It’s Cawthorn in NC11 after runoff blowout
How, exactly, does someone lose a Primary Election in which they have almost a year’s exclusive advance knowledge of the…
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‘Back the Badge’ rally comes to Waynesville
Last week, as demonstrations were taking place across the nation to call attention to police brutality and racial injustice, Canton…
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Maggie Valley starts planning process for waterfall park
When tourists visit this region, many of them come seeking the beauty and awe of the waterfalls that decorate the…
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No Phase 3 for NC
North Carolina’s graduated three-phase COVID-19 reopening plan was set to cruise into Phase 3 on June 26, but due to…
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Cherokee has second COVID-related death; Macon experiences nursing home ‘outbreak’
As of June 30, North Carolina had 64,670 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The death toll is now over 1,300 and…
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DOT revises plan for Dillsboro bridge project
Plans for a $14 million bridge project in Dillsboro have changed, with the project now expected to take nine months…
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WCU removes name 'Hoey' from auditorium
The Western Carolina University Board of Trustees unanimously approved a resolution removing the name “Hoey” from a campus performance facility.
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Less pomp, more circumstance: Western North Carolina’s future leaders graduate amidst pandemic
The Class of 2020 will forever be remembered as the “asterisk” class. Whether it be high school, community college or…
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DA searches for larger substitute courtrooms during COVID
District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch said across the 43rd Prosecutorial District, in the state’s seven most-westernmost counties, court officials are…
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Additional COVID-19 cases confirmed in Haywood
Haywood County Public Health received notice on June 26 that three more Haywood County residents have tested positive for COVID-19. …
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Lake Junaluska opens new restaurant
The Terrace Bistro has opened at the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, offering a rare lakeside dining option in…
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Drowning occurs near Oconaluftee Visitor Center
At approximately 5:20 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Rangers responded to a drowning in progress…
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SRCA approves preliminary plans for $15 million facility
According to a press release, Shining Rock Classical Academy board of directors recently unanimous voted to accept the architectural designs…
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COVID-19 outbreak at Macon nursing home
Macon County Public Health has identified a COVID-19 outbreak in staff at Macon Valley Nursing Home. Two staff members of…
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Jackson County budget passes without tax cut
Following a June 23 public hearing, Jackson County Commissioners voted to pass the proposed 2020-21 budget without any of the…
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Gateway to recreation: Canton begins planning for 448-acre outdoor park
The 448-acre woodland property sitting right off U.S. 23/19 and Interstate 40 near Canton was almost a speedway. Then, it…
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State allocates $26 million for families
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services recently announced that the state’s Community Action Agencies have begun to…
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DA wants to close DWI loophole
Speaking in Raleigh, District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch this week urged members of the N.C. Senate Judiciary Committee to close…
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Future of Haywood lynching monument becoming clear
While much of the nation is talking about removing monuments, the discussion in one Western North Carolina county is also…
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Of meth and motherhood: Two stories of addiction, family and recovery
By Boyd Allsbrook • Contributing writer | Few issues raise as much political ire in Western North Carolina as that…
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School surveys reveal lack of internet connectivity
As schools shut down during the pandemic, students were sent home and instructed to tune in online. Chromebooks were loaned…
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Consortium formed to address affordable housing in WNC
Seven counties in Western North Carolina have the opportunity to band together and receive money for affordable housing through the…
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COVID-19 cases continues to climb in N.C.
As of June 22, North Carolina had 53,605 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The death toll is now over 1,200 and…
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Fontana Village surrenders lease to Tennessee Valley Authority
Fontana Village Resort & Marina located in Graham County surrendered its lease back to the Tennessee Valley Authority on June…
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Macon approves loan fund for small businesses
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Macon County Economic Development Commission has established the Reopening Macon Fund. The program,…
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Franklin Hospice House under construction
Construction of SECU Hospice House in Franklin has crossed the 50 percent completion mark. It is anticipated that the region’s…
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WCU's Mountain Heritage Day canceled
Mountain Heritage Day, the annual community and campus celebration of Southern Appalachian culture presented by Western Carolina University since 1974,…
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Some WNC Republicans won’t back Trump-endorsed candidate
As Republicans across North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District head to the polls, some of them are bucking their party and…
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SCC reports first COVID-19 case
Southwestern Community College officials confirmed on June 20 that a student has reported testing positive for COVID-19.
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State elections director tours NC11 polling places
After widespread complaints about the way Georgia’s pandemic-influenced Primary Election was conducted last week, North Carolina’s top elections official isn’t…
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TekTone becomes majority owner of Stay Smart Care
As part of its mission to continuously provide communication solutions that evolve with the needs of our world, TekTone (based…
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Tom Fiedler reflects on policing through unrest from another era
By Tom Fiedler AVL Watchdog The legendary Miami Beach police chief Rocky Pomerance was asked in an interview with People…
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Large events curtailed for fall 2020 at WCU
Several events typically on the fall semester calendar at Western Carolina University are canceled for 2020 as part of significant…
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'Little' Logan finds a big brother
Entering the eighth grade, it didn’t look likely that Logan would get a Big Brother. Big Brothers Big Sisters has…
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NC11 candidate Lynda Bennett, WLOS-TV violate state election law
A short video segment featuring NC11 congressional candidate Lynda Bennett that was produced by Asheville-based WLOS-TV at Haywood County’s early…
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Confederate memorials still a monumental issue
For the second week in a row, many small Western North Carolina communities have seen demonstrations in response to the…
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WNC elected officials reluctant to speak on monuments
WNC elected officials reluctant to speak on monuments By Cory Vaillancourt Staff Writer On Wednesday, June 10, The Smoky Mountain…
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One-way Main Street proposal on hold
The proposal to temporarily turn Main Street in downtown Waynesville into a one-way street has been shelved for now.
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Against the narrative: WNC protests avoid polarization, violence
By Boyd Allsbrook • Contributing writer | Type “George Floyd Protests, Police” into your Google images search bar. What comes…
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Swain chamber, TDA finances called into question
Swain County commissioners are going to be giving more consideration to who they appoint to county boards after hearing a…
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I-40 paving near Pigeon River Gorge continues
More than half of the construction is complete on a major project to rehabilitate the westernmost 15 miles of Interstate…
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Macon sees largest COVID-19 spike in the region
Macon County has seen the largest spike in COVID-19 cases recently, with 230 confirmed cases as of June 15.
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Mau suggests a property tax decrease in Jackson County
Over the past week the Jackson County Board of Commissioners has been discussing whether to pass the 2020-21 fiscal year…
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QuickDraw fundraiser goes viral to support arts education
By Andrew Dundas • Contributing writer | Paper, a folder and pencils — both colored and No. 2. These are…
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Foundation funds expanded health care in Highlands-Cashiers
Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation has announced a formal agreement to expand access to primary care on the Highlands-Cashiers plateau by…
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Haywood County COVID-19 cases up to 67
Haywood County Public Health received notice on June 12 that another two Haywood County residents have tested positive for COVID-19,…
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Another COVID-19 cluster identified in Macon
Macon County Public Health has identified another COVID-19 cluster in an area business.
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Downtown AVL businesses, some vandalized, show their support
By Sara Frazier AVL Watchdog One by one, they arrived at their downtown businesses this week to find shattered storefronts…
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Officials to improve existing route for Corridor K
N.C. Department of Transportation officials have selected a recommended alternative for improvements to Corridor K in Graham County. The alignment chosen…
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WCU chancellor, trustees chair respond to protests
Western Carolina University Chancellor Kelli R. Brown and Bryant Kinney, chair of the WCU Board of Trustees, set aside the…
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