30+ Arrested in Western NC Drug Bust

Officials announced this week that multiple law enforcement agencies arrested more than 30 people associated with a major drug trafficking operation in Western North Carolina and parts of South Carolina.

Dubbed “Operation Uptown Funk,” the bust seized more than $175,000, over 30 pounds of drugs, and 20 firearms. It involved cooperation between Drug Enforcement Administration agents, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and authorities in Henderson, Buncombe, Haywood, and Transylvania counties in North Carolina, as well as Greenville and Spartanburg counties in South Carolina.

Detectives working on the year long investigation “conducted extensive surveillance, investigated numerous overdoses, and dedicated countless hours to building a comprehensive case” against the drug network, according to a statement released by the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office.

House Party Arrest Made, 2nd Suspect Wanted

The Catawba County Sheriff’s Office arrested 20-year-old Garon Nathaniel Killian of Lenoir Tuesday for attempted first-degree murder in connection with a weekend house party shooting that led to the death of 58-year-old Shawn Patrick Hood and injured 11 others.

At his court appearance Wednesday, Killian was granted a $200,000 bond, which he posted. He was placed under electronic monitoring and given a court-ordered curfew.

Authorities are now searching for a second suspect, Toland Huff Jr., who is also wanted for attempted murder and is considered armed and dangerous.

Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) is investigating whether underage drinking occurred at the party. Authorities are also looking into whether the party, which was advertised on social media, was a paid event.

Freedom to Carry NC Act Advances

The Senate’s Freedom to Carry NC Act, which would allow concealed carry without a permit for individuals 18 and older, narrowly passed the House Judiciary 2 Committee in a 6–5 vote Tuesday.

Backed by Republican leadership, the bill would make North Carolina the 30th constitutional carry state and the 10th state to extend coverage to 18-year-olds.

The bill would also increase the public safety employee death benefit to $150,000 and direct the UNC Board of Governors to create a scholarship program for children of law enforcement, correctional officers, or first responders permanently disabled in the line of duty.

Democratic Gov. Josh Stein suggested he might veto the bill if it passes in the House. “If it doesn’t make us safer—and the previous version certainly did not—I cannot support it,” Stein said Tuesday.

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➤ Statewide: A text message scam posing as the Department of Motor Vehicles is targeting North Carolina drivers, falsely requesting payments or personal information. (See Details)

➤ Central NC: The National Hurricane Center said a coastal weather system off the Southeast now has a 0% chance of becoming a tropical storm, but it could still drop an inch or more of rain along the I-95 corridor today. (More)

➤ Wake County Public School System voted Tuesday to restrict cell phone use for elementary and middle schoolers during school hours starting in July. High schoolers can use phones between classes, at lunch, or with a teacher’s permission. (More)

➤ Raleigh: A possible military explosive was safely removed Tuesday from a home on Forestville Road by a military ordnance disposal unit, with help from the Raleigh Police Bomb Squad. (More)

➤ Greensboro: City leaders are surveying residents about the possibility of establishing a nightlife ordinance that would aim to curb crime by targeting nightclubs and bars with ABC permits. (More)

➤ Outer Banks: A heat map created by NC State’s Institute for Transportation Research and Education shows peak travel times for the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry, helping summer travelers avoid long waits. (See Map)

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➤ The family of former NCCU basketball player Devin Butts has filed a lawsuit against the school, claiming his death during an offseason workout in 2023 was preventable. (More)

➤ Former Duke men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski called Grant Hill the best player to ever play for Duke, while Christian Laettner was the most accomplished. Meanwhile, Cooper Flagg was his pick for the top freshman in program history. (More)

➤ The Hickory Crawdads baseball team honored former bullpen catcher Shawn Hood, who was killed in last weekend’s Catawba County mass shooting. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NHL | NCAASB | Soccer | Tennis

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➤ The 2025 Coastal Entrepreneur Awards honored 11 innovative Coastal North Carolina companies in biotech, tech, manufacturing, and more. Frontier Scientific Solutions won top honors as Coastal Entrepreneur of the Year for its temperature-controlled pharmaceutical logistics work. (Watch Video)

➤ Reidsville’s City Council is considering a proposal to create a social district that would cover Williams Street to West Morehead Street, and South Main Street to Southwest Market Street. (More)

➤ Tidal Real Estate Partners will transform the iconic circular Holiday Inn in downtown Raleigh, a skyline fixture since 1969, into a boutique hotel called Hotel Indigo. There’s currently no set timeline for the project. (More)

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➤ Protesters disrupted a Mecklenburg County Commission meeting Tuesday night by allegedly releasing crickets inside the chamber, prompting a cleaning crew to vacuum them up. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, Mecklenburg County inmates now have access to a state-of-the-art, soundproof music studio funded by a donation from the Tim Bergling Foundation, which is named after the late artist better known as Avicii. (More)

➤ NCDOT will use rock from two Pisgah National Forest sites to rebuild a section of I-40 damaged by Hurricane Helene, thanks to a temporary federal land transfer that allows the extractions. (More)

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How many major hurricanes will hit North Carolina this year?

1. At least three
2. No more than two
3. One at most
4. None

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever been in a dust storm?

1. No: 44%
2. Yes: 34%
3. Depends on how you define it: 22%

Why did North Carolina schoolchildren gather walnut shells in support of World War I efforts?

Show me the answer