The changing dining landscape is a reminder that even beloved local restaurants, deeply woven into the life of a community, operate in one of the most financially unforgiving corners of the economy.
Two hundred fifty years ago, the Second Continental Congress adopted a declaration that the 13 American colonies were no longer under British rule and were now “Free and Independent States.”
The city's Unified Development Ordinance project is far more than a rewrite of zoning regulations. It is an opportunity to examine how Morganton grows, where homes are built, how businesses develop, how neighborhoods evolve, and how the community preserves the qualities that make it unique.
Every year, local governments in Burke County go through a ritual that many residents never see, and few fully understand. That ritual is creating the budget for the next fiscal year.
More than a decade ago, The Industrial Commons started with a mission that might have sounded overly ambitious for a county still feeling the weight of shuttered mills and lost jobs.
Budget decisions have a direct impact on residents and demand transparency. When Valdese chose not to livestream the budget retreat held in April, most residents were left in the dark about financial decisions being debated.
The dollar amount can never fully capture the true worth of volunteer service. No calculation can measure the comfort of a hospice volunteer, the patience of a literacy tutor, or the quiet dignity of someone delivering meals to a homebound neighbor.
North Carolina says it values public education. Yet actions say the state expects our teachers to compete nationally while paying them at bargain wages.
Morganton is right to overhaul its development ordinances, but leaders erred by limiting early public access. Transparency and open engagement must guide the rewrite to build trust and ensure the community shapes its future.
Valdese’s budget retreat on Tuesday laid bare the difficult equation town leaders must solve. How can Valdese hold the line by maintaining core services while reshaping operations to a new financial reality?
With the emergence of delightful springtime weather, our residents and guests are likely to encounter more homeless people on streets, parks and sidewalks. While Burke’s collective programs are compassionate, are they coordinated enough? Is there a way to remove the visual distraction withou…
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