Gaston County

Gaston County commissioners on Tuesday night unanimously approved updates to the county development ordinance that allow new mining operations and spell out how they are regulated. The rules affect Piedmont Lithium, which wants to build an $840 million lithium mining and processing facility in northern Gaston County.

Public comments are due Thursday on Piedmont Lithium's application for a state permit to build a lithium mine and processing operation in northern Gaston County. The application details the company's mining plans.

Gaston County commissioners voted unanimously Friday to adopt a 60-day moratorium that would give them time to consider the impacts of a proposed lithium mine in the county.

Transportation is the nation's largest source of greenhouse gases that cause global warming, accounting for about 29%. So switching to electric vehicles is an important strategy to tackle the problem. But it's more complicated than that.

A proposed lithium mining and processing operation about 30 miles west of Charlotte in Gaston County got a chilly reception from a majority of Gaston County commissioners Tuesday night. That came amid concerns about potential environmental damage, traffic and — until now — a lack of information.

Piedmont Lithium, a company planning to mine and process lithium in Gaston County, will make its first public presentation about the project Tuesday night to the Gaston County Commission. The proposed operation has been in the works for five years, but now is facing opposition.

Marine Corps veteran Timothy Caudill is the new chair of Gaston County Democrats for Equality, a group representing members of the LGBT community related to political, social and equality issues.

Jesse Caldwell III served 28 years as a Superior Court judge in Gaston County before he reached the mandatory retirement age of 72 last month. On Friday, Gov. Roy Cooper appointed Caldwell's son, Jesse Caldwell IV, to fill the vacant seat.

Authorities in a Gaston County town say a man has died after being shot by a police officer trying to serve a warrant.

Industrial automation company KNOLL America will locate its U.S. headquarters in Gaston County. The company makes conveyor and filtration systems.