WINTER STORM UPDATE, PRISON SENTENCES, SEX OFFENSE ARREST | WHKY Full News, FRI. 1/23/26

In the Friday edition of the WHKY News, in top stories, the Hickory Metro and North Carolina continue to brace for an incoming winter storm. Governor Josh Stein and state officials including Director of Emergency Management Will Ray and Transportation Secretary Daniel Johnson held a news briefing today to discuss preparations. David Cedrone reports on local preparations for the storm. The Hickory Salvation Army Shelter of Hope at 780 3rd Avenue Place SE is planning to go into white flag status beginning Friday evening and continue until it is safe for our shelter residents and our community non-residents. In the crime report, a Conover woman received a prison sentence for meth trafficking. A Hickory man was sentenced to prison in a drug case in Catawba County. Authorities in Burke County report a sex offense arrest. WHKY’s David Cedrone has details on a pair of Caldwell County arrests. Also, more details have been released in a case involving cocaine trafficking allegations. In Local Sports, Jason Savage has high school basketball results along with Appalachian State men’s basketball. In Community Focus Rob Eastwood sat down with a local business owner to discuss a wellness company in Conover. Rob spoke with Billie Barringer, co-owner of Evexia, located in downtown Conover. The Catawba County Board of Commissioners met in regular session this week and voted not to rezone property that was proposed for a new shopping center development at the intersection of Sherrills Ford Road and Mt. Pleasant Road. #winterstorm #winterstorm2026 #storm #news #localnews #hickorync #northcarolina #crimenews