North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has commuted what have been lengthy sentences served by six criminal offenders in state prisons — five of whom were convicted of murder — and granted pardons to two others. One such pardon was issued to Mark Crotts, who was once convicted of murdering an elderly Alamance County couple in 1990.

The sound of bells is ringing across the state, marking the official start of the Salvation Army's annual holiday campaign. The Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages Porch visited Quail Springs Mall to learn more about how to get involved.

It’s the holiday season and folks will soon be hearing the familiar jingle from bell-ringers outside of storefronts by volunteers standing beside those iconic Red Kettles where proceeds go directly to the many programs of The Salvation Army.

The annual Salvation Army Red Kettle fundraiser is happening at dozens of locations around Des Moines. It began Nov. 8 and will run through Christmas Eve, with the exception of Sundays and Thanksgiving.

The public is invited to join The Salvation Army at Cornerstone Center for the Arts, 520 E. Main St., from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday.