Another death at the Jackson County Detention Center
For the fifth time in eight years, and the second time since July, someone has died while incarcerated at the…
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NC Supreme Court orders state to fund Leandro Plan
The latest development in the Leandro v. The state of North Carolina court case came last week when the North…
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WCU alumnus providing leadership gifts
Steve Couch, a 1985 graduate of WCU with a degree in industrial technology, is having a major impact on the…
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Republicans gain two seats on N.C. Supreme Court
Republicans have shifted the balance of the North Carolina supreme court.
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Budd beats Beasley
Ted Budd has beat Cheri Beasely to become the next senator for North Carolina.
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Edwards takes 11th Congressional District over Beach-Ferrara
Hendersonville’s three-term Republican Sen. Chuck Edwards is moving up in the world, from Raleigh to Washington, after defeating his Democrat…
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Farmer wins Jackson Sheriff
In another tight race for Jackson County, Republican Doug Farmer has come out on top of the race for sheriff.
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Wilke to become next Haywood Sheriff
Private investigator, retired Army colonel, former Asheville police officer Bill Wilke will be sworn in as the first elected Republican…
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Laseter, Breeden win Macon School Board race; county votes no to quarter-cent sales tax
Stephanie Hyder Laseter and Diedre Kaye Breeden will join the Macon County School Board after winning elections for their respective…
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West out as Haywood tax collector
The state of North Carolina’s only elected tax collector and one of Haywood County's few elected Democrats will lose his…
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Jackson County Commission too close to call
With all precincts reporting, the race for Jackson County Commission is too close to call. Results will not be official…
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Three incumbents, one newcomer for Haywood School Board
All three incumbents in the race for Haywood County School Board will return to their seat on the board alongside…
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Pless survives challenge, will return to Raleigh
Haywood County Republican Mark Pless may have produced his share of controversy during his first term in the General Assembly,…
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Clampitt holds on to reconfigured 119th District
Republican Rep. Mike Clampitt will return to the Republican majority in Raleigh after defeating Transylvania County Democrat Al Platt in…
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Republicans sweep Swain County School Board
With all precincts reporting, unofficial results show Republicans R.L. Taylor and Lisa Loftis have won seats on the Swain County…
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Corbin cruises in North Carolina’s westernmost senate district
Incumbent Republican Sen. Kevin Corbin, of Macon County, will go on to serve another two years in North Carolina’s General…
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A matter of trust: NC-11 seeks stability after Meadows & Cawthorn
Western North Carolina’s last two Republican congressmen, Mark Meadows and Madison Cawthorn, have left behind them a combined decade-long legacy…
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Pless, Remillard face off with GOP supermajority at stake
Although it may look lopsided by the numbers, the race for North Carolina’s 118th House District could be a bit…
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Beasley, Budd battle for U.S. Senate
The race for United States Senate in North Carolina has been dubbed a sleepy one, but with Election Day now…
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Democrats face uphill battle for Corbin’s seat
North Carolina’s 50th Senate District remains a bastion of Republican power in the west; nonpartisan mapping site davesredistricting.org puts it at…
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Supreme Court candidates navigate partisan campaigning and judicial integrity
They may be the most consequential races in North Carolina this year, yet most people don’t even know who’s running.
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Clampitt, Platt look to gain new ground in 119th District
In North Carolina politics, some things change, while others stay the same.
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Local school boards becoming more politicized
Public schools have grappled with constant change over the last several years due to the impacts of COVID-19.
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Four candidates left in race for Swain County School Board
Unique among the Smoky Mountain News’ four county coverage area, the Swain County School Board is a partisan-elected board. This…
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Three newcomers, three incumbents on the ballot for Haywood Schools
On the heels of new academic data showing Haywood County Schools ranking seventh among the state’s 115 districts, school board…
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Macon to vote on new school board members, funding option for new high school
This year, Macon County Schools began the process of building a new high school. The Franklin High School that exists…
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As NC Republicans eye supermajority for abortion restrictions, Edwards calls pro-choice voters ‘evil’
The debate over abortion rights now moves to the General Assembly — and therefore, the ballot box — but both…
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Performance vs. Promise: West, Cothran seek Haywood tax collector position
This is probably the only election story you’ll read about a county tax collector’s race in North Carolina, because Haywood…
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Five vie for three seats on Haywood Commission
Three incumbents, along with two challengers, are all running for the Haywood County Board of Commissioners this year, and there…
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Big changes coming in WNC law enforcement leadership
Earlier this year candidates for sheriff began campaigning across the region, hoping to earn the trust of voters who, in…
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Bryson, Wilke square off in highly anticipated Haywood sheriff race
After nearly 10 years in office, Haywood County Sheriff Greg Christopher announced his retirement in Mach 2021, giving prospective candidates more…
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Jackson sheriff race down to Buchanan, Farmer
With the impending retirement of Jackson County Sheriff Chip Hall, two candidates will compete for the seat this fall in…
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Cochran seeks fifth term as Swain Sheriff
To be a sheriff in North Carolina is to be the most powerful elected official in a county.
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Race for Jackson County Commission: Incumbent Democrats vs. Republican newcomers
The Jackson County Commission has three seats on the ballot this fall. In addition to commission chairman, districts one and…
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McMahan and Letson compete for commission chair
This election season, there are three seats up for grabs on the Jackson County Commission, all held by Democrats, all…
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Macon commission candidates address issues facing county
Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that John Shearl ran unopposed in his party's primary, which is not…
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Forgiveness for me, but not for thee: Right wing hypocrisy on debt forgiveness reaches WNC
Democratic President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan drew its fair share of cheers and jeers, but as it turns…
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Legislators, candidates stake out positions on abortion ban
After nearly 50 years of contention and debate over what was once considered “settled law,” abortion has now become a…
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House GOP majority could target Social Security, Medicare
The life story of Hendersonville resident Marge Cullen isn’t much different than that of many other retirement-aged Americans.
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Election deniers are targeting North Carolina elections
With dozens of debunked allegations surrounding a “rigged” 2020 election still fresh on the minds of right-wing conspiracy theorists, Western…
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New grant funding available for tech-oriented small businesses
Applications are now being accepted for a new round of grantmaking from the One North Carolina Small Business Program, a…
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Tribal Council commits $324 million for sports-related brand, resort projects
During Annual Council Oct. 24, Tribal Council approved “Project Coda,” a $324 million effort to control “a brand recognized worldwide”…
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American hero starts new chapter at SCC-PSTC
Arin Canon doesn’t utilize the parking spot reserved for veterans at Southwestern Community College’s Public Safety Training Center.
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Experts explain IRS’s data security plan template
Anyone renewing their preparer tax identification number (PTIN) for 2023 will be asked to attest to their data security responsibility…
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WNC mourns Lambert Wilson
The Oct. 20 death of Lambert Wilson — a beloved educator, business owner and supporter of Native American art —…
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Moody’s bond revoked for failure to appear
The Haywood County woman charged with 59 counts of interstate threats and conspiracy to kidnap after sending threatening letters to public officials…
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Tribal Council approves anti-panhandling law
In a unanimous vote Monday, Oct. 17, the Cherokee Tribal Council passed an ordinance that prohibits begging and panhandling in…
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Waynesville housing development makes quick progress
Construction on one of Waynesville’s largest ever single-family home development hasn’t been underway for long, and it’s already transformed the…
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Community Care: With successful data in hand, Sylva’s pilot police program grows
When Western Carolina University Professors Katie Allen and Cyndy Caravelis approached Sylva Police Chief Chris Hatton with a proposal for…
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Taylor domestic violence case headed to trial
Former Tribal Council Rep. Dennis Edward “Bill” Taylor is now facing a fourth charge in the domestic violence case that…
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