Forest, Grange fight for right to face Cooper
Two Republican candidates, Lt. Gov. Dan Forest and Rep. Holly Grange are seeking their party’s nomination for the November gubernatorial…
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Sen. Tillis faces primary challengers
Three Republican candidates have thrown their hat in the ring with hopes of taking out U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis during…
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Five Dems run for Sen. Tillis seat
The Smoky Mountain News: What do you think the biggest issue is in the primary right now?
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Another wild turn in Lynda Bennett “never Trump” saga
Audio purporting to depict the full context of a discussion in which Lynda Bennett can be heard expressing disdain for…
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Judicial race heats up
When most people think about exciting election action, they don’t often think about judgeships. Judicial races are not usually contested,…
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Attorney General wants answers from HCA
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein issued a letter to HCA Healthcare’s president on Tuesday wanting answers to the many…
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TWSA hires new director
The Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority will have a new executive director on the job by March 19 after the…
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Schools confront inequity in education
Nothing represents a community’s diversity better than its public schools. Each school is a cultural melting pot of ethnicities, identities,…
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WNC charities receive Dogwood Health funding
Dogwood Health Trust has awarded more than $3.7 million to a diverse range of 259 nonprofit and government agencies from…
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Proposed ordinance aims to ensure transparency for tribal boards
Tribal Council is considering an ordinance change that would require the tribe’ various boards and committees to publicly televise or…
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Tribal LLC buys modular home company
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians hopes to see a recent $5.8 million purchase by Kituwah LLC generate revenue for…
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Fentanyl overdose results in federal charges
Cherokee resident Shannon White, 42, will face federal charges for allegedly distributing fentanyl that resulted in an overdose death.
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Policy change aims to improve sheriff recruitment
Sheriff Chip Hall is hoping that a recently adopted policy change will make it easier for the Jackson County Sheriff’s…
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Waynesville wastes no time in budget discussions
Waynesville’s elected officials, administrators and department staff were supposed to spend Feb. 21 talking about the year’s upcoming budget —…
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Paying the cost to be the boss: NC’s 11th Congressional District race, by the numbers
There are plenty of arguments for getting money out of politics, but anybody who wants to get money out of…
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UPDATED: Lynda Bennett campaign under fire for sham endorsement
(Editor's note: This story was originally published on Feb. 22, but has been updated with new information as of Feb.…
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Virginia casino bills move forward
In Virginia last week, both the House and Senate passed versions of a bill that would allow for casino gambling…
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Fatal stabbing in Hyder Mountain community
Updated: 2/19/20 10:30 a.m Jody Vance Jones, 26, of Clyde, has been charged with murdering his father Marion Jones and…
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In Fitzgerald’s fields
In Fitzgerald’s fields they toiled, sun-dappled and rain-soaked, caked in mud and in blood and in sweat. They raised corn…
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Waynesville merchants offer discounts for locals
It's February, which means Waynesville merchants are once again offering special discounts for locals the entire month of February. Look…
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Waynesville names homelessness task force members
Although there was more than a little wrangling over logistics, the Town of Waynesville has finally announced the membership of…
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Charter renewed for Shining Rock Classical Academy
The North Carolina State Board of Education recently voted to renew the charter for Shining Rock Classical Academy for another…
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Council approves purchase of Franklin properties
Franklin Town Council recently approved purchasing two parcels of land in the downtown area for a total cost of $206,660.
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Debate over Second Amendment sanctuary continues in Macon
More than a hundred people crammed Franklin’s Macon County courthouse to speak both for and against designating the county a…
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Pancake Day fundraiser free to community
The beloved community fundraiser known as Pancake Day will return Tuesday, Feb. 25, to First United Methodist Church of Waynesville.
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Macon starts preliminary budget talks
Macon County continues to find itself in a secure financial position heading into the 2020-21 fiscal budget process, but commissioners…
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Work begins on Haywood County budget
Haywood County’s financial position remains strong ahead of talks about next year’s budget, but a host of challenges will test…
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Morris announces internet speed, access increases
Morris Broadband has significantly upgraded and expanded its service in Macon and Jackson counties, increasing both its download speeds and…
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Cherokee, Sylva pass food truck ordinances
The landscape got a bit brighter for food truck owners following a pair of decisions in Cherokee and Sylva this…
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Haywood commissioners face Primary Election opponents
Two years ago, voters in Haywood County made some decisions at the polls that were at odds with not only…
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Sample ballots for WNC
Early voting is underway in Western North Carolina for the March 3 Primary Election. View sample ballots here:
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Democrats fight to flip 11th Congressional District seat
The 2018 General Election was a momentous one for Democrats still smarting from the stunning 2016 loss by one of…
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Agriculture commissioner election about more than just farming
From the mountains to Manteo, it’s easy to see that agriculture is North Carolina’s largest industry, but while driving through…
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Republicans seek to maintain control of Meadows’ seat
Last September at a Macon County GOP event, Franklin Republican and five-term Sen. Jim Davis announced that he wouldn’t be…
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Youth voters on the rise
The elusive youth voter. Politicians want to know what they’re thinking, what issues motivate them and what it takes to…
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Rep. Mark Meadows announces retirement, 18 seek his seat
Santa Claus was especially good to Western North Carolina Democrats this year, delivering from his sack one big item on…
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State superintendent candidates sound off
As Primary Election season sets in, a number of statewide races will have voters making some serious decisions at the…
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Candidates work for Labor post
After a long career in public service, North Carolina’s current Commissioner of Labor Cherie Berry — who you probably know…
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State Treasurer job important, overlooked
Sure, your local civic organization, athletic club or hobbyist group probably has a treasurer — the person with the checkbook…
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Corbin, Conway seek GOP nod for Senate
When five-term N.C. Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, announced his surprise retirement at the Macon County GOP headquarters last fall, it…
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Clampitt, Mau offer stiff competition for Queen, each other
Over the past decade or so, there’s been only one serious candidate willing or able to run for the District…
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GOP attorney general candidates offer differing perspectives
North Carolina’s attorney general may be the top law enforcement officer in the state, but the AG also serves as…
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Three Democrats face off in Swain primary
Three Democrats running for county commissioner will appear on the primary election ballot in Swain County this year, and voters…
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Democrats face off in Jackson commission race
With Republican Commissioner Ron Mau leaving his seat for a run at N.C. House District 119, three Democrats are vying…
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Five candidates seek Macon commission seats
Five candidates will be running in the primary election for a chance to claim an open seat on the Macon…
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WCU works to engage student body
Students at Western Carolina University have helped hundreds of their fellow Catamounts register to vote in the 2020 election, and…
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Tribal Council OKs donation to Jackson Schools
Tribal Council approved an $89,745 donation to Jackson County Schools during its Budget Council meeting Tuesday, Feb. 4, money that…
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Cause of WCU evacuation undetermined, but classes will resume
The Health and Human Sciences Building at Western Carolina University will reopen on Monday, Feb. 10 after a Feb. 6…
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Draft forest management plan released
After more than six years of work, a draft forest management plan for the Pisgah-Nantahala National Forest is now available.
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Student Democracy Coalition achieves more than voter registration
CULLOWHEE – It is starting to get very busy for members of the Student Democracy Coalition at Western Carolina University. Led…
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