Council approved a small business loan for a new boutique and a new neighborhood-wide speed limit was put in effect during Monday night's regular Morganton City Council meeting. Unanimously, council approved a CDBG Small business loan for $15,000 with Alexander Brooke Boutique to help with inventory purchases. The boutique will serve as an independently owned women and children's clothing boutique that also offers embroidery services. The shop will be located on North Sterling Street and owned and operated by Seth Garrison and Brittanee Garrison. Other decision items included a neighborhood-wide city speed limit of 25 mph in the residential area that includes Crayton Street, Murphy Court, Poteat Street and Bickett Street. Council approved the decision unanimously. According to City Manager Sally Sandy, the speed limit will go into effect today, when workers change the signs. In other news, Food Matters Market was recognized for their award of best business retention, expansion or recruitment effort.

Burke County Public Schools ranks 21st on the Niche list of 2017 Best School Districts in North Carolina. The rating comes from k12.niche.com website and is based on reviews from students and parents as well as test scores, college readiness factors and teacher quality. The No.21 state ranking is out of 115 school districts. Other area rankings include Watauga County Schools at 3rd, Catawba County Schools 19th, and Avery County Schools 24th. Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools ranked 1st with Asheville City Schools 2nd.

A Marion man is charged with assault and kidnapping following a domestic dispute. 32-year-old Jesse James McKinney was charged with assault by strangulation, and assault inflicting serious injury. McKinney's girlfriend 30-year-old Brittany Bumgardner told McDowell officers that she and McKinney had been arguing when he allegedly punched, kicked, and strangled her. Reports say McKinney then locked her into a room thus preventing her from leaving. Bumgardner's mother then reportedly arrived and was able to remove her daughter to take her to the hospital. McKinney was additionally charged with first-degree kidnapping.

A Hickory man will serve at least 17 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder during Catawba County Superior Court on Monday. 26-year-old Maurice Centel Mayfield was given as active prison term of 17-21 years. Mayfield pleaded guilty to the November 20 2012, death of 35-year-old Billy Chad Dellinger.