Good morning, Hickory.

Jessie Allen Crawford was sentenced to life without parole after a Catawba County jury found him guilty of first-degree murder in the 2021 shooting of Iris Ranae Robinson during a cookout + the nearly two-week trial ended on May 22, providing a measure of closure for her family.

31-year-old Kelly Sunshine Mitchell from Travis Road SE in Conover was arrested Tuesday, May 27 by Maiden Police Officers and is charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, felony maintaining a vehicle, dwelling for controlled substance, possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver schedule II controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia (she is held at Catawba County Detention Facility without bond and has a District Court appearance scheduled for today).

41-year-old Ritchie Alan Souther of Granite Falls was arrested on May 26 after a traffic stop on Hickory Boulevard revealed 1.5 grams of fentanyl, 20 alprazolam pills, and 3.4 grams of methamphetamine—he was booked on charges related to controlled substances and is set for a District Court appearance today with a $100,000 secured bond.

North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson updated his investigation into PowerSchool’s 2024 data breach, noting that the U.S. Department of Justice charged 19-year-old Massachusetts college student Matthew Lane with offenses including cyber extortion conspiracy & aggravated identity theft. Lane entered a plea deal on May 20 and affected students and staff have until July 31 to enroll in free identity protection.

Today, the State Highway Patrol is promoting safe driving after Memorial Day weekend by using education and enforcement to reduce collisions from speeding, impaired and distracted driving.

The agency is partnering with the Governor’s Highway Safety Program to run a Click It or Ticket campaign—focused on seat belt and child restraint violations—until June 1.

North Carolina drivers will follow new license renewal rules in 2025—House Bill 821 extends the period for expired licenses to ease DMV backlogs and modernize the process.

Trauma cases may rise during summer holidays, so the American Red Cross urges Type O blood and platelet donors to help hospitals save lives.

Hickory residents can donate today at Valley Hills Mall from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. + additional local drives are set to support the urgent need.

On-Site Tour of Senior Living Facilities

9 a.m. - 7 p.m. — Greens at Hickory — Free entry — Explore award-winning senior living facilities committed to quality care and engaging activities.

AWKN Conference

7 PM – 1 PM — Hickory Metro Convention Center & Visitors Bureau — Check event page for pricing — Big adventures await in Hickory, showcasing the local community's heritage and outdoor activities.

ACCW Live Wrestling Event

6-9 p.m. — Brookford Community Building — Tickets available now — Experience an epic Steel Cage Showdown for the Apple City Championship in Hickory.

Furniture Manufacturing Expo

10 a.m. – 4 p.m. — Hickory Metro Convention Center & Visitors Bureau — Complimentary tickets available — Discover the latest innovations and solutions for furniture manufacturing.

Halogen Lights & Pseudo Cowboys Concert

7-10 p.m. — The Premier — Tickets available — Experience a night of homemade rock from Hickory's finest musical talents.

CAPM Certification Training

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Hickory, North Carolina — 100% Money Back Guarantee — Engage in 32 hours of interactive classroom training for the CAPM certification with expert guidance.