By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent | SBI staff reports Hyder (Photo from SBI Facebook page) SHELBY – The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has charged former Shelby Police Officer Karson Hyder, 22, with one count of assault inflicting serious injury. In a statement released Monday morning around 11 a.m. on social media, The SBI announced the formal charge. According to the statement, Hyder turned himself in to the Cleveland County Detention Center at

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square State News / Affects local – Protection of families, small businesses and taxpayers from utility rate increases attached to data center development and energy policy mandates are within changes to North Carolina’s Ratepayer Protection Act. “North Carolinians are already feeling the pinch of higher electricity bills, and we cannot allow massive data centers and unrealistic green energy mandates to make it worse,” said Franklin County Republic

Staff Reports | State Bureau of Investigation SBI logo Shelby – The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has initiated an investigation into an allegation of excessive use of force by an officer with the Shelby Police Department. The request for an independent investigation was made by the Shelby Police Chief and the Cleveland County District Attorney. SBI agents have already begun and will work to complete the investigation as efficiently as possible while ensu

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Chief of Police Brad Fraser speaks from the podium in the City of Shelby Council chambers Friday evening. | City of Shelby video still SHELBY – A video circulating social media which shows a police officer using excessive force against a female suspect has caused an uproar across Shelby, which caused the City of Shelby to release statement at 6 p.m., Friday, regarding the event. In the video, which starts with the altercation alre

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square A sign directs voters to a polling location. Alan Wooten / The Center Square Affects local – For the third time in five weeks, voter registrations increased more in the unaffiliated bloc than overall in North Carolina. Saturday’s seven-day update from the State Board of Elections, just 15 weeks away from absentee ballots going into the mail for the Nov. 3 midterms, rose by 3,513 overall and 3,891 among those choosing independence. Republican

By David Beasley | The Center Square A wall-mounted defibrillator device. Photo: Vladimir Srajber / Pexels | The Center Square. Education / Affects local – Two years ago, 13 North Carolina students suffered cardiac arrest while at school, one of whom died. Now, two state lawmakers want to ensure that all public schools – roughly 2,500 in total – stock defibrillators. The legislation, which has already passed the House,was sponsored by State Rep. Wyatt Gable, R-Jacksonville

By Ron Humphries | Special Guest Op-Ed Columnist for The Shelby Independent OPINION — Every morning, a familiar political ritual plays out. Lawmakers propose sweeping bans on classroom screens, restrictions on Artificial Intelligence, and demand a retreat to the "three R’s." This crusade frames digital technology as an unprecedented monster devouring young minds. Yet, declaring that technology has ruined education is merely the latest repetition of a script society has recite

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square State News Affects Local – North Carolina scored poorly overall and is ranked No. 48 in the nation in financial transparency in a report released this week by Truth in Accounting. The report says the state “did not have audited financial reports for their largest pension plans, and a high percentage of complex and convoluted deferred items distorted their financial positions.” The report grades states on audit quality, timeliness, pension re

Staff Reports | Cleveland Community College Because construction of the Beam Student Center is fully funded by the North Carolina General Assembly, these private donations will be used to support student scholarships. | Courtesy photo. Cleveland Community College – CCC marked a historic milestone on Friday, May 1, with a ceremonial groundbreaking for its long-awaited student center, a transformative project designed to centralize and enhance services for students across camp

By Adrian Hamrick | AWLS | Dir. of Operations The Jim Horn family gathered for a photograph at home plate. | ALWS courtesy photo SHELBY, N.C. — The American Legion World Series (ALWS) Executive Committee once again delivered a memorable evening of baseball at Keeter Stadium as Wake Forest University defeated Appalachian State University 3–2 in the annual Jim Horn Tribute Game on Tuesday night. After a brief morning shower cleared, fans were treated to a beautiful evening f

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square File graphic | The Shelby Independent (Affects Local) – More than 1 million active, inactive and retired North Carolina public employees in the state retirement system could get pension benefit improvements such as a cost-of-living increase or one-time supplement. The Board of Trustees for the North Carolina Retirement Systems voted for the change that takes effect in 2027 and runs through 2032. The board’s new policy will direct how to dete

By Philip Jackson, public information officer | N.C. Forest Service N.C. Forest Service N.C. Forest Service – The N.C. Forest Service has lifted a ban on all open burning for 81 counties effective 8 a.m. Sunday, May 3. The statewide ban on open burning went into effect March 28 due to hazardous forest fire conditions, and the ban remains in effect for Alamance, Anson, Cabarrus, Chatham, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Iredell, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Moore, Ran

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Boiling Springs Town Hall and Police Department sign out by College Ave. | Chuck Thompson BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Have you checked your wallet for funny money lately? Counterfeit bills have shown up in Boiling Springs, and the Boiling Springs Police Department want you to be on the lookout for anything funny, or fishy when it comes to currency, as it could spread across the county. In a statement released earlier today, Thursday, Apr

Staff Reports | Grace Davis | Office of Congressman Moore The U.S. Capitol. File photo | Media by Wix WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the House passed legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security, the Senate Amendment to H.R. 7147, by voice vote. In this bill, Congressman Tim Moore secured $1,954,000 to build a new Cleveland County Emergency Operations Center. “Today, the House passed long-overdue funding for the Department of Homeland Security and made sure those who

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Video still from the livestream of the public City of Shelby Council Meeting on April 20. While many residents across the state, county and local municipalities have felt the heavy hand of recent high property taxes, The City of Shelby passed a resolution opposing any official property tax reform that may come from the North Carolina General Assembly later this year. At the beginning of the council meeting, a proclamation was made de

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square Media by Wix EDUCATION – Three community colleges in North Carolina used a portion of $1.25 million for Hurricane Helene mental health funds for birdwatching, succulents and rhinoceros-shaped stress balls. Blue Ridge Community College, Gaston College nor Wilkes Community College provided the Office of State Auditor with documents explaining how the expenditures qualified to be charged to hurricane-related expanded mental health support fund

Staff Reports | The Shelby Independent Westmoreland Printers, Inc. staff. | Courtesy photo Charlotte, NC — The Printing Industry of the Carolinas (PICA) announced that Westmoreland Printers, Inc. in Shelby, NC, won the coveted Athens Best Printing (Division A) Award. This is the highest award given to a printing company of its size. In addition, Westmoreland Printers received four Best of Category awards. The awards were announced on Saturday, April 18, at the 60th Diamo

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square A vehicle is refueled at a gas pump as evening light reflects off its surface. | Alan Wooten, The Center Square Affects Local – Forecast to take weeks not days for significant movement, a modicum of relief for traditional transportation energy prices has blown in with North Carolina’s weekend pollen. Monday’s average price statewide for a gallon of unleaded gasoline, according to AAA, was $3.89. That’s down from $3.90 a day earlier, $3.94

By Wes Westmoreland | The Sunday Column | Special to The Shelby Independent Westmoreland April 12 marks the 250th anniversary of a largely forgotten, but significant date in American history. On this date in 1776, the Fourth Provincial Congress of North Carolina met in Halifax and unanimously passed a measure instructing its delegates to the Continental Congress to vote to declare independence from Great Britain. With the Halifax Resolves, North Carolina became the first co

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square file graphic | the Shelby Independent Education – Fifty-four percent of North Carolina public school high school graduates passed at least one-college level course while still in high school, education officials said Thursday. “For those who have been around a moment and have gray hair or less hair, understand the magnitude of that number, that percentage,” first-term Democratic Superintendent Mo Green told members of the state school bo