Zoom bombers halt Sylva town meeting
A Town of Sylva meeting in which commissioners intended to discuss a resolution regarding the Confederate monument ended abruptly this…
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Respected WNC journalist, advocate dies at 92
Alfred Douglas “Doug” Reed, one of Western North Carolina’s most respected journalists and community advocates and a key leader through…
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A tale of two rallies: Americans on all sides want change, but don’t want to change
Black lives matter. All lives matter. Defund the police. Back the badge. Take it down. Leave it up. Heritage. Hate.…
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Backing the badge
The death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers less than two months ago has added new…
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Ground breaks on Catawba casino
Four months after the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians filed suit against the U.S. Department of the Interior’s decision to…
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Coronavirus cluster found at Cherokee casino
Five employees at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee have tested positive for COVID-19, and the investigation is ongoing, according…
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COVID-19: County cases continue to increase
Jackson County has seen a steady growth in active COVID-19 cases in the last week as an outbreak was reported…
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Haywood redirects economic development funding
After more than two years of funding an economic development partnership between the Haywood and Asheville chambers of commerce that’s…
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Candidates file for Haywood school board race
Up until last week, the nonpartisan races for four school board seats — plus the chairman’s position — looked to…
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WNC real estate rebounding quickly
According to the Beverly-Hanks Q2 2020 Real Estate Market Report, Western North Carolina’s real estate markets have undergone rapid and…
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Law enforcement training — a constant job interview
By Boyd Allsbrook • Contributing writer | In light of the recent national uproar over police brutality, law enforcement training…
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The conversation to defund the police
Innocent people murdered in their own homes, police departments equipped with military-grade weapons, students with school resource officers but not…
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Defund the police or back the badge — either way, prepare to pay
Competing theories as to the nature of proposed police reform have emerged, with one being that law enforcement budgets should…
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Indoor pool question will appear on Jackson ballot
In November, Jackson County voters will weigh in on a proposal to borrow $20 million for an indoor pool complex…
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Nonprofit to offer support dogs to first responders
When Asheville Fireman Mark Jameson returned to the fire station after responding to a particularly difficult call, the only thing…
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Travel industry controls state’s room tax laws
Buncombe’s share less than other NC counties, neighboring states By Mark Barrett AVL Watchdog A bill that would have changed…
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State hires more vendors to expedite COVID-19 testing
RALEIGH — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) selected 13 businesses to join its pool of…
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COVID-19 outbreak at Jackson nursing facility
Jackson County Department of Public Health has identified a COVID-19 outbreak at a local skilled nursing facility. Five employees at the…
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Haywood reports 14 new COVID-19 cases
Haywood County Public Health received notice of 14 new cases of COVID-19 since July 14, which brings the number of…
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Macon sheriff pleads for law enforcement pay increases
Macon County Sheriff Robbie Holland stood before county commissioners Tuesday night with a heartfelt plea for better pay for his…
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Asheville Police calls: Roadmap for defunding?
By Sally Kestin and John Maines AVL Watchdog Of 911 calls and requests for assistance to Asheville Police, less than…
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Jackson commissioners shelve task force, discuss statue’s fate
After a week of impassioned public discussion and protest over the fate of the Confederate solider standing on the courthouse…
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Economic development boom in Maggie Valley
After years of languishing in the shadows of a shuttered amusement park, Maggie Valley’s west end is now seeing substantial…
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Take it down? Crowds turn out in Sylva to oppose, support Confederate statue
July 11 dawned hot and sunny over the 131-year-old town of Sylva, sweltering rays pouring heat in equal fashion over…
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Protests were peaceful, but traffic caused problems
It was a long day, but July 11 was a success from the perspective of law enforcement, said Police Chief…
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Public sounds off on Confederate monument
Jackson County Commissioners saw a precursor to the intense public discussion ahead of them when 16 people gave public comment…
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Legal observers were present at Sylva demonstrations
Protests, rallies and marches have become commonplace in Western North Carolina over the past six weeks, but dueling demonstrations in…
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Sylva votes to prohibit Confederate imagery on town property
The Sylva Town Board approved a resolution tonight that creates a policy to prohibit the use of Confederate imagery on…
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Turnaround time longer for COVID-19 test results
As more tests for COVID-19 pour into laboratories across the state, the time taken to get results continues to increase.
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Jackson County Schools plan for reopening
This week the debate has raged over whether — and how — to reopen schools next month. President Donald Trump has…
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Haywood School Board decides fate of superintendent who posted racially insensitive meme
After a social media post regarded by some as racially insensitive, Haywood County’s superintendent of schools has been temporarily relieved…
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Two COVID-related deaths reported in Jackson
The Jackson County Department of Public Health has confirmed that two recent deaths in Jackson County residents are related to…
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NC schools to reopen Aug. 17 as state remains in Phase 2
After weeks of speculation, Gov. Roy Cooper announced July 14 that North Carolina would again remain in Phase 2 of…
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"Sylva Sam" draws debate at commissioner meeting
The public comment portion of tonight’s meeting of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners drew 16 people who spoke for…
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Nonprofit grants available for COVID-19 relief
Nantahala Health Foundation has announced a call for grant proposals directed at regional nonprofits and governmental agencies with immediate needs,…
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Of 117 COVID cases in Haywood, 94 are recovered
Haywood County Public Health received notice on July 10 of two new cases of COVID-19. This brings the number of…
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Haywood schools develop summer programs
House Bill 1043 requires school systems to develop a Remediation and Summer Jump Start Plan for the 2020-2021 school year.…
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Successful search and rescue effort for lost hikers
The search for missing hikers Kelly and Mark Kleinbrahm and their son Noah ended successfully Tuesday afternoon around 1 p.m.…
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Health officials urge people with symptoms to get tested
Haywood County Public Health received notice on July 9 of six new cases of COVID-19. This brings the number of…
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COVID-19 cluster found at Macon County farm
Macon County Public Health has identified a cluster of 9 people who have tested positive at Norton Creek Farms. Employees…
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Hemp farmers growing business in Macon
The Franklin Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony at Appalachian Growers located in the Cowee Valley.
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New assistant DA hired for western counties
District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch announced Wednesday that Michael Macht has joined the 43rd Prosecutorial District as an assistant district…
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WCU police chief runner-up in Campus Safety awards
Western Carolina University Chief of Police Steve Lillard was named national runner-up in the higher education division of Campus Safety…
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Haywood surpasses 100 COVID-19 cases
Haywood County Public Health received notice on July 8 of two new cases of COVID-19. This brings the number of…
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Cherokee cultural corridor plan receives award
Knoxville, Tennessee-based Johnson Architecture, along with project partner IBI Placemaking, recently earned an award in North Carolina for the Cherokee…
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Entwined with slavery: A brief local history
By Peter H. Lewis • AVL Watchdog | By 1860, about 15 percent of the population of Western North Carolina was enslaved. Only…
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What’s in a name? For Asheville, signs point to history of racism
By Peter H. Lewis • AVL Watchdog | Vance, Patton, Woodfin, Henderson, Weaver, Chunn, Baird — their names are familiar to anyone living in…
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COVID-19 cases curving up again
Haywood County Medical Director Dr. Mark Jaben has been keeping residents updated through the COVID-19 Pandemic with weekly video messages…
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SCC supports mask distribution efforts
On Monday, June 22, Southwestern Community College hosted Nantahala Health Foundation representatives as they set up a mask distribution site…
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WCU disbands Board of Visitors
Western Carolina University’s Board of Visitors no longer exists following the WCU Board of Trustees’ vote June 5 to repeal…
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