To the Editor:

When it comes to picking leaders, you’d think the minimum qualifications would include experience, integrity and a commitment to the public good. But here we are, staring down the barrel of Donald Trump’s nomination for FBI Director: Kash Patel.

This isn’t just another bad idea — it’s a threat to families across North Carolina and beyond. Sen. Thom Tillis has a choice to make: stand with the people of North Carolina or enable Trump’s dangerous agenda.

Let’s talk about Patel’s “qualifications.” Spoiler: there aren’t any. He’s never worked in law enforcement and has no experience managing an agency as large and critical as the FBI. What Patel does have is a track record of loyalty to Trump. That’s the real reason he’s in the running — not because he’s ready to lead but because he could weaponize the FBI against Trump’s so-called “enemies.” In fact, Patel authored a literal “enemies list.” If confirmed, he could use the power of the FBI to carry out Trump’s personal vendettas, not protect North Carolinians.

This isn’t just politics — it’s personal for working families in North Carolina. The FBI plays a critical role here, from tackling drug trafficking that devastates communities in Asheville to addressing cybersecurity threats in the Research Triangle. As someone who has had first-hand experience with cyber-attacks, I know firsthand how critical it is to have a competent FBI director who’ll focus on the real issues affecting North Carolinians.

I also think about how law enforcement impacts our communities every day. As a council member in the Village of Forest Hills and also as a parent, I worry about the safety of my community amid the increase in fentanyl and other drug trafficking. Do we really want someone in charge who thinks the FBI headquarters should be turned into a “Museum of the Deep State?” 

Patel’s nomination isn’t just unqualified — it’s dangerous. Under his leadership, the FBI could target progressive organizations and activists, leaving vulnerable communities in the crosshairs. North Carolina’s history shows the need for fair and impartial law enforcement, not a political henchman who could turn our democracy into a playground for MAGA extremism.

Sen. Tillis has often talked about the importance of the rule of law. Here’s his chance to prove he means it. North Carolinians deserve an FBI director who’ll prioritize our safety and security — not someone who’ll spend their time pursuing Trump’s paranoid fantasies. Sen. Tillis, it’s time to take a stand. Vote no on confirming Kash Patel to protect one of our nation’s most important institutions.

Nilofer Couture

Cullowhee

A group of law enforcement officers, elected officials and concerned citizens is renewing its years-long effort to get a series of new laws through the General Assembly this year. 

Two months after former Maggie Valley Police Chief Russ Gilliland filed a lawsuit against the town for wrongful termination, the town has responded by requesting either a dismissal or a jury trial. 

The day before Thanksgiving is sometimes referred to as “Blackout Wednesday,” a nod to the fact that it is one of the biggest drinking days of the year, a day when old friends and family are back in town with a holiday ahead to recover. 

In some areas, Thanksgiving Eve is one of the biggest drinking days of the year, and it is known the kick-off to the festive holiday season. 

A 2017 study by UPSERVE restaurant management, states that beer sales increased 270%, liquor sales by 114%, and “growler” sales by a staggering 658% on the night before Thanksgiving.

To the Editor:

Our EMS and fire departments, law-enforcement and many in serving military units have come to our region’s rescue. They  and caring ordinary neighbors who have put on their boots and gloves and helped so many people in desperate need are our heroes.

Among the most important races in North Carolina is the contest to see who will become the state’s next attorney general, the office that represents the state in legal proceedings while also offering legal advice to prosecutors and law enforcement across the state. 

On the morning of Sept. 27, as rain fell steadily from the pre-dawn sky, Travis Donaldson took a drive around the eastern end of Haywood County. Donaldson, the county’s emergency services director, made a lap around all the appropriate areas, finishing up in Cruso with the intention of turning around and heading back toward Waynesville, where an emergency operations center had already been set up. 

Waynesville Police Chief David Adams had all of his law enforcement instructor certifications suspended by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission; however, he told The Smoky Mountain News late last week that he plans to appeal the commission’s ruling. 

Western North Carolina’s regional DWI taskforce has renewed its push to pass several new drunk-driving bills into law during next year’s long session in Raleigh.