Swain County strengthens its emergency declaration

During an emergency meeting held Monday, March 30, the Swain County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a third amendment to…
Read More

Comment

 

Democratic candidates in WNC call for immediate Medicaid expansion

As the greatest public health crisis in more than a hundred years continues to ravage both the physical and fiscal…
Read More

Comment

 

Memphis restaurant delivers meals to Cherokee

DreamCatcher Hotels, the Memphis-based hotel developer that brought Memphis the Guest House at Graceland hotel concept, is sending a large,…
Read More

Comment

 

DOT clears slide debris from N.C. 28

N.C. Department of Transportation crews from three counties worked from sunrise to sunset over four days to clear a rockslide…
Read More

Comment

Deeper cracks delay opening Nantahala Gorge
 

Deeper cracks delay opening Nantahala Gorge

The underground issues at a slide location in the Nantahala Gorge are evolving.
Read More

Comment

Fontana Regional Library branches closed
 

Fontana Regional Library branches closed

All Fontana Regional Library locations in Macon, Jackson, and Swain counties will be closed to the public through March 31,…
Read More

Comment

NC 2-1-1 to provide assistance for COVID-19
 

NC 2-1-1 to provide assistance for COVID-19

Gov. Roy Cooper has announced that 2-1-1 is the number to call for assistance and resources related to the COVID-19…
Read More

Comment

Outdoor seating at restaurants now prohibited
 

Outdoor seating at restaurants now prohibited

As of March 20, North Carolina Environmental Health closes all restaurant seating areas, including outdoor seating, immediately.
Read More

Comment

 

Cashiers humane society needs foster parents

Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society has the perfect solution for those self-quarantine blues. Lift your spirits and brighten your days by temporarily…
Read More

Comment

 

School calendar for Haywood updated

During a emergency virtual meeting of the Haywood County Board of Education Wednesday night, the board voted on a change…
Read More

Comment

 

Cherokee imposes curfew

Principal Chief Richard Sneed has issued a March 25 curfew order on the Qualla Boundary in hopes of preventing spread…
Read More

Comment

 

Haywood County restricts movement except for essential activity

As the Coronavirus Pandemic continues to spread, Haywood County and all four of its municipalities will now prohibit non-essential activity…
Read More

Comment

 

Utilities respond to COVID-19

The public health crisis that is COVID-19 quickly became an economic one as governments nationwide took drastic steps to slow…
Read More

Comment

 

Swain order shuts down certain businesses, short-term rentals

In an effort to promote social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19, Swain County declared a State of Emergency…
Read More

Comment

 

COVID-19: State of Qualla Boundary

Coronavirus is causing changes, cancellations and postponements across the region. Find out what’s happening in your community.
Read More

Comment

 

Jackson to move toward indoor pool referendum

The numbers are in for what an indoor pool might cost to build and maintain in Jackson County, and commissioners…
Read More

Comment

 

Macon passes a Second Amendment resolution of sorts

Since the beginning of the year, the Second Amendment sanctuary movement has swept through North Carolina, with the majority of…
Read More

Comment

 

Schools mitigate COVID-19 closures

As schools shut down across the state as part of Gov. Roy Cooper’s executive order, public school systems are trying…
Read More

Comment

 

Organizations step up the fight against COVID-19

Of all the socioeconomic and educational weaknesses lain bare by the coronavirus pandemic of 2020 perhaps none is more disturbing…
Read More

Comment

 

WNC health officials prepared for COVID-19

Just in the last week, the number of COVID-19 cases reported in North Carolina has grown from seven cases to…
Read More

Comment

 

Labs backed up with COVID-19 testing

The public is struggling to understand the details surrounding protocols for COVID-19 testing and those standards have been changing almost…
Read More

Comment

 

Distillery pivots to produce hand sanitizer

Tuesday, March 17 started like almost any other day for Dave Angel, owner of Elevated Mountain Distilling Company in Maggie…
Read More

Comment

 

Online technology helps students through pandemic

All North Carolina public schools will be shut down through May 15 after Gov. Roy Cooper signed another executive order…
Read More

Comment

 

Residence halls close at WCU

When the spring semester began, Western Carolina University’s residence halls were home to 4,106 students, but those students found themselves…
Read More

Comment

 

A COVID-19 Q&A with Jackson County

For those who live or work in Jackson County, these answers to common questions provided by the county's public information…
Read More

Comment

 

Food and beverage industry reels from Coronavirus Pandemic

Last Tuesday, on what would normally be a bustling St. Patrick’s Day, owner Dan Elliot sat in his empty Sweet…
Read More

Comment

Golden LEAF deploys $15 million
 

Golden LEAF deploys $15 million

The Golden LEAF Foundation announces $15 million in funding to launch a rapid recovery loan program in response to economic…
Read More

Comment

 

Cherokee announces preemptive border closure

As of press time there were no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on the Qualla Boundary, but the Eastern Band of…
Read More

Comment

 

Waynesville student returns home from Italy amid pandemic

Annalise Steele, a college student at Appalachian State and a resident of Waynesville, has had a unique experience in the…
Read More

Comment

 

Jackson resident tests positive for COVID-19

A part-time Jackson County resident that tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) is being monitored by health officials.
Read More

Comment

 

COVID-19: State of Jackson County

Coronavirus is causing changes, cancellations and postponements across the region. Find out what’s happening in your county.
Read More

Comment

 

Jackson bans gatherings of 10 or more, orders business closures

An emergency declaration issued in Jackson County today will ban gatherings of 10 or more people and mandate the closure…
Read More

Comment

 

Runoff between Bennett, Cawthorn postponed

The Republican Second Primary Election between Lynda Bennett and Madison Cawthorn in the 11th Congressional District will now be held…
Read More

Comment

 

WCU to postpone commencement

In response to the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic, Western Carolina University will postpone all spring commencement ceremonies originally scheduled for…
Read More

Comment

 

Haywood Regional suspends visitation

With the health and safety of patients, families, employees and community in mind, Haywood Regional Medical Center will temporarily suspended…
Read More

Comment

 

Blood donations critically low

Concerns about COVID-19 are negatively impacting blood donations, according to The Blood Connection and the American Red Cross.
Read More

Comment

 

Coronavirus updates from Macon County officials

Macon County Board of Commissioners held an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss how the county is preparing to deal…
Read More

Comment

 

SCC to help businesses through COVID-19 pandemic

Is your business prepared for the Coronavirus? Southwestern Community College will be hosting a webinar on that topic from 2-3:30…
Read More

Comment

 

Local entertainment and service industries brace for change

Amid the current coronavirus pandemic overtaking our world and our daily lives, local businesses and organizations in Western North Carolina…
Read More

Comment

Emergency grants offered to nonprofits impacted by COVID-19
 

Emergency grants offered to nonprofits impacted by COVID-19

A coalition of regional funders has come together to support an Emergency and Disaster Response Fund activated and administered at…
Read More

Comment

 

TWSA, Duke suspend service disconnections

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority will suspend all disconnections and allow customers who…
Read More

Comment

 

Works of late Cherokee artist part of massive collection

When Dr. Michael Abram thinks of the late Cherokee artist John Daniel “Dee” Smith Sr., he can’t help but smile…
Read More

Comment

 

Frontier Communications expected to file bankruptcy

Frontier Communications is preparing to file for bankruptcy soon, according to Bloomberg News.
Read More

Comment

 

WCU, community colleges adjust plans ahead of COVID-19

Students at Western North Carolina’s institutions of higher learning will see impacts to their spring semester experiences as a result…
Read More

Comment

 

Casino responds to coronavirus with two-week closure

For the first time in its 23-year history, Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos is closed. 
Read More

Comment

 

Major retail project proposed for former Belk building

Waynesville’s Russ Avenue Ingles already has one of the largest commercial footprints in Haywood County, but if plans filed with…
Read More

Comment

 

BIA decision paves the way for Catawba casino in Kings Mountain

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians plans to sue the federal government in protest over a March 12 decision that…
Read More

Comment

 

NYC resident tests positive for COVID-19 in Macon

A New York resident that tested positive for COVID-19 is being monitored and following isolation orders in Macon County. The…
Read More

Comment

 

Van Duyn won't call for runoff in lieutenant governor election

Days after uncertified results from the Democratic Primary Election showed Buncombe County Sen. Terry Van Duyn finishing second to Raleigh…
Read More

Comment

 

Haywood Schools still playing catch-up on capital projects

Haywood County Schools board members got their first look at a proposed budget for the next fiscal year last week,…
Read More

Comment

Smokey Mountain News Logo
SUPPORT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS AND
INDEPENDENT, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM
Go to top
Payment Information

/

At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. We don’t plan to change that model. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News.

The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.