The Burke County Grand Jury returned a true bill of indictment against 19-year-old Justin Sullivan Monday, in connection with the December 2014 death of 74-year-old John Bailey Clark. Burke County Sheriff 's Officers located Clark's body in a shallow grave near his home on Rose Carswell Road in Morganton December 18, 2014 during a welfare check. His apparent cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds to the head from a small-caliber firearm. Continued investigation of the case led to Sullivan, who also lived on Rose Carswell Road with his parents. Sullivan, a self-proclaimed Islamic convert, also faces federal charges. Those charges allege that he attempted to provide material aid to ISIL. He was arrested on those charges in June 2015. Sullivan is held at the Buncombe County Detention Center on the federal charges without bond. The Burke County Sheriff's Office and SBI are investigating the murder case with assistance from the FBI.

The District 4 seat in Morganton City Council will remain vacant after another tie vote after Monday night's regular meeting. The fourth vote for filling the District 4 council vacancy was suspended after another standstill, which led Councilman Forest Flemming to suggest having a special election. Sydney Simmons seconded this suggestion saying the vote should be left to the community. With a special election requiring a 45 day notice, there is no way a special election can be held before the March 15th vote. Council passed a resolution in support of the Connect NC bond, which will invest $2 billion in projects across the state. In Burke County, the bond will fund a new western campus for the NC School of Science and Math, repurpose the Western Youth Institute into a National Guard "readiness center, " projects at Western Piedmont Community College and improvements for Lake James State Park and South Mountain State Park, Council urged everyone to remember to vote in favor of the bond on March 15th.

Caldwell Commissioners Monday, adopted a resolution in support of the finalized Western Piedmont Regional Bicycle Plan. The Plan, which covers Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, and Catawba Counties was created in order to assist regional planners and DOT in the development of new and improved bicycle routes, pavement markins, and signage. Commissioners also authorized the county's Tax Administrator Monty Woods to advertise tax liens on delinquent accounts. The advertised tax liens will only apply towards real property within Caldwell County that currently has unpaid taxes for the 2015 fiscal year.

A Marion man faces multiple child sex offenses. The McDowell County Sheriff's Office Monday, charged 35 year old Edward Almond Buchanan. It is alleged that Buchanan sexually molested a female acquaintance for eight years, from the ages of 8 to 16. Buchanan's family members notified the Sheriff's Office of the incidents.