UNC adopts new funding model
The decades-old model used to determine state funding requests for University of North Carolina System schools is set to change…
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Sylva starts social district test period
The Sylva social district opened for business, just in time for last weekend’s Greening Up the Mountains festival.
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Christopher’s shadow looms large over Haywood sheriff’s race
As Greg Christopher enters his 43rd and likely final year in law enforcement, he goes out with his reputation intact…
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Five compete in Jackson Sheriff primaries
Residents of Jackson County are tasked with selecting a new sheriff during the midterm elections this year. But first, voters…
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Five Republicans vie to become Macon’s next sheriff
Among the sheriffs retiring in Western North Carolina who will leave big shoes to fill is Macon County’s Robert Holland,…
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Social media rumors fuel false child trafficking concerns
As increasing child abuse rates continue to plague many homes in Haywood County, a recent red herring took hold on…
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The race for Jackson Commission begins
Three of five seats on the Jackson County Commission are up for grabs this year — district one, district two…
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Plateau Pickup sees record volunteer turnout
Breaking previous records, approximately 130 volunteers helped spruce up Highlands and surrounding highways this past Saturday, April 23, as part…
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Macon Middle principal suspended
Students at Macon County Middle School returned this week from spring break with a new principal at the helm —…
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Democrats, Republicans target vulnerable Cawthorn in NC-11
Western North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District has garnered national attention for electing one controversial Trump-affiliated Republican congressman followed by another…
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Speed a Little, Lose a Lot Campaign
Famed NASCAR driver Bobby Labonte has a message for all North Carolinians: speeding belongs on the racetrack - not the…
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Haywood County nonprofits awarded $66,468 in grants
The Fund for Haywood County with the J. Aaron and Adora H. Prevost Endowment Fund and the Mib and Phil…
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‘Righteous fury’: A Maggie Valley man is on a quest to hold Putin accountable, and it’s not his first rodeo
At the end of every dictator’s reign, every time a warlord has been held to account, its due to the…
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Tribal LLC pursuing bid for two new casinos
In a special-called meeting Wednesday, April 13, Tribal Council approved a plan from EBCI Holdings, Inc. , to bid on…
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Center for Domestic Peace expands services
Each April, the Jackson County Board of Commissioners declares Sexual Assault Awareness month. This year was no different, and Executive…
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UNC System sees surge in employee turnover
Since July 2021, institutions across the University of North Carolina system have been experiencing massive increases in employee turnover —…
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Swain commissioner candidates weigh in on affordable housing
Swain County’s Board of Commissioners will have two new members this year, at least one of whom will emerge from…
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Complaint filed against Cawthorn by fired staffer
Saying in a leaked recording that “we all want the ultimate goal of him never serving again,” Lisa Wiggins, a…
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Race for Jackson County School Board
Ten candidates are running for three open seats on the Jackson County Board of Education this spring. Only one incumbent…
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Haywood commission candidates face significant challenges
Haywood County’s growing, and with that growth comes change – change not everyone is happy to see. Traditional hot-button issues…
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Alaska Presley, business titan and longtime Ghost Town owner, dead at 98
Small in stature but towering in her decades-long influence on Haywood County, Alaska Presley passed away on April 7 at…
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Smokies proposes park-wide parking fee
A visit to the nation’s most popular national park could cease being free if a groundbreaking proposal put forth by…
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Shooting case will test limits of qualified immunity
In 2020, a trial court accepted the qualified immunity defense of Macon County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Anthony Momphard for the…
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High stakes, high expectations in Senate race
Redistricting brought small changes to many of Western North Carolina’s legislative districts, but nowhere are those minor changes more major…
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HCS budgets for declining student population
During the COVID-19 pandemic, North Carolina schools did not incur budget cuts due to lower student populations across the board.…
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HCAE proposes policy changes to review of parental complaints
Haywood County Association of Educators has put forth suggested amendments to the school board policy regarding parental inspection of and…
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Waynesville aldermen ponder projects
It’s a critical time in the Town of Waynesville. Legacy problems like aging sewer and water infrastructure and a malfunctioning…
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Downtown Sylva to test social district
The Sylva Social District test period is one step closer to launch following input from a community task force.
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SCC Health Science Center open for learning
Though students have been enjoying the amenities of the new Health Sciences Center at Southwestern Community College since the start…
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Local family donates $1.5 million to Haywood County Schools Foundation
Students at Pisgah High School will have greater opportunities for higher education funding, after a new $1.5 million scholarship was…
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UNC System extends waiver for SAT, ACT requirement
Through at least fall 2024, applicants to University of North Carolina System schools won’t have to sit for SAT or…
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Tribe eyes property in D.C.
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians tribal leaders frequently travel to Washington, D.C., to make their case to lawmakers on a…
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Maggie aldermen vote to remove zoning board member
During the regularly scheduled Maggie Valley Board of Aldermen meeting on Tuesday, April 6, Alderman John Hinton made a motion…
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‘Still plenty to do’: Continual curiosity key for awarded botanist
When Ron Lance found out he’d been chosen for a prestigious Southern Appalachian Botanical Society award, he was astonished.
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Sylva man sentenced for drug trafficking
A Sylva man who arrived an hour late to court, appeared to nap through his trial, admitted to using methamphetamine…
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Tuckasegee man pleads guilty to knife assaults
A Tuckasegee man who twice used knives to slash the necks of two men on separate occasions is headed to…
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Sylva grieves young shooting victims
The friends and family of two Sylva boys who died following a tragic shooting incident Sunday, March 27, gathered in…
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Clyde assistant fire chief, wife, charged with embezzlement
The Clyde Fire Department’ assistant chief and his wife have been charged with embezzling money from the department.
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High-stakes Supreme Court primary sees little attention
A recent poll commissioned by the N.C. Values Coalition found that most prospective Republican primary voters know who they’ll likely…
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Haywood recreation plan approved
Haywood County is known for its outdoor recreational opportunities that drive both tourism and the local economy. Now, with the…
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Sylva lays out budget priorities
The town of Sylva will likely see several upgrades to its public spaces in the coming year if last week’s…
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Commissioners advance new Haywood jail project
Haywood County commissioners took an important step forward on April 4 by selecting Moseley Architects of Charlotte as the preferred…
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Dedication with dignity: the future of Haywood Christian Ministry
For more than 50 years, Haywood Christian Ministry has served as a safety net for some of Haywood County’s most…
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New tribal laws aim to empower victims, speed up justice
Victims of crime on the Qualla Boundary will now have a defined list of rights to rely on as they…
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Holy Cow! Pathways’ food truck is back – with a major twist
Haywood Pathways Center’s Holy Cow Food Truck returned to action earlier this week, but customers may notice something slightly different…
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Fast moving brushfire in Maggie contained thanks to firefighting efforts and rain
A fire that began Monday afternoon on Sheepback Mountain in Maggie Valley and initially spread quickly was 100% contained as…
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Crews quell fires as new weather system arrives
The wildfires that ripped through the mountains last week are now mostly under control, but as of Tuesday afternoon, April…
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Fire continues to burn past sundown in Maggie
A fire that began on Sheepback Mountain in Maggie Valley Monday afternoon has grown to 50-75 acres as of 8:40…
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Wildfire threatens homes in Maggie Valley
Update 4:20 p.m.: Aerial support in the form of a spotter plane and a helicopter carrying a bucket is now…
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Draft food truck ordinance on the table in Maggie
Maggie Valley is a step closer to allowing food trucks after the board of aldermen reviewed an updated working draft…
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