THE SHELBY INDEPENDENT

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Some candidates watched the results at The Cleveland Volunteer Fire Dept. Tuesday night. Top vote-getters, Danny Blanton speaks to Republican primary commissioner winner Wayne King, March 3, 2026. file photo. Caroline Eason, July 2025. Shelby Independent. This news story has been updated to include Eason’s comments. SHELBY – Of the 68,699 registered voters in Cleveland County, 11,806 (17%) participated in an unbelievably historic ha

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square The North Carolina Legislative Building, home to the General Assembly, stands on Jones Street in Raleigh, N.C. Photo: Alan Wooten / The Center Square (The Center Square) – State budget negotiations have stalled between North Carolina Republican leaders in the General Assembly and the calendar year appears headed to an end without a new two-year spending plan. The budget by state law was due July 1 and Wednesday represented Day 114. Lawmakers

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Don Brown, pictured at the Fair, with several candidates, some currently in office. From left,...

From left, Senate candidate Michael Whatley, N.C. House Rep. Paul Scott, N.C. Senator Ted Alexander and N.C. House Rep. Kelly Hastings at...

Cooper will be the sixth former governor of the state to try for the U.S. Senate. One from each major party has lost

Hunt, arguably a patriarch of the state party, broke ground as the first two-term governor and remains the only politician to do it twice.