Ongoing 2020 election coverage
As the 2020 election draws near, The Smoky Mountain News will continue to interview all willing candidates at the local,…
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Macon community center reopens
Macon County’s Robert C. Carpenter Community Building will begin to open under limited capacity.
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Charlotte man arrested for soliciting minor
William Ray Hartsell, 27, of Charlotte, was arrested in Haywood County on Sept. 23 by the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office…
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SCC to host state debate
In September, students in Dr. Bucky Dann’s Social Problems class hosted debates featuring candidates for national and local office.
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Moratorium on Waynesville utility disconnections to end
A policy adopted by the Town of Waynesville that was designed to alleviate financial hardship during the early stages of…
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Foundation provides COVID-19 testing for schools
On Aug. 21 the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation announced it would fund a weekly COVID-19 testing program for Highlands School,…
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Holley, Robinson vie for Lt. Gov. post
Even though it’s largely a ceremonial post, North Carolina’s lieutenant governor has an important role in state government — especially…
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Sen. Tillis fights to retain seat
There are few races in North Carolina this cycle that hold more consequence than that for the United States Senate…
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Jackson voters to speak on indoor pool issue
Like voters across the country, Jackson County residents are electing representatives for offices ranging from congressman to commissioner, but this…
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Haywood school board race draws 12 candidates
A dozen candidates are running to fill five open seats on the Haywood County School Board. Among them, four are…
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Two-year delay expected for N.C. 107 project
After years of planning, public meetings and emotionally charged back-and-forth, right-of-way acquisition for the N.C. 107 project in Sylva was…
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Haywood fitness center reopens Oct. 5
Following a phased reopening plan, the Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center is pleased to announce it will reopen (some…
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Dogwood Health Trust CEO steps down
The Dogwood Health Trust Board of Directors announced today that Antony Chiang is stepping down from his role as Chief…
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Jim Moore rejoins the DA's office
District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch announced Thursday that Jim Moore has joined the 43rd Prosecutorial District as an assistant district…
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Equity advocates resign amid racial reckoning
City director quits, cites resistance, lack of support By Sally Kestin AVL Watchdog The CEO of the YWCA of Asheville…
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WCU announces spring semester schedule
Western Carolina University has announced changes to the spring 2021 schedule related to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.
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Clampitt, Queen face off for fifth time
They’ve now run against each other five times in 10 years so there’s not much voters don’t know about them…
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Election ordinance changes approved in Cherokee
During its Sept. 3 meeting, Tribal Council voted unanimously to approve a slate of changes to its election ordinance ahead…
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Letson and Jones vie for seat as southern Jackson County’s commissioner
There’s no incumbent on the ballot for Jackson County’s District 4 commission seat, but voters will still find themselves choosing…
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Important voting deadlines draw near
The General Election is Tuesday, Nov. 3, and there are plenty of ways to vote early, or vote from the…
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Presnell's open seat draws competitors
After eight years in office, Burnsville Republican Rep. Michele Presnell will probably be better remembered for the things she didn’t…
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Strong support for Cawthorn outside NC-11 debates
Updated 9/11/20, 12:30 p.m. While N.C. Congressional District 11 candidates Moe Davis and Madison Cawthorn got into a heated debate…
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N.C. 11 candidates face off
Congressional candidates Moe Davis and Madison Cawthorn clashed last week in a pair of debates spanning two days and three…
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Debate Fact-Checker: Zingers, Jabs and Lies
Congressional candidates’ claims rated for truthfulness By Sally Kestin and Peter H. Lewis AVL Watchdog In their first public face-off,…
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War of words: Race to replace Mark Meadows takes an ugly turn
The major party candidates seeking the NC11 congressional seat recently left vacant by former Rep. Mark Meadows spent much of…
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Cawthorn mingles with far-right fringe
By Sally Kestin, Tom Fiedler and Peter H. Lewis | AVL Watchdog | Conservative congressional candidate Madison Cawthorn, scheduled to speak Wednesday at…
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Heath Shuler steps off the political sidelines
Even Hollywood screenwriters would be hard-pressed to craft a more quintessentially American story.
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Republicans campaign on support for law enforcement
Rallies expressing support for law enforcement officers and agencies are starting to become commonplace in Western North Carolina, but as…
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Candidate’s claim creates false impression
Cawthorn rejected from Naval Academy By Tom Fiedler AVL Watchdog The narrative created by Republican congressional-candidate Madison Cawthorn paints a…
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Jackson County man will go to prison following traffic accident
A Jackson County man who crashed into an Ohio couple’s car last year along U.S. 23/441, seriously injuring both, must…
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Gov. Cooper brings NC into Phase 3
Continuing what he called the state’s “dimmer switch” approach to reopening, Gov. Roy Cooper announced today that North Carolina will…
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Sylva will grant $20,000 to local nonprofits
A new grant program approved by a unanimous vote from the Sylva Board of Commissioners Sept. 24 will allocate $20,000…
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Haywood K-5 students will return to in-person learning
Elementary school students in Haywood County will return to school full-time beginning Oct. 5.
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Maggie Valley Fall Days, a community affair
Fall decorations in Maggie Valley are a tradition that involves the entire town.
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Candidates to meet in debates
Candidates for offices ranging from county commissioner to state senate will appear in upcoming debates.
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Future of Folkmoot Festival uncertain
The Folkmoot International Festival has overcome many obstacles in its 36 years of existence, but it couldn’t withstand the pressures…
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Two contractors die in fire at Canton paper mill
Haywood County Emergency Services issued an alert at 6:15 a.m. Monday morning reporting a large commercial structure fire at Evergreen…
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Cooper says K-5 students can all return to class Oct. 5
On. Sept. 17, Gov. Roy Cooper authorized Plan A in-person opening of schools for all elementary students in Kindergarten through fifth…
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Jackson seeks legislative change following Cullowhee erosion issues
Jackson County commissioners voted unanimously Sept. 15 to ask for the N.C. Association of County Commissioners’ support for state legislation…
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COVID-19 cluster reported at Canton salon
The Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency, in consultation with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services…
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House District 120 candidates to debate online
Western North Carolina voters are invited to participate in the first-ever online candidate forum featuring two candidates who are running…
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Hospitals, BCBS renegotiating Medicare Advantage plans
Unless a new agreement is signed, patients with Blue Cross, Blue Shield Medicare Advantage Plans will have to pay out-of-network…
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HIGHTS builds tiny home to support programs
HIGHTS (Helping Inspire Gifts of Hope, Trust and Service) works with communities’ most at-risk youth to provide meaningful service opportunities,…
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Clampitt/Queen forum announced
Republican Mike Clampitt and Democrat Rep. Joe Sam Queen, candidates for the North Carolina House of Representative District 119, will…
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Caples named CEO of Haywood Regional
Haywood Regional Medical Center, a Duke LifePoint Hospital, announced that Greg Caples has been named its new chief executive officer,…
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Man missing in the Smokies
A search is underway for a missing man in the Big Creek area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
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Smokies bear euthanized after scavenging human remains
On the afternoon of Friday, Sept. 11, backpackers were hiking the Hazel Creek Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National…
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Sylva, Jackson County discuss next steps for Confederate statue
With nearly six weeks now elapsed since Jackson County Commissioners voted to cover up the Confederate flag on the base…
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Jackson K-5 students will return to in-person learning
Elementary school students in Jackson County will go back to in-person learning four days per week beginning Monday, Oct. 5.
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Odds are stacked against working families
It’s the kind of street – lined with modest, well-kept houses flying U.S. flags – where neighborhood children haphazardly cast…
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