The Sunday Column, by Chuck Thompson OPINION / HUMOR – Recently, I learned that in North Carolina it is illegal to play bingo for more than 5 hours in a row… My question is, why would anyone play bingo more than 5 hours in a row and what happened at the 5 hour mark to come up with that rule? So at 4 hours and 55 minutes, everything is fine, but at five hours Gertrude had a fit of rage and flipped the tables over? What’s with the 5 hours… Personally, I think it should be ill

Staff Reports | Cleveland County Sheriff's Office A major multi-agency investigation involving Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, Gaston County Sheriff’s Office, and Gastonia Police Department has resulted in the disruption of a large-scale drug trafficking organization operating from Dallas, Texas to Gastonia, North Carolina. The combined efforts of these agencies led to the seizure of 44 kilos of crystal methamphetamine, valued at approximately $2.6 million on the street. T

By David Beasley | The Center Square contributor Tier 1 counties are the most economically distressed. The tier system is used to direct state grant programs and incentives to counties that are the most in need of economic development. For example, companies creating jobs in Tier 1 counties can receive a higher percentage of incentives. Graphic by The Shelby Independent (The Center Square) – Eighteen counties either have changed tiers in the annual release of economic he

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square (The Center Square) – Ahead of Giving Tuesday, the annual global philanthropic Tuesday after Thanksgiving, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall said overall giving in North Carolina is up $21 million to more than $48.1 million for licensed fundraisers for charities. Charities netted more than $35.8 million of the overall giving for their programs, Marshall said in a release about the annual Charitable Solicitation Licensing Division Annual Re

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent In an exclusive local interview, Congressman Tim Moore, of the 14 District, spoke with the Shelby Independent, discussing issues that affect both the district (especially Cleveland County) and the entire nation. From the the topic of the government shutdown, to the murder of Iryna Zarutska, holding judges and magistrates accountable for allowing violent repeat offenders back on the streets – an issue that can affect any of us here in

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins speaks at the Department of Agriculture in Washington on June 12, 2025. Photo: Tom Witham / U.S. Department of Agriculture via Flickr (The Center Square) – North Carolinians receiving food assistance benefits from the federal government are yet to learn when and how their reapplication process will work. Or, according to a published report Thursday, if they even will have to reapply. In the interim

By Ron Humphries | Guest Opinion Humphries North Carolina's school calendar law, established in 2004, required public schools to start the academic year no earlier than the Monday closest to August 26. The original aim was to support tourism in the coastal counties. However, as time has passed, it has generated much debate about its adverse effects on education and community needs across the state, particularly in economically challenged rural counties with greater workforce

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 (The Center Square) – Transportation energy costs for the overwhelming majority of North Carolinians are rising as much as 10 cents in the past month with Thanksgiving travel about to begin. Nearly 82 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and Dec. 1, the time defined by the American

By Alan Wooten | From our partners at The Center Square Courtesy file photo (The Center Square) – Supply has increased and prices, in some cases, will be less this year for live cut Christmas trees from North Carolina. The nation’s No. 2 producer – 1 in 5 of all grown in America by more than 900 farmers overseeing 53 million trees on more than 33,000 acres come from the state – won’t be plagued by a hurricane disrupting the industry. The pitch from farmers is the offer of a f

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent The Cleveland County Board of Education during their meeting Monday night, Nov. 10, 2025 as they weighed their decisions on the school calendar for the 2026-27 school year. Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent The Cleveland County Schools Board of Education voted in a contested 5-4 ballot Monday evening to approve the Calendar Option A which is a parent and staff favorite, and violates state law. Cleveland County Schools is jus

Staff Reports | PCA Pinnacle Classical Academy's elementary school and middle school are among the best in the state, according to the newly released U.S. News Best K-8 Schools Rankings for 2026. Pinnacle Classical Academy's middle school ranks in the top 3% of middle schools in North Carolina (#31 out of 1,362 middle schools). Pinnacle Classical Academy's elementary school ranks in the top 9% (#192 out of 2,142 elementary schools). Earlier this year, U.S. News & World Rep

By Alan Wooten | From our partners at The Center Square The North Carolina Legislative Building, home to the General Assembly, stands on Jones Street in Raleigh, N.C. Alan Wooten | The Center Square (The Center Square) – Legislators in North Carolina have been called back into session by Gov. Josh Stein to address Medicaid funding. The first-term Democratic leader exercised the gubernatorial authority not used in seven years with the two-year state budget still unfinished

Press release | North Carolina State Government via Cleveland County On Nov. 5, the federal government directed the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and other states to issue November 2025 Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) benefits at 35% below the maximum allotment levels. This change affects all households receiving FNS (formerly known as SNAP) benefits in North Carolina. What This Means for FNS Recipients" Because of the federal directive, mo

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent courtesy file photo Next year’s school calendar could potentially be decided at the next Cleveland County Schools Board of Education public meeting, Monday, Nov. 10. On the decision block are three different calendars, which vary in start dates, teacher workdays and end of semester before the holiday / winter / Christmas break. Option A, which is the popular choice among parents, violates state law and is considered illegal. A viola

By Annie Dance | From our partners at WCABnews.com Lake Lure Town Commissioners meeting. Courtesy photo | WCABnews.com The long-anticipated restoration of Lake Lure is almost complete, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expected to finish dredging and repair work by November 20. Town officials say the milestone marks a turning point after years of storm recovery and construction that have reshaped the lakefront. Mayor Carol Pritchett announced during the November coun

By David Beasley | From our partners at The Center Square (The Center Square) – A new health insurance program for small businesses in North Carolina was unveiled Tuesday with the promise of lower group rates than are offered by individual policies. The program, called Carolina Healthworks, is described as a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” offered by Blue Cross North Carolina and the North Carolina Chamber. It was authorized by the Legislature and implemented with hel

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Tuesday's elections across municipalities in Cleveland County brought about new changes, familiar faces retained their seats, and also some questions, such as who won the Lattimore mayoral race? The town of Lawndale held a mixed beverage election, which resulted in a tie, with exactly 31 votes for, and 31 votes against. But the startling, yet somewhat expected, story about Tuesday was the low turnout of for local elections. Only 7% o

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square file photo (The Center Square) – Government operations in North Carolina using only rainy day funds would last 41.5 days, says analysis by the Pew Research Center. The insight said the funds are 11.4% of $3.61 billion in spending. The total days is a decrease of 17.8, fifth most from the previous year. Pew said in October the balance was $3.62 billion. Additionally, first-term Republican state Treasurer Brad Briner told the Carolina Journal

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square North Carolina state flag file photo (The Center Square) – Savings of North Carolina taxpayer money over the next eight years is $10.75 million through the sale of limited obligation refunding bonds through an underwriting group led by San Francisco-headquartered Wells Fargo. First-term Republican Treasurer Brad Briner said the average of $1.34 million per year is another in the step of “always looking for ways to make the most of taxpa

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Moore praised the Boy Scouts from Matthews who were traveling through Cleveland County on their way to Camp Grimes when they saw flames coming from the side of Cavalry's Cross Church. Courtesy photo In his weekly newsletter, U.S. Rep. Tim Moore, 14th Congressional District, which includes Cleveland County, lauded the quick reaction of boy scouts traveling through Upper Cleveland on their way to Camp Grimes. The teenagers saw flames