Burke County

Severe thunderstorms and heat advisories were active across multiple counties in the Charlotte region on July 28, 2026, with alerts expiring by 8 p.m. Flash flood and severe thunderstorm warnings expired earlier that day. The storms posed risks of damaging winds, hail, flooding, and potential tornadoes.

A Granite Falls man is facing charges related to an alleged burglary and assault in Burke County, North Carolina. Deputies responded to a reported shooting with injuries at a location in Connelly Springs.

Kenneth Potter was charged with murder after a man was shot in the chest near Hickory, according to Burke County deputies. A 911 caller reported a prior fight at the scene before the fatal shooting. Investigators say their probe is ongoing.

Jamar Propst and Tosha Lewis are charged with two counts of first-degree murder and felony conspiracy in Burke County, linked to the 2008 murder of Eddie Greene. Human remains identified as Raheim Murray and potentially his wife Carla were found near Simpson Park, with the suspects denied bond.

A man and woman were charged with double murder after two sets of human remains were found along a Burke County trail. The first victim was identified as 31-year-old Raheim Murray, while the second remains unidentified. Both suspects, Jamar Propst and Tosha Lewis, were arrested following a joint investigation with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.

A man was charged after an alleged fight led to a fatal shooting in Burke County. Deputies responded to the 7800 block of River Rock Road around 10:40 p.m. on July 25.

Two people have been arrested after human remains were discovered near a nature trail in Burke County, North Carolina. Deputies from the sheriff's office and Glen Alpine Police Department responded to a suspicious activity report on July 20 in the 600 block of Hennessee Street in Glen Alpine.

A Newton man was charged with felony concealment of death after a body was found in Burke County, North Carolina. The body was identified as 43-year-old Amanda Brooke Williams, and the investigation into her 'suspicious death' is ongoing.

A flood watch was issued for multiple counties in the Charlotte region starting July 22, with heavy rains expected through Thursday evening. Counties under the watch include Anson, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Richmond, Rowan, and Stanly. The watch will expire Thursday evening for most areas but remain through Friday morning for Anson, Richmond, and Stanly counties.

Butch’s BBQ & Breakfast, a Burke County barbecue restaurant, will permanently close after 25 years in business. Owner Brian Goldstein expressed gratitude to the community and employees, emphasizing the restaurant’s commitment to supporting staff during the transition.

A 22-year-old Lexington man, Ja’von Marquise Miller, was arrested after allegedly assaulting a Burke County deputy during an attempted carjacking. Miller, already wanted on felony kidnapping charges, faces additional counts including assault on a law enforcement officer and robbery. Two juveniles involved were unharmed and reunited with their family.

McCain Funeral Home and Cremations in Morganton, Burke County, now offers pet cremation services, including wooden urns, keepsake lockets with pet hair, and obituary writing to help families honor their pets. The service was introduced due to growing community demand.

A suspicious death occurred overnight in Burke County, prompting an investigation by the Burke County Sheriff's Office.

Diamond Lipscomb and Jennifer Halstead were charged with trafficking in methamphetamine and possession with intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine after Burke County sheriff’s deputies seized 27 pounds of the drug. Lipscomb fled into the woods during a traffic stop in Long View before being arrested, while Halstead was arrested during a separate traffic stop in Connelly Springs. Both had outstanding warrants for drug-related offenses at the time.

Two suspects were arrested and charged with Trafficking in Methamphetamine and Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Methamphetamine after over 27 pounds of methamphetamine were seized by the Burke County Sheriff's Office during an investigation into a drug trafficking organization.

U.S. Marshals arrested Diamond Lipscomb, a man wanted in Burke County on trafficking and felony charges, after he fled into the woods in Long View. A viewer provided a photo of the search operation, and residents reported a shelter-in-place alert was issued.

Chicken products spilled across a Burke County road near the westbound onramp of Burkemont Avenue around 3 a.m. Friday. Morganton Public Safety responded and completed cleanup by 5 a.m., according to a Facebook post.

Heat advisories were issued for nearly all Charlotte-region counties, effective at noon on Thursday, July 2, until 8 p.m. Weather officials warn of heat index values reaching 105-108°F, risking heat-related illnesses.

Congressman Tim Moore announced over $4.7 million in federal funding from FEMA for Hurricane Helene recovery projects in North Carolina's 14th District. The funding will support debris removal, infrastructure repairs, and utility restoration in Morganton, Burke County, and Rutherford County.

18-year-old Austin Washington drowned at Lake James in June, prompting loved ones to advocate for water safety awareness. Friends and family, including his best friend Armando Aviles, are mourning his death and raising funds for his funeral through a GoFundMe.

Showers and thunderstorms, including potential severe storms with damaging winds and hail, are affecting the Carolinas through July 27, 2026. Severe weather warnings were issued for specific counties in North Carolina, with safety advisories from Duke Energy and the National Weather Service.

Raleigh Garner Rogers, 64, is charged with felony first-degree statutory sex offense in Burke County after a June 15 sexual assault report involving a victim under 13. He is held without bond following an arrest warrant served on Thursday and a Friday court appearance, with a next hearing scheduled for July 17.

Crews searched a lake in Burke County after a missing swimmer report, a suspected drunk driver led a police chase following a kidnapping in Lincoln County, and a woman escaped a Charlotte fire by jumping from her apartment. The Charlotte region also faces rising heat, humidity, and storm chances.

Officials in Burke County are seeking information about a possible missing swimmer at Lake James. Paramedics, North Carolina State Parks, and multiple fire departments conducted a search but did not find anyone. Authorities are asking the public to report any missing persons connected to the lake.

A small plane crashed during takeoff at Foothills Regional Airport in Burke County, North Carolina, Wednesday. An instructor and a student were on board, with the instructor sustaining minor injuries and the student unharmed. The investigation has been transferred from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol to the Federal Aviation Administration.

A single-engine plane veered off the runway during takeoff at Foothills Regional Airport in Morganton, Burke County, resulting in a pilot injury. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol reported the incident.

A deer crashed into a Burke County restaurant in Morganton, N.C., on June 23. Officials safely guided the deer out through the back door without injury, and it is reported to be doing well.

Water was restored to over 100 homes in Burke County after a month-long outage caused by a failed community well pump during a lightning storm in May. Residents previously relied on a nearby creek for basic needs, and the Pine Mountain Property Association requested $1,000 from each resident to cover repair costs.

A bomb threat prompted the evacuation of a Food Lion grocery store in Morganton, Burke County, N.C., on June 16 at 6:45 p.m. Authorities conducted a thorough search, found no suspicious items, and allowed businesses to reopen. The source of the threat remains under investigation.

David Walbert, an advocate for fair elections, expresses concern over the Supreme Court's weakening of the Voting Rights Act and President Trump's recent fraud claims. He references a 1982 case in Burke County, Georgia, where structural electoral barriers prevented Black voters from electing officials despite comprising 40% of voters. The article highlights historical and ongoing issues suppressing Black political representation in the South.

Noah Groover, 22, is charged with attempted first-degree murder in Caldwell County after allegedly shooting his roommate during an argument over noise. He was arrested during a traffic stop in Burke County and faces a $1 million bond, with an additional $300,000 bond for failing to appear in court on a previous felony charge.

Emergency crews are conducting a large-scale water rescue operation at Lake James in Burke County, west of the Duke Energy water intake at Linville Dam. Multiple callers have reported the incident.