A severe thunderstorm Tuesday afternoon in Burke and McDowell counties caused some damage and power outages. Downed trees and power lines were reported by the Morganton News Herald and McDowell News. The National Weather Service at Greenville-Spartanburg issued the severe thunderstorm for the two counties around 2pm.

A Nebo man is found dead over the Independence Day weekend. The body of 35 year old Dennis Keith Yelton was located in the roadway beside his vehicle on Macey Drive, Saturday morning. The McDowell County Sheriff's Office sent his body for an autopsy Tuesday. It was determined that Yelton died from natural causes. According to the Sheriff's Office, there is nothing to suggest that the death of Yelton of Wildlife Road was foul play.

The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has named Carlos Hernandez as the new superintendent at Avery-Mitchell Correctional Institution in Spruce Pine. Hernandez is a 24-year corrections veteran who has served as the assistant superintendent for custody and operations at Mountain View Correctional Institution since 2014. His career in 1992 as a correctional officer at the former Western Youth Institution in Morganton and has served in staff and supervisory positions at Marion and Alexander correctional institutions. Hernandez assumed his new duties this week. He succeeds Mike Ball, who retired.