Commission candidates talk internet, infrastructure
Haywood County Commission candidates faced off last Thursday at a forum hosted by The Mountaineer, and while there wasn’t a…
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FBI investigating tribal housing authority
A tribal authority tasked with helping tribal members find housing is under investigation by the FBI for “possible criminal conduct…
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Tools of the trade: Preppers prepare for disaster
Close your eyes and imagine this: It’s another picture-perfect Western North Carolina Wednesday morning with Chamber of Commerce weather and…
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Pay increases coming for some in Haywood schools
Some employees in the Haywood County school system will see more money in their paychecks this month, thanks to state…
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Diversity officer discusses differences, exploration and the lost art of respectful debate
When Ricardo Nazario-Colon first stepped onto Western Carolina University’s campus to interview for the new chief diversity officer position, one…
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Liberty group protests campus speech restrictions; WCU says its policies are reasonable
It was a sunny Constitution Day at Western Carolina University, and the colors shone brightly on the giant beach ball…
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Haywood residents to vote on countywide alcohol
Haywood County voters will be asked to weigh in during the general election on whether businesses outside town limits should…
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Haywood vote on countywide alcohol to pit business interests against religious convictions
Beer is good for business. That’s the message supporters of countywide beer and wine sales in Haywood County are hoping…
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Lifting spirits: New attitudes toward alcohol move across region
Haywood County is the latest in steady wave of communities across the mountains to shed its long-standing political and cultural…
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Vote on Haywood alcohol sales comes out of left field
An announcement by Haywood County commissioners last week that a vote to legalize beer and wine sales countywide will appear…
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Democratic candidates face off in congressional election
Two Democratic candidates will face off in the June 7 election for a chance to unseat U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows,…
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Education and infrastructure key issues for House candidates
It’s been 17 years since voters in North Carolina’s four westernmost counties have chosen a new representative for the state…
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Candidates seek school board seats
On Tuesday Nov. 8, voters in Haywood County will decide from amongst a slew of candidates seeking election to the…
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State candidates speak to Macon residents
Every election cycle, the Macon County League of Women Voters aims to educate its community about local and state candidates…
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Local politicians speak at Trump rally
Some local Republicans got their brief fling with fame during Donald Trump’s campaign rally Monday in Asheville.
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Candidates weigh in on board of education videos
Just prior to the Haywood County Board of Education’s work session on Aug. 4, Chairman Chuck Francis unilaterally decreed that…
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Bryson wins June 7 congressional primary
Democrat Rick Bryson will move on to run against U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows in the general election after narrowly winning…
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Presnell calls emissions testing a ‘sham’
The Great Smoky Mountains are known across the world for their beauty and the unique bluish haze produced in large…
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November election taking shape in Haywood County
Although the upcoming general election has much of the nation’s attention focused on just two candidates — a controversial populist…
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Candidate for Jackson commission alleges wrongdoing
Mickey Luker has been working on a remodel of Caney Fork General Store ever since he purchased the property in…
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Swain County to vote on quarter-cent sales tax
Swain County residents will get to decide whether the county can levy an additional quarter-cent sales tax when they vote…
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November election lineup complete
Ballots have been finalized in Haywood County for November’s General Election, and while a number of national and state campaigns…
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Republican mega-donor backs Presnell
In the second quarter of 2016, Burnsville Republican State Rep. Michelle Presnell only received one contribution that wasn’t from a…
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Presnell, Schandevel war chests offer insights
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times — the second quarter, that is.
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WCU to host conference on economy, environment
A conference at Western Carolina University on Friday, Oct. 7, will focus on the intersection of the environment and the…
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Bryson City receives $10,000 Wi-Fi grant
Bryson City was one of 10 downtown communities to receive funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to offer free…
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Mountain Faith wins big in Raleigh
Western North Carolina played a big role in this year’s International Bluegrass Music Association awards held last weekend in Raleigh.…
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Animals rescued from Korean dog meat farm
Two small animal shelters in Western North Carolina have made national news this week as they’ve opened up their facilities…
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Feds file motion to dismiss Swain’s lawsuit
The federal government waited until the 11th hour to issue a response to Swain County’s North Shore Road lawsuit — and…
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Casino board member loses fight to keep seat
After a yearlong tug-of-war, Angela Kephart has vacated her post as a Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise board member following the…
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High-speed internet project plods along
The all-important push to bring high-speed internet to Western North Carolina generated a lot of optimism earlier this summer when…
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Homeless advocates ask Jackson commissioners for help
When the days get short and the nights get cold, a collection of Jackson County organizations comes together with the…
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The Wait of War
It is known by many names. Some call it the Second Indochina War. Some call it the Resistance War. Some…
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Upcoming political forums and debates
If you are undecided or just want more information about the Nov. 8 election, there are plenty of opportunities to…
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WCU seals the deal on $1.8 million Koch gift
A year in the making, Western Carolina University has sealed a deal with the Charles Koch Foundation for a $1.8…
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Between the lines: what WCU’s Koch gift says, and doesn’t say
Few if any universities have made the Charles Koch Foundation jump quite so many hurdles before opening its wallet as…
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Jackson unveils new ad campaign, celebrates upward tourism trend
After months of talking, planning and producing, Jackson County is set to unleash a new ad campaign and website showcasing…
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TVA houseboat policy scrutinized during congressional hearing
The Tennessee Valley Authority leadership fielded some tough questions from members of Congress last week in Washington, D.C., during a…
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Canton improvements on the horizon
The town of Canton has scored several small victories of late in its effort to diversify its economic base and…
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USDA loan hang-up: Blessing in disguise?
Another of Canton’s highly anticipated capital improvements on the horizon is a new municipal pool to replace the leaky aging…
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Growing elk population triggers landowner conflicts, land conservation efforts
Elk may be the most polarizing animal in Western North Carolina right now, but William Carter has kept a closer…
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No elk allowed: Two-mile fence keeps elk off dairy farm following winter shooting of seven animals
These days, bovines — not elk — are the only cows wandering around the Ross dairy farm in Jonathan Creek.
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Wrecker service denied location in Sylva
A vacant lot along the gateway to Sylva from Dillsboro will stay empty for a while longer following the town…
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Engineers say burn building needs to be replaced
Last month Macon County commissioners said they wanted a second opinion on the remaining lifespan of the first responder training…
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WCU faculty set new precedent for standing up to political influence of big donors
Western Carolina University faculty tasked with overseeing a $2 million gift from the Charles Koch Foundation had their work cut…
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WCU faculty closely monitoring $2 million Koch gift
A firestorm over a $2 million gift from political operative Charles Koch ignited the campus of Western Carolina University last…
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Haywood County high-impact development ordinance passes
Children, the elderly, the ill, the mentally challenged and the incarcerated in Haywood County all have at least one thing…
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Waynesville annexes charter school property
The Town of Waynesville’s area increased by 2.82 acres last week with the annexation of a parcel at 1023 Dellwood…
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Cherokee council votes to keep vans gifted from Washington Redskins
A pair of Mercedes-Benz vans that The Washington Redskins Original Americans Foundation once bestowed upon the Eastern Band of Cherokee…
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Trump promises to ‘fix’ problems
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump spoke to a packed Asheville Civic Center on Monday as boisterous supporters cheered him on…
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