Lake Santeetlah voter fraud allegations remain at a standstill
It’s been more than a year since residency challenges were filed against six Democrats who registered to vote at a…
Read More
Assistance available for dislocated workers
A substantial grant from the U.S. Department of Labor has already provided help for more than 50 dislocated workers in Western…
Read More
Medicaid expansion for North Carolina will go into effect on Dec. 1
For North Carolina Health News After being held up for months by the General Assembly’s protracted dispute over a state…
Read More
Newman, Phillips vie for Mayor of Sylva
When Sylva residents go to the polls, they will be choosing a mayor to lead the town through several big…
Read More
Several towns to have uncontested elections
Franklin, Webster, Bryson City and the Village of Forest Hills all have multiple seats up for election this year on…
Read More
State budget delivers wins for WCU
The newly adopted state budget is good news for Western Carolina University, according to Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance Mike…
Read More
Cherokee inaugurates new leaders
More than 700 people filled the Cherokee High School basketball arena to celebrate the inauguration of new tribal leaders Monday,…
Read More
Bathrooms finally coming to Obama-King Park
After years of delay, the tiny half-acre park off Pigeon Street in the heart of Waynesville’s Black community should soon…
Read More
Paper mill logs new violation: Investigation continues into black liquor seep
The now-shuttered paper mill in Canton has received a new violation for exceeding permit limits on toxicity for water released…
Read More
Clampitt ceases effort to legislate Swain TDA changes
New bill includes 2% occupancy tax increase
Read More
SCC launches Practical Nursing career path
For anyone looking to get into the field of nursing, Southwestern Community College will offer a Practical Nursing program starting…
Read More
Opposition heard for non-residents on Maggie Valley board
A candidate for Maggie Valley alderman who dropped out and resigned her seat on the town’s zoning board when opponents filed…
Read More
Welcome Capt. Fred Hall home
Missing in action for more than 54 years, Air Force Capt. Frederick Mervyn Hall of Waynesville will return home for…
Read More
Peace Pole Dedicated at the Pigeon Center
Waynesville’s Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center celebrated the International Day of Peace last week by installing a peace pole.
Read More
Tribal official solicited favors from cannabis contractor, investigation finds
Council considers fine, employment ban The Cherokee Tribal Council is considering taking formal action against a former representative who is…
Read More
State budget commits substantial funding to critical needs in WNC
This year’s state budget process may have been one of the most discordant in recent memory, but Western North Carolina’s…
Read More
WNC courts receive much-needed help
Western North Carolina courts are about to get a leg up, but it isn’t all that everyone hoped for.
Read More
District Attorney seeks death penalty in Otto murder case
District Attorney Ashley Welch will seek the death penalty in the odd and heinous murder case of Tina Walkingstick Frizsell.
Read More
Master plan adopted for Macon rec park
Macon County Commissioners have adopted a master plan for the county’s recreation center and surrounding park.
Read More
Jackson considers consolidation: Public hearing set for Oct. 3
The Jackson County Board of Commissioners will likely move to consolidate the Department of Health and the Department of Social…
Read More
Plott-tober Fest to draw national competitors
Plott hound enthusiasts and their pups from across the United States will assemble to compete in bear bay and coon…
Read More
Economic development efforts added to allowed uses for tribal levy
In a divided decision the Cherokee Tribal Council approved an ordinance amendment that will allow funding for the tribe’s cannabis…
Read More
Ordinance expanding per capita payments withdrawn for further discussion
Debate about how to spend revenues from the tribe’s growing portfolio of out-of-state gambling businesses will continue into the next…
Read More
Support Full Spectrum Farms
Starlight Night, the annual fundraiser for Full Spectrum Farms, will take place 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, on the farm.
Read More
Cherokee Police Commission discusses cannabis change
A week after Cherokee voters overwhelmingly voiced their support for legalizing cannabis on the Qualla Boundary, the Cherokee Police Commission spent 20…
Read More
Referendum votes meet turnout threshold
Voter turnout came in at 53.9% for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ Sept. 7 election, according to numbers the…
Read More
Sylva considers Safe Haven Boxes
The Sylva Board of Commissioners recently received a presentation on Safe Haven Boxes — a program that allows for the…
Read More
Data shows improvements for local charter schools
With accountability data released from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, all charter schools in the Smoky Mountain News’…
Read More
Swain school board will revise policy to comply with new law
After the Parents Bill of Rights passed the General Assembly in August, local boards of education are determining how to align…
Read More
Defendants get prison time following trafficking investigation
Eight people charged in Haywood County with trafficking and possessing illegal drugs are now serving active time in state prison,…
Read More
Champion Credit Union and Ecusta Credit Union Announce Merger
Champion Credit Union announced that Ecusta Credit Union, which has served Transylvania and Henderson counties since 1976, will formally merge…
Read More
Hawthorn Heights home now locally owned
Hawthorn Heights WNC, a nonprofit founded in Bryson City, announced it has purchased its current facility from Children’s Hope Alliance.
Read More
Seat belt use encouraged during Child Passenger Safety Week
State and local officials are reminding people during “Child Passenger Safety Week” to buckle up their youngest passengers because car crashes…
Read More
Mike Wade creates endowed fund at SCC
Roughly a decade ago, Mike Wade heard a quote from successful industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie: “I spent the first…
Read More
Cherokee votes: Hicks wins fourth term as Cherokee chief
Cherokee looked back for its future in the Sept. 7 General Election, with an overwhelming majority of Eastern Band of…
Read More
Trailblazer: Parents go the extra mile to protect transgender son
Luke Klein’s life in North Carolina hasn’t been much different than that of any other pre-teen boy.
Read More
Barrett drops out of Maggie Valley race after residency challenge filed
The field of candidates for the two Maggie Valley alderman seats up for election this November just got a little…
Read More
UPDATED: Hearing scheduled for challenge to Maggie Valley alderman candidate
UPDATE: Barrett dropped out of the race on Sept. 13, one day after this story was updated for print. Read…
Read More
Constitutional sheriffs event brings few sheriffs
Group was met with energy and an award from congressman but few in uniform
Read More
In landslide vote, EBCI says yes to cannabis
In a decision that received national attention, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum question endorsing legalized…
Read More
Testing Data: WNC schools show growth in pandemic recovery
Last week, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction released performance and growth data for the 2022-23 school year, and…
Read More
Residents call on Jackson commissioner to apologize
Jackson residents and members of the LGBTQ+ community are calling on County Commissioner John Smith to apologize following comments he…
Read More
Large freshman class hopeful sign for future WCU growth
For the third year running, freshman enrollment has increased at Western Carolina University, a metric that university leaders hope will…
Read More
Planning for the park: Recreational needs survey solicits input for future of Pinnacle Park
In April, Sylva received the results of an in-depth botanical survey of Pinnacle Park, and now the town is in…
Read More
Mixed drink referendum passes easily in Cherokee
What was once an extremely contentious issue in Cherokee now appears to be fairly noncontroversial, as a referendum vote seeking…
Read More
Delayed budget means delayed Medicaid expansion
Nonprofits gear up for implementation but still have concerns
Read More
WCU physical therapy grad student gets to see legislative side of health care
Ruby Dixon, a third-year student in Western Carolina University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, considers the entire state of North…
Read More
Swain County man found guilty of murder
Last week, a Swain County jury convicted Daniel Ryan Sutton, 39, of first-degree murder.
Read More
Sylva Police Department files graffiti charges
Graffiti has appeared on properties along the N.C. 107 corridor for several months.
Read More
