North Carolina

Helene relief bill that strips incoming governor of power could see veto override vote this week

Published

1 year ago

December 2, 2024

Helene relief bill that strips incoming governor of power could see veto override vote this week

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — This week, state lawmakers are expected to resume debate on SB 382 — the controversial bill that ties hundreds of millions of dollars in new disaster relief funding for Hurricane Helene to sweeping changes in state law.

The General Assembly is set to return Monday, where work on overriding Governor Cooper’s recent veto of the bill could begin.

Cooper vetoed SB 382 last week, calling the bill a “sham” and criticizing Republicans for tying relief to legal changes. Among other changes, SB 382 would change North Carolina election law — giving voters less time to fix issues with their provisional ballots — and strip certain powers away from the Governor and Attorney General. It includes $227 in new funding for Helene relief.

“Two months since Helene, there’s a lot of progress being made, but there’s still so far to go,” said Charity Honeycutt, a Burnsville native who has spent the last two months shuttling supplies and aid from Tennessee across the border into Western North Carolina. Those efforts have blossomed into a new non-profit, Mountain Strong.

SEE ALSO | 2 months after Helene, some Western North Carolina survivors move into temporary housing

“We’ve raised a substantial amount of money, but that doesn’t even you know, come close to, you know, dipping a toe and just what our community actually needs,” Honeycutt said.

Republicans have so far downplayed the political aspects of SB 382, saying they’re doing what they can to get help out West.

“We want to do this in a way where we’re certainly going to give them the funding that they need, but we want to make sure the funding is going towards putting people back in their homes, rebuilding businesses,” said Destin Hall, the newly chosen House Speaker.

Charity called the debate “frustrating”, but said it emboldens volunteers to do the hard work they’re focused on.

“They have their priorities, but that’s where the Appalachians have shown their resilience, honestly taking matters into their own hands and there’s been organizations like ours that have formed and are trying to get money into the hands of the people that need it most as quickly as possible.”

SEE ALSO | Some socially vulnerable communities taking longer to recover from Hurricane Helene

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North Carolina

Man arrested in months-long arson probe near North Carolina-Georgia line

Published

2 hours ago

March 12, 2026

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Man arrested in months-long arson probe near North Carolina-Georgia line

CHEROKEE COUNTY, N.C. — A man has been arrested after a months-long investigation into a series of intentionally set fires near the North Carolina-Georgia state line, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office says.

On March 10th investigators with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Murphy Police Department, the North Carolina Forest Service, and the Georgia Forest Service arrested 48-year-old Kevin James Roper of Blairsville, Georgia.

Roper is suspected of setting multiple fires in wooded and brush areas near the state line. Roper has been charged with 10 counts of intentionally setting fire to grass, brushlands and woodlands.

The investigation began in late December 2025 after several suspicious fires were reported along Tate Road, an area that straddles the state line between Cherokee County, North Carolina, and Union County, Georgia.

Because of the location of the incidents and the nature of the fires, the North Carolina Forest Service and Georgia Forest Service initiated a joint investigation.

Additional fires were reported in February 2026 in the Martins Creek Community.

On February 22nd, deputies with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office responded to one of the fires as part of the ongoing investigation.

On March 10th, the North Carolina Forest Service and the Georgia Forest Service requested assistance from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and Murphy Police Department in taking Roper into custody.

Investigators with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office made contact with Roper, who was taken into custody and transported to the Cherokee County Detention Center.

Roper was released after posting a $25,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in Cherokee County District Court on April 7th.

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North Carolina

Duarte girl kidnapped in 2020 at 5 years old found safe in North Carolina

Published

1 day ago

March 11, 2026

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Duarte girl kidnapped in 2020 at 5 years old found safe in North Carolina

A girl who was kidnapped from Duarte in 2020 when she was just 5 years old has been found safe in North Carolina.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said it found Karen Rojas, who is now 11, on Tuesday. She was enrolled in school under an alias, according to investigators.

Authorities said she was kidnapped on June 2, 2020.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services notified Washington County law enforcement that she may be in the state.

They coordinated with several agencies, located the girl and took her into protective custody.

“These are very rare occurrences to have such a positive outcome on such an old case as this, but it reminds us that through hard work, and dedication, and cooperation, stories with positive outcomes like these can happen,” the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post.

Due to the age of the child, further information was not immediately available.

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North Carolina

These 4 Western NC towns are among WorldAtlas favorites for 2026

Published

2 days ago

March 10, 2026

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These 4 Western NC towns are among WorldAtlas favorites for 2026

A new list from WorldAtlas named the publication’s top 10 favorite North Carolina towns of 2026, including several locations located in Western North Carolina.

Founded in 1994 by cartographer John Moen and his wife, Chris Woolwine-Moen, WorldAtlas publishes educational materials and articles on geography, sociology, demography, environment, economics, politics, and travel.

Previous Citizen Times articles have covered numerous mentions of Western North Carolina from WorldAtlas, including “idyllic” and “unpretentious” towns, scenic drives, a favorite downtown area, and more. In the new list, published March 9, WorldAtlas writers chose their all-time favorite North Carolina towns ― almost half of which were located in the western region of the state.

Here’s what WorldAtlas had to say about mountain North Carolina towns, plus the full list and more.

What to do in Banner Elk, N.C.

WorldAtlas noted the range of activities offered in Banner Elk throughout the year. The town sits in the Blue Ridge Mountains between the Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain ski resorts. Writers highlighted the following locations and activities in Banner Elk:

Wildcat Lake, which has a lifeguarded white-sand beach and is used for swimming, non-motorized boating and fishing for largemouth bass, trout, and bluegill
Grandfather Mountain Nature Museum, a museum located at Grandfather Mountain
The Mile High Swinging Bridge, the highest suspension footbridge in the United States, which visitors can cross on foot

What to do in Blowing Rock, N.C.

Also included on the WorldAtlas list, Blowing Rock takes its name from a rock formation where the wind appears to blow upward. The list highlighted the following locations and activities in Blowing Rock:

The town’s namesake, “Blowing Rock,” is a rock formation known for views of Johns River Gorge and the surrounding forest
Fishing, spelunking and rock climbing opportunities in the area
Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, also known locally as “Cone Park,” which has hiking trails and is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Memorial Park on Main Street, where town events and concerts often take place

What to do in Brevard, N.C.

Brevard, also known as the “Land of Waterfalls,” is home to more than 200 waterfalls located across Transylvania County. WorldAtlas highlighted the following locations and activities in Brevard:

Museums, trails, rock climbing and the surrounding area’s many waterfalls
Guided Jeep and hiking tours to view waterfalls throughout Transylvania County
Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas, a museum displaying artifacts from U.S. military conflicts
Transylvania Heritage Museum, a museum focused on local history and genealogy

What to do in Hot Springs, N.C.

Hot Springs’ name comes from the natural springs that attract visitors from across the state and region. The springs are commonly visited by hikers seeking relief after traveling along the Appalachian Trail, which runs through the town. WorldAtlas highlighted the following activities and events:

Kayaking on the French Broad River
Trailfest, a celebration of hiking typically held in April
French Broad River Festival, a celebration of the French Broad River held each year on the first weekend of May
White-water rafting and ziplining opportunities in the area
Fishing, skiing, sport shooting, golf, disc golf, biking and horseback riding opportunities throughout the area
A range of accommodations including campgrounds, privately owned cabins, apartments, suites and cottages, with options from basic to luxury experiences