Welcome to themountainnews.org. By visiting or using any part of this website you are agreeing to the Terms of Use described on this page. These terms exist to protect the readers who rely on this publication and the publication itself.
themountainnews.org is an independently operated digital news publication covering local news, crime and public safety, severe weather, and community stories across the United States. Please read these terms before continuing to use the site.
Agreeing to These Terms
Accessing themountainnews.org in any capacity confirms that you are at least 13 years of age, that you agree to these Terms of Use in full, and that you will conduct yourself in accordance with all applicable U.S. federal and state laws while using this platform. If you do not agree with any part of these terms please stop using the site.
Updates to These Terms
themountainnews.org reserves the right to revise these Terms of Use at any time. When changes are made the Last Updated date on this page will be updated accordingly. Continuing to use the site after an update has been posted means you accept the revised terms.
Our Content and Its Limitations
themountainnews.org is committed to accurate and responsible journalism. We source our reporting from verified official channels, update stories as new information becomes available, and correct errors when they are identified.
Readers should understand that news situations evolve rapidly and information accurate at the time of publication may be superseded by new developments. Official agencies including law enforcement and weather services may release revised statements after our initial reporting. We cannot guarantee that every article is completely error-free or current at all times. All content published on themountainnews.org is provided for informational purposes only. Readers should not rely solely on our reporting to make decisions involving personal safety, legal matters, financial choices, or medical situations.
Acceptable Use
By accessing themountainnews.org you agree to use the site responsibly and lawfully. The following are strictly prohibited on this platform.
Posting or submitting content that is abusive, threatening, harassing, defamatory, or hateful toward any individual or group. Attempting to interfere with, damage, or gain unauthorized access to our website, servers, or systems. Using automated tools, bots, or scripts to scrape, harvest, or systematically collect content from our site without written permission. Reproducing, copying, or redistributing our articles, text, images, or branding for commercial purposes without authorization. Submitting false tips, fabricated information, or deliberately misleading content to our editorial team. Impersonating William Wilburn, themountainnews.org, or any other person or entity in any context related to this publication.
Violations may result in being permanently blocked from the site and referred to law enforcement where applicable.
Reader Comments and Submissions
Where reader comments or submissions are enabled on themountainnews.org the following conditions apply.
You are entirely responsible for any content you submit. themountainnews.org does not endorse or adopt the views expressed in reader comments as our own. You may not submit content containing personal attacks, private information about third parties, spam, deliberate misinformation, or anything that violates U.S. law. William Wilburn and the themountainnews.org editorial team reserve the right to remove, moderate, or reject any submitted content at any time without prior notice. Submitting content to this site does not create any obligation on our part to publish or respond to it.
Your Intellectual Property Rights and Ours
Every piece of content published on themountainnews.org including articles, headlines, photographs, graphics, analysis, commentary, site design, and branding is protected under U.S. copyright law. All rights are reserved.
You are welcome to share individual articles by linking directly to the original URL on themountainnews.org. You may quote brief excerpts for commentary, criticism, or educational purposes provided you clearly attribute the content to themountainnews.org and include a link back to the source. You may not reproduce full articles in any format. You may not copy our content for commercial redistribution. You may not use our name, logo, or branding without written authorization from William Wilburn. You may not present our content as your own in any context.
Unauthorized use of themountainnews.org content may result in legal action under U.S. copyright and intellectual property law.
Third-Party Links
Our reporting regularly references and links to external sources including law enforcement agencies, weather services, government databases, and social media platforms. These links are provided for context and reader convenience. themountainnews.org has no control over the content, accuracy, privacy practices, or availability of any external website. Visiting any external link from themountainnews.org is done entirely at your own risk and subject to that site’s own terms and policies.
Advertising
themountainnews.org displays advertising from approved networks including Google AdSense, MGID, and other vetted U.S.-based partners. Advertising revenue supports the continued operation of this independent publication. Advertisers have no influence over editorial decisions or how William Wilburn reports any story. Sponsored content when it appears is always labeled clearly and kept entirely separate from independent journalism. themountainnews.org is not responsible for the products, services, or claims associated with any third-party advertiser.
Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted under U.S. law themountainnews.org and its operators including William Wilburn accept no liability for factual errors or omissions in published articles that occur despite reasonable editorial care, interruptions or outages affecting site availability, any decision a reader makes based on content published on this site, harm or loss resulting from clicking third-party links or engaging with advertiser content, security incidents including data breaches or cyberattacks, or technical failures of any kind affecting access to or use of the platform. Your use of themountainnews.org is entirely at your own risk.
Indemnification
By using themountainnews.org you agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless themountainnews.org and its operators from any claim, legal action, damage award, or legal expense that arises from your misuse of this website, your violation of these Terms of Use, your submission of false or harmful content, or your infringement of any third-party right including intellectual property rights.
Governing Law
These Terms of Use are governed exclusively by the laws of the United States. Any dispute arising from your use of themountainnews.org or from these terms must be brought before an appropriate U.S. court with proper jurisdiction. By using this site you consent to that jurisdiction.
Contact Us
Questions about these Terms of Use or anything related to how themountainnews.org operates are always welcome.
Email: desk.themountainnews@gmail.com