Caldwell County

Nathaniel Byrd, a former youth coach in Caldwell County, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison and 30 years of supervised release for receiving child sexual abuse material. The sentence was announced by the U.S. attorney for the Western District of North Carolina after Byrd pleaded guilty and admitted downloading the material following a phone seizure during a search at his home in Hudson.

The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office is seeking public assistance to locate a 43-year-old registered sex offender named Ruben Ramirez. Ramirez is wanted for failing to change his address as required by law. The public can report information by calling the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office or CrimeStoppers.

Two men from Caldwell County drowned at Holden Beach on Sunday. The victims were identified as Daniel Roberts (46) and Dylan Roberts (20), both from Lenoir. Dylan Roberts worked at Town Tavern of Blowing Rock, where coworkers shared a message on Facebook requesting prayers and support.

A rabid fox was found at a home in southern Caldwell County. This marks the second confirmed rabies case in the county this year.

Caldwell County Assistant District Attorney Richard Sitton was fired after he and Caldwell County Judge Hoppy Haden entered into separate pre-sale agreements for their neighboring properties related to a potential data center land deal.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 13 individuals in Caldwell County at Wilson Creek for being in the country illegally. Many of those detained had criminal histories, including DUI convictions and illegal entry. Wilson Creek is a popular summer swimming destination for families from Charlotte.

The Texas Department of Public Safety added Ruben Calzada Hernandez to its '10 Most Wanted Criminal Illegal Immigrants List' due to a child sexual assault charge in Caldwell County. Hernandez is being sought by authorities in connection with the case.

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.

Three wanted suspects, including a man on Burke County’s Most Wanted list, were arrested after deputies served warrants at a Connelly Springs home. The individuals, Jamie Lester Lynn, Joshua Matthew Sigmon, and Alexander Dewayne Weaver, were taken into custody without incident and face felony charges related to theft and drug possession.

Irene Flores, a 60-year-old Granite Falls man, was convicted of statutory rape and incest and sentenced to up to 23 years in North Carolina prison, facing deportation.

A swim beach in Alexander County, North Carolina, reopened after over 6,000 gallons of untreated wastewater spilled into Lake Hickory's Wittenburg Access area due to a pump station equipment failure. Water quality tests showed slightly elevated bacteria levels, but officials confirmed the beach would remain open through the week.

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.

Rural Texas is experiencing declining Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrollment despite statewide increases, with exurban counties seeing a 5% drop. Nationally, ACA Marketplace enrollments fell by over one million in 2026 due to higher costs after enhanced tax credits expired, pushing average monthly premiums up 58% and deductibles over $1,000. Rural areas face heightened challenges, including shifts to lower-tier plans or dropping coverage altogether.

Over 6,000 gallons of untreated wastewater spilled into Lake Hickory near the Wittenburg Access boat ramp due to a pump station equipment failure. The beach was temporarily closed, and water quality monitoring is ongoing. Officials reported the equipment has been repaired.

A driver has died following a head-on crash on US-321 in Caldwell County, as reported by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

A fatal head-on collision on U.S. Highway 321 in Caldwell County resulted in one death and one injury. Marvin Wayne Anderson, 65, died at the scene, while Corbin Ray Mcghinnis, 18, sustained minor injuries. The crash, involving a 2008 Honda and 2015 Nissan, occurred when Anderson’s vehicle was traveling the wrong way in the southbound lane, but authorities found no charges to file.

A 12-year-old drowned in Wilson Creek in Caldwell County around 4 p.m. Saturday near Craig Creek Road and Brown Mountain Beach Road. Caldwell County had previously warned against swimming in parts of the creek, and the incident has raised questions about whether the child was swimming at the time.

The Martindale Community Library in Caldwell County, Texas, is addressing the digital divide by offering free Digital Lift Navigator classes to older residents. The program provides Samsung tablets, mobile hotspots, and six-month training to improve digital literacy, focusing on internet navigation, medical resources, and email setup.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein announced $4 million in infrastructure grants for rural communities, expected to generate $126.2 million in investment and 396 jobs. Projects include Gaston County's $272,000 grant for a building reuse creating 34 jobs and Rockingham County's $400,000 grant for Talalay Global, Inc., which will create 52 jobs.

The Travis County District Attorney's office dismissed an assault charge against a man accused of running over slain Caldwell County deputy constable Aaron Armstrong's arm outside a North Austin club in January.

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.

An explosion in a Caldwell County car, caused by an aerosol can and a lit cigarette, hospitalized two people with burns. The incident occurred in Gamewell, resulting in significant vehicle damage and witnesses reporting feeling the blast.

A child sprayed a flammable aerosol can inside a vehicle in Caldwell County while an adult was smoking, causing an explosion that resulted in one person being hospitalized with burns and the car being heavily damaged. Firefighters responded to the incident at Gamewell Superette around 7:30 p.m. Thursday, with two people, including the child, present during the explosion.