, but town still off-limits
What kind of news matters to you?
SCOOP: Repeat sex offender arrested twice, weeks after prison release, records show
Exclusive video & analysis: Top 10 takeaways from the Rutherford County budget workshop
10 Things I Learned This Week — And It’s Only Monday
County manager pushes tax hike — 10 takeaways from May 5 meeting
SCOOP: New state medical examiner's report offers clues in Spindale death investigation
Exclusive video: Chimney Rock’s top 10 meeting moments — and United Way’s phantom trailer
Exclusive details: Army officials provide updates from Chimney Rock, Lake Lure and WNC
Exclusive video: Top ten takeaways from the latest Chimney Rock Task Force meeting
Why is Rutherford County still waiting for federal debris aid — and are local missteps to blame?
SCOOP: Bodycam footage released after judge grants my petition
Exclusive video: NC House lawmakers advance 'Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act'
Exclusive video: Inside the April Lake Lure town council meeting
SCOOP: Suspect arrested after road shootout
Exclusive details: Bridge locations selected in Chimney Rock Village
What’s really driving jail costs in Rutherford County?
ICYMI: Today at the NCGA - Eddie Buffaloe, Jr. NCDPS Secretary reconfirmation hearing
Trump’s DOGE campaign accelerates 50-year trend of government privatization
Black Cove Complex Fire update: Nearly 7,770 acres burned
Exclusive details: 'Lord of War' Guy Savage avoids extradition to U.S. after 14-year legal battle
Black Cove Complex Fires: Firefighter injured as crews battle flames in WNC
Exclusive video: Lake Lure looks to the future six months after Hurricane Helene
Is geofencing failing during emergencies?
Exclusive video: Chimney Rock Task Force outlines recovery efforts, community development plans
SCOOP: Ellenboro man arrested on multiple drug trafficking charges
Democrat veteran ejected from Rep. Chuck Edwards’ town hall after heated outburst
I scooped the arrest of Charles Aaron Parris for alleged bomb threats—Here’s why I held the story
Exclusive video: Chimney Rock faces budget strains as Hurricane Helene recovery efforts continue
Exclusive details: Multiple bomb threats reported in WNC in recent weeks
Exclusive video: Lake Lure March town council meeting
Spindale mourns loss of longtime Mayor
SCOOP: Shooting investigation concludes in arrest, victim identified
Exclusive: Rutherford County resident calls public records process ‘painful’ and frustrating
State-by-state report by Democrats projects millions of people could lose Medicaid coverage
Exclusive video: 20 key takeaways from the Rutherford County Commissioners' meeting
Is access to Chimney Rock State Park after Hurricane Helene one step closer to construction?
Exclusive details: Tensions rise ahead of NCDOT meeting tonight in Lake Lure
Why people rebuild in Appalachia’s flood-ravaged areas despite the risks
Exclusive details: Rutherford County death by distribution case concludes with guilty pleas
Mitchell County Manager encourages residents to apply for FEMA ‘buyouts’
Entire police force placed on leave after grand jury labels it a ‘criminal enterprise’
Exclusive video: Mayor announces temporary access plans for Chimney Rock State Park
SCOOP: Rutherfordton man jailed on child sex crime charges
Exclusive video: Forest City Town Council tackles growth, infrastructure, and public safety
Exclusive details: Dena King resigns as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of NC
Exclusive: Congressman Tim Moore says he’ll ‘Add It to the List’—Was President Lincoln born in NC?
Exclusive video: Was a school board member silenced over school safety?
Cops & Congress: A heartfelt Valentine’s Day thank you
Exclusive video: Chimney Rock Task Force maps out reopening plan, launches public survey
Exclusive video: Rutherford County commissioners meet for goal-setting work session
Exclusive details: EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin visits WNC to assess Hurricane Helene recovery
Exclusive Video: Key decisions from the latest Chimney Rock Village Town Council meeting
Exclusive video: North Carolina officials outline hurricane recovery plans for western region
Fourth Circuit weighs Asheville protester’s free speech challenge outside Planned Parenthood
Exclusive video: Chimney Rock Task Force discuss progress on Hurricane Helene recovery
Today at the NCGA: House Select Committee on Helene Recovery reveals 105 died, 'many' still missing
Transparency in reporting: A journalist’s policy on legal outcomes
SCOOP: Cops arrest man for six counts of felony animal cruelty
Exclusive video: Chimney Rock Village town council reviews recovery progress
Chimney Rock Village meeting update
Exclusive video: Spindale joins Rutherfordton and Forest City in enacting public camping ban
Exclusive video: Chimney Rock Task Force begins to lay out vision for recovery
Lake Lure leaders address recovery efforts at relocated town council meeting
Prison abuse, deaths and escapes prompt calls for more oversight
Veteran NC Congresswoman Virginia Foxx to lead House Rules Committee
Supreme Court lets stand ruling that upholds Maryland handgun law
How the CIA director helps the US navigate a world of spies, threats and geopolitical turbulence
4 reasons why the US might want to buy Greenland – if it were for sale, which it isn’t
How the U.S. could in fact make Canada an American territory
Trump’s push to control Greenland echoes US purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867
SCOOP: Judge bans photography, charges dismissed in contentious United Way case
Exclusive Video: Chimney Rock town council highlights budget strain, development plans
Helene's grim toll: 104 lives lost in North Carolina, state officials say
Exclusive details: Chimney Rock Village grapples with devastation, plans for renewal
SCOOP: Judge to decide if I'm allowed to photograph the trial today
SCOOP: Cyberstalking trials of Suzanne Porter and Leslie Lewis begin today