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An uphill battle: Without parental support, finishing college is hard
Sophia Calhoun was 9 years old the day the world changed. Her mother died, leaving her dad to care for…
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Student center aims to reach parentless students, increase graduation rates
On virtually any college campus, they’re there — students who have recently exited foster care, are homeless, wards of the…
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Grounds for impeachment
The articles of impeachment passed by the Cherokee Tribal Council on April 6 outline seven grounds on which to remove Principal Chief Patrick Lambert from office. In a Facebook post, Lambert offered a counterpoint to each accusation.
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Governmental crisis in Cherokee: Impeachment hearing scheduled for Chief Lambert
From the moment April’s Tribal Council session began — 8:30 a.m. sharp on the sixth — the Cherokee Council House was packed. Tribal members filled the seats and stood against the walls leading out to the lobby, where chairs in front of a TV broadcasting the meeting inside quickly reached capacity. Faces bearing expressions of sadness, or anticipation, or grim resignation, they waited for the action…
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Mystery Meadows challenger identified?
A “Mark Meadows Town Hall” meeting on health care in Waynesville April 23 doesn’t promise U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows will…
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Meadows supports Appalachian Regional Commission
North Carolina Congressman Mark Meadows, R-Asheville, is known as a staunch fiscal conservative, opposing expansive federal fiscal policy set forth…
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Meadows’ message on ACA is heard loud and clear
“More for less” — that’s the message Western North Carolina Congressman Mark Meadows, R-Asheville, is trying to send to Congress…
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Back to Dillsboro? Railroad considers moving Polar Express from Bryson City
While rumors are flying around town about the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad looking to move its Polar Express event from…
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Swain Democrats endorse replacement for Monteith
The Swain County Board of Commissioners now has a vacancy after the sudden and saddening loss of longtime Commissioner David…
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NC Republicans introduce anti-gay marriage bill
UPDATE: House Speaker Tim Moore has said the “Uphold Historic Marriage Act” will not be heard in the North Carolina…
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Showdown at GOP gulch: Tracing the origin of turmoil in the Haywood Republican Party
A shake up in the Haywood County Republican Party has pitted mainstream party members against an ideological “patriot” faction. The…
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Auto emissions testing in Haywood to go?
Residents of Haywood County stand to save at least $1 million a year if relaxed emissions standards become law —…
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New rural fire districts coming to Waynesville
Widespread inequality in the rates Haywood County residents pay for fire protection is about to come to an end.
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Mainspring projects to transform East Franklin
Mainspring Conservation Trust has several cleanup projects in the works that once completed will transform East Franklin for the better.
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Joint initiative to create Nikwasi-Cowee corridor
Much of Western North Carolina’s native history is hidden in plain sight along the Tennessee River Valley from Otto to…
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Folkmoot's Cultural Conversations: At the intersection of inequality
Cultural bias and conflict aren’t new to Western North Carolina; chattel slavery and Cherokee removal still leave a deep and…
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Canton seeks input on bike and pedestrian plan
Cycling enthusiasts who want to help steer the direction of Canton’s proposed Comprehensive Bicyclist and Pedestrian Plan may want to…
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One small step toward ending discrimination
North Carolina and its citizens are better off with HB2’s repeal. It’s a giant step forward, and despite criticism from…
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Admit it Tar Heel fans, you were squirming
I was all set to write another column on Donald Trump, who somehow seems more unhinged with each passing week,…
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We can’t trust anything Trump says
By Norman Hoffman • Guest Columnist A guest column by Joseph Trisha in the March 22 edition (www.smokymountainnews.com/archives/item/19589) makes a plea…
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Take the money out of politics
To the Editor: We the people of these United States deserve a better way to put into power those who…
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Employers should provide benefits
To the Editor: I have one thing to say to the business owners who feel that equal pay for equal…
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Why so much disrespect for Trump?
To the Editor: From where comes all this hate and disrespect directed at the President? I expect and respect differing…
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The president must be impeached
To the Editor: It’s terrible that such a thing has come to pass, that the “so-called President” must be removed,…
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One day we may have healthcare for all
To the Editor: Our Congressman Mark Meadows may have forgotten the needs of the voters who elected him. While Meadows…
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Get the money out of politics
To the Editor: We are loudly and frequently reminded of the many things that we are supposed to be afraid…
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Freshmen legislators are led astray
To the Editor: Like Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, and others before them, Rep. Mike Clampitt, R-Bryson City, and Kevin Corbin,…
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A conservative wants to conserve
To the Editor: I am a conservative. I conserve. A conservative wisely preserves, conserves and saves. A conservative secures and…
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Insubordinate public servants
To the Editor: If you were the boss of three employees (let’s call them Mark Meadows, Thom Tillis, and Richard…
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Trump still holds the upper hand
To the Editor: The media is crowing over this so-called big loss for Trump by having to postpone the elimination…
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A fox sighting is always a delight
In the natural world here in the Blue Ridge, there are certain visual images that rivet the attention of human…
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A perfect place: Walking Lake Junaluska fuels Hill’s fight against cancer
Ron and Chrissy Hill were all set for their retirement in the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee, having bought a house…
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Museum receives historic donation
The Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians received the largest single donation it’s ever seen when Georgia resident Bob…
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An ancient story well told
In Jennifer Frick-Ruppert’s statement of intent at the back of her book, The Legend of Skyco, she states “While this…
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This must be the place: The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
It was familiar, yet weird. Over the last two weeks I’ve crossed paths twice with my immediate family. Once down…
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The art of being in ‘the now’: Tony Award nominee, WCU professor Terrence Mann on acting, life
When you’re in the presence of Terrence Mann, you find yourself within reach of an energy — a vibe, perhaps…
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Lake Junaluska wins six awards
Lake Junaluska has won six awards from the United Methodist Association of Communicators for video production, publications, social media, photography…
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Haywood GOP leaders overthrown
A power struggle has embroiled the Haywood County Republican Party over the past several months, culminating in the mass overthrow…
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Patriot faction of Haywood GOP blindsided by ousting
Eddie Cabe suspected something big was afoot in the weeks leading up to the annual precinct gathering of the Haywood…
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Resolution targets Presnell partisan bill
After expressing his outrage early last month over a bill that would make school board elections partisan in Haywood County,…
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Cost could keep Franklin aldermen from changing their name
“What’s an alderman?” is a common question town officials hear when trying to explain what they do to members of…
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Strange bedfellows emerge in HB2 ‘repeal’
An admittedly imperfect compromise that could end the tempest of controversy surrounding North Carolina’s HB2 has been reached, but not…
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More Trump budget cuts hit home
Renewed concerns about the local impact of President Donald Trump’s proposed budget cuts and his attempts to repeal the Affordable…
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Jackson ponders $20 million health building
A new health sciences building at Southwestern Community College would allow an additional 288 students to prepare for in-demand health…
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Folkmoot’s Cultural Conversations: Identifying identity
Hundreds, if not thousands of “civic ambassador” programs begin each month in cities and counties across the nation, including in…
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Town denies train’s request for Fry Street closure
Kim Albritton was visibly shaken up when she walked out of Bryson City Town Hall on Monday night.
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Election season begins for Cherokee council race
The race for Cherokee Tribal Council will feature 45 candidates competing for 12 seats around the horseshoe table when the…
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Sylva to vote on funding for Mill Street lane reduction
A plan to turn two-lane Mill Street in Sylva into a one-lane road will soon move forward if town commissioners…
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High hopes in Hazelwood hang on revamped parking lot
A small assortment of businesses in the 400 block of Hazelwood Avenue have been flourishing of late despite suffering through…
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Dillsboro river park gets unanimous approval
A new river park in Dillsboro is no longer just a proposal after the Jackson County Commissioners voted unanimously April…
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