You are not alone: Macon housing needs assessment tells familiar story

When Patrick Bowen, president of Bowen National Research, presented a housing needs assessment to the Macon County’s board of commissioners…
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Veto override: Lawmakers expand funding for private school vouchers

Lawmakers in the North Carolina General Assembly voted last week to override Governor Roy Cooper’s veto and pass a mini…
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Cooper taps Wijewickrama for superior court seat

Judge Roy Wijewickrama has been appointed to fill the recently vacated senior resident superior court seat in the district made…
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The Pigeon Center responds to community’s disaster needs: Support needed to make up fundraising shortfall

The Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center quickly became a storm recovery hub in Waynesville just days after Hurricane Helene devastated…
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WNC law enforcement aims to turn ‘Blackout Wednesday’ blue

In some areas, Thanksgiving Eve is one of the biggest drinking days of the year, and it is known the…
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Rental assistance available for homeowners, renters

Homeowners and renters in North Carolina may be eligible for FEMA Rental Assistance if they cannot live in their homes because…
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Sham Helene relief bill riles western leaders: Contentious veto override vote likely looms

To be, rather than to seem; North Carolina’s aspirational state motto evokes notions of determination and the desire for substance…
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Cooper taps Wijewickrama for superior court seat

Judge Roy Wijewickrama has been appointed to fill the recently vacated senior resident superior court seat in the district made…
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Gov. Cooper goes to D.C. after General Assembly fails to deliver on storm relief

With North Carolina’s Republican-dominated General Assembly still dead-set on refusing to provide meaningful relief for mountain communities hit hard by…
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Sound the siren: Spotlight shines on Canton mayor, staff at Hurricanes game

Sounding the Carolina Hurricanes’ ceremonial storm siren is a sort of sacred duty, something to be enjoyed, but also something…
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Haywood County takes stock, plots post-Helene recovery

Solid numbers on damage from Hurricane Helene are finally coming into Haywood County, along with a state plan to repurpose…
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Helene damage coming into focus in Waynesville

Like much of Haywood County, Waynesville wasn’t affected by Hurricane Helene as badly as many other Western North Carolina communities,…
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Canton honors radio stations for service during Hurricane Helene

In recognition of the exceptional public service provided by a trio of radio stations during Hurricane Helene — when nearly…
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Jackson, Macon, Swain reach FRL agreement

Macon County has approved a new version of the Fontana Regional Library interlocal agreement that contains changes made by all…
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Macon votes to retain environmental health fees

Macon County Commissioners decided last week to oppose Commissioner Paul Higdon’s push to eliminate environmental health fees, an initiative he…
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Canton Fire Department moving to new temporary home

The Town of Canton’s temporary operations hub on Summer Street, home to town hall and the police department since shortly…
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Hellbent Hope: Generative writing workshops

Helene tore through many people’s lives in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Some lost homes, as well as the…
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Shop local, shop small for hurricane recovery

Holiday shoppers across the region, the state, the country and even the world can give the gift of Haywood by…
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Volunteer effort hooks up displaced WNC residents with temporary housing

As the recovery from the flooding disaster brought on by Hurricane Helene transitions to a different phase with more long-term…
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Green wins race for superintendent of NC schools

While a majority of North Carolina voters chose Republican candidate Donald Trump for president of the United States, many split…
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Macon votes no, again, to quarter-cent sales tax

For the second time in two years, Macon County voters have rejected the implementation of a quarter-cent sales tax to…
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Jackson Commission considers increasing commissioner pay

With the General Election over and two new members set to join the Jackson County Commission in December, the board…
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FEMA extends deadline to apply for Helene assistance

The deadline for North Carolinians in 39 counties to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance after Hurricane Helene has been extended…
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Trump victory overshadows Stein win and gains by NC Dems

While it certainly appears that a “red wave” washed over the United States on Nov. 5, that’s not exactly the…
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Haywood TDA reacts to Helene problems with grants, budget cut

Two days after Haywood Chamber President and CEO David Francis announced the creation of a small business grant recovery program…
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State of the waterways: Water Quality Advisory Committee releases new report

The Water Quality Advisory Committee has released its latest report detailing potential impacts of revising the Macon County Flood Damage…
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Haywood County postpones property reappraisal

A state-mandated countywide property reappraisal that was nearly complete and slated to take effect on Jan. 1, 2025, has been shelved…
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Letts appointed to EBCI Supreme Court, vacates superior court seat

Last month, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians swore in Bradley B. Letts as the tribe’s new chief supreme court…
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Jackson’s school improvement plan under question from board member

When district leadership presented school improvement plans to the Jackson County Board of Education during its October meeting, one school…
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Memorial scholarship established to assist nontraditional art students at WCU

Nontraditional students working to earn a degree in an art-related major at Western Carolina University soon will have financial assistance…
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Grants for businesses impacted by Helene are on the way in Haywood County

A coalition of Haywood County community organizations, quasi-governmental institutions, local businesses and private individuals have stepped in where the North Carolina…
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Swain awarded $52 million for new middle school

Swain County is on its way to building a new middle school after securing $52 million in grant funds from…
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Connecting local businesses with the outside world

Challenges still abound after Hurricane Helene tore through Western North Carolina a little over a month ago. But one resource…
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Haywood voters stick with Ensley, Rogers for commission

Two Republicans seeking to fend off a challenge by a lone Democrat, Waynesville native Tausha Forney, have done so, and…
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Edwards overperforms, wins in 11th Congressional District

Western North Carolina Republican Congressman Chuck Edwards, who became a Hurricane Helene hero for debunking storm response lies spread by…
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Pless easily cruises to third term in House District 118

Haywood County native and Republican Rep. Mark Pless will return to the North Carolina General Assembly for a third term…
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Corbin will return as North Carolina’s westernmost senator

Macon County native Kevin Corbin just keeps on winning and will return to Raleigh for his third term as the…
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Republicans take Jackson Commission

With all precincts reporting, Republican candidates appear to have secured two more seats in the Jackson county commission, creating a…
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Gillespie continues dominance in House District 120

Over the past four years, Macon County native and second-term House Rep. Karl Gillespie has represented one of the most…
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Newcomers win Swain County Commission seats

Swain County has elected two political newcomers to its board of commissioners.
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Clampitt keeps 119th House District

The man still known for his protracted electoral feud with former Democratic Rep. Joe Sam Queen — the two faced…
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Incumbents keep Macon County Board of Education

With all precincts reporting, three incumbents have maintained their seats on the Macon County Board of Education. 
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NCDOT estimates date for 2-lane traffic on I-40 in gorge

Traffic may be flowing in both directions on Interstate 40 through the Pigeon River Gorge — albeit slower than normal…
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Jackson voters to choose two new commissioners

With two current commissioners not seeking reelection, no matter the outcome, the Jackson County Commission will have two new faces…
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Walz makes final campaign push in return to Asheville

With just days remaining before voters go to the polls on Nov. 5, Democratic Vice Presidential nominee and Minnesota Gov.…
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Macon to consider waiving environmental health fees

In the coming months, the Macon County Commission will consider waiving environmental health fees, and possibly building inspection fees, after…
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Early voting ends this weekend

In-person early voting ends Saturday, Nov. 2 at 3 p.m., but voters will still have one last opportunity to cast…
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Grant program assists Jackson businesses post-Helene

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, Jackson County Economic Development has put together a grant opportunity for businesses impacted by…
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Edwards silent, but his record speaks for itself

The legacies of Western North Carolina’s two previous Republican congressmen, Mark Meadows and Madison Cawthorn, haven’t exactly aged well. 
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Left a loan: Small businesses continue to wait for Helene help

When the Coronavirus Pandemic resulted in the closing of millions of businesses across the United States in March 2020, federal…
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