Morganton residents presented City Council with a citizen-led campaign demanding action on persistent odors. Clear the Air Morganton's petition, interactive reporting website and formal requests seek an investigation, public accountability and lasting solutions.
Foothills Regional Airport reports rising fuel sales, strong hangar demand and progress on major construction projects, while unexpected costs, a pending federal sewer grant and economic development opportunities remain important issues for Burke County.
Monday was a long evening for the Caldwell County Schools Board of Education as 18 speakers shared their sentiments on the potential closure of Kings Creek School.
Burke County's 2026 early voting surpassed 2022 totals by 13.9%, with 20,277 ballots reported. Explore party registration trends, precinct participation, historical comparisons and candidate profiles in The Paper's comprehensive Election 2026 coverage.
Morganton stinks. Not every minute of every day, but frequently enough and intensely enough that locals are complaining to the Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ), and they have been since January.
With diesel costing more than $5 per gallon, Burke County Public Schools’ (BCPS) transportation department’s fuel expenses have shot up from about $17,000 every 10 to 12 days to $38,000.
Lenoir is breaking out the crystal ball, planning decades into the future to form a comprehensive assessment detailing water and wastewater priorities — a plan that could cost the city nearly $359.3 million over the next several decades, should it tackle all the projects.
Over the next two years, the Granite Falls Fire Department is going to see nearly a complete overhaul, and as of now, not a dime of local match dollars will be required, according to Fire Chief Brian Bennett.
A Norfolk Southern train derailment that injured two crew members and halted rail traffic in Morganton for two days earlier this month remains under investigation, but a local advocacy group says the accident has not changed its work supporting passenger service through the city.
A countywide property revaluation doesn’t automatically mean higher tax bills for Burke County homeowners, and the document commissioners are preparing to approve won’t determine how much residents pay.
The Burke County Commissioners’ decision to enter an agreement with the City of Morganton and Western Carolina Developers to expand the Clover Ridge subdivision received resident pushback on Oct. 19, with concerns raised about flooding from a nearby creek.
Declining student enrollment, mounting school budget pressures, and new opportunities for workforce training dominated discussions Tuesday as Caldwell County's commissioners, school board, and community college trustees gathered for their annual joint meeting.
Officials in Morganton and Drexel said recent hurricane-related overflow spills of an estimated 870,000 gallons of sewage and floodwater were expected to have minimal environmental impact on local waterways, but the overflows underscore the need for upgrades.
It is now official: Constructing a combination police and fire station in Valdese will cost no more than $10,830,000 with a contingency fund of $600,000.
Commented