UNC Health is the first healthcare institution in the nation to launch an Obstetrics and Gynecology Fellowship dedicated to rural women’s health. The new UNC School of Medicine program’s intent is not only to train physicians to provide high-quality care in rural settings but also to make it easier for women who live in North Carolina’s “maternity care deserts” to access the medical care they desperately need.

Downtown Kinston Revitalization Executive Director Leon Steele told City Council this week that while investment in the municipal service district is growing, abandoned and neglected buildings remain one of the community’s greatest obstacles.

“These structures are not only unattractive, they are unsafe,” Steele said. “They present liability risks, they drag down property values and they obstruct the growth we’re working so hard to achieve.”

The Kinston City Council’s most recent meeting blended recognition, sharp public criticism, and a major redevelopment proposal for one of the city’s largest industrial properties.

Notice is hereby given that the Town of La Grange has received an offer to purchase the following property:

Property: Town-owned real property located at 313 S. Caswell Street, La Grange, NC, identified as Parcel #15109. The property is approximately 0.74 acres and is currently zoned R-18 Residential.

My name is Rekia Harris, I am 33 years old, and I was born and raised right here in Kinston, NC. This city has always been home, but as I’ve gotten older and strived for more independence as a disabled citizen, I’ve found that Kinston limits me in ways that are both frustrating and disheartening.

Evans & Associates of Kinston and Lititz Mutual Insurance Company of Pennsylvania have once again partnered to present a matching donation to the Lenoir Community College Foundation in support of student scholarships.

The Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Association of Lenoir County (EMGV) is excited to announce the availability of its 2025 Horticulture Grant, designed to inspire educators in Lenoir County to bring hands-on gardening and environmental learning into the classroom.

David Buck of North Lenoir High School was competitively chosen by the American Battlefield Trust to be one of only 10 young leaders to “serve as the youth face and voice of the American Battlefield Trust” for a year.

Early Head Start slots are now available for children ages 1–3 years old (child must not turn 3 before August 30, 2025).

Margaret Lucile Davis, age 90, of Kinston, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 24, 2025, at Kitty Askins Hospice Center in Goldsboro, surrounded by the love and prayers of her family. Visitation will be held at Edwards Funeral Home on Thursday, August 28, 2025, beginning at 10:00 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Brian Rogers officiating. Interment will follow at Pinelawn Memorial Park in Kinston.

The Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce and the Lenoir Community College Small Business Center are excited to announce the launch of the ENC Nonprofit Roundtable, a new opportunity for local nonprofits to come together over a meal, learn from one another, and support each other to become more successful. 

The Amvets Chapter 1111, Women’s Auxiliary met to deliver homemade blankets to the veteran’s at the North Carolina Veterans Home in Kinston. These blankets have been made by the Women’s auxiliary members and are part of a commitment to provide each Veteran at the home a blanket to honor their service to the nation.

NOTICE the La Grange Town Council acting as the La Grange Board of Adjustment will conduct an evidentiary hearing at its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, September 8, 2025, in the Council Chambers at La Grange Town Hall, 203 S. Center St., La Grange, NC starting at 6:00 PM. The Variance request is described below:

After a case of West Nile virus was confirmed in Lenoir County last week, city and county officials outlined different approaches to mosquito control.

A long-vacant elementary school in Kinston has a new future after Kinston Teens purchased the historic Lewis School property.

A debt that has weighed on Kinston, La Grange and 30 other eastern North Carolina communities for more than four decades has finally been retired.

The North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency (NCEMPA) first issued $3.2 billion in debt in 1982 to buy ownership stakes in power plants, securing long-term electricity for its member cities. That decision gave towns like Kinston more control over power supply, but it also left them with some of the highest electric rates in North Carolina.

Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter and staying connected with the latest news from District Nine and our efforts in the General Assembly.

The following marriage licenses were issued in Lenoir County:

Early Head Start slots are now available for children ages 1–3 years old (child must not turn 3 before August 30, 2025).

“With a decade of dedicated service to the department and a wealth of institutional knowledge, Deputy Chief Lee is a clear choice for this position,” Fire Chief Jackson said. “His energy and passion for the work will be invaluable as he steps into this new leadership role.”

On August 20, 2025, the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit, SCARR Unit, and North Carolina Probation/Parole conducted an investigation at a residence on Lang Skinner Road in La Grange. The effort stemmed from an ongoing narcotics case and included serving an arrest warrant on Jennifer Grady, 38, of Lenoir County.

Jackie Gray Mewborn, 80, was gently carried home in the early hours of Saturday, August 23, 2025, wrapped in the love of her family and the care of those who had walked alongside her in her final chapter at Helping Hands Assisted Living.

The City of Kinston has won a $90,000 judgment in its long-running contract dispute with Social Beverage Company, the operator of Social House Vodka.

The typical school bus is around 40-feet long and weighs in the neighborhood of 30,000 pounds – without passengers. Buses are huge and can be unwieldy. The last thing any school bus driver needs is distractions of any kind.

The following birth certificates were issued in Lenoir County:

The Instructional Liaison - Jones County fosters the development of positive relationships between Lenoir Community College, Jones Senior High School, and courses that meet the broader needs of the community and industry.

The following students have been named to the President’s and Dean’s List at Lenoir Community College for Summer Semester 2025.

From July 22 to July 31,2025, a local high school Health Science teacher at Jones Senior High School, Mrs. Suddona Murrell, RN embarked on an unforgettable adventure with eight students and four adults, traveling abroad with EF Tours. The group explored three of Europe’s most iconic destinations—London, England; Paris, France; and Barcelona, Spain.

The following is a list of people who have recently passed away in Lenoir County: