Improvement plan selected for Soco Road

The Maggie Valley Board of Aldermen recently directed the North Carolina Department of Transportation to move forward with a plan…
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Franklin unveils land use plan

The town of Franklin is working toward creating a vision for the community that will guide growth and investment for…
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Cherokee passes Brunch Bill

Nearly three years after the state legislature passed a bill allowing local governments to approve Sunday morning alcohol sales, the…
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Alcohol sales likely at WCU games this fall

Changes to the alcohol situation at Western Carolina University games are on the way for the upcoming school year, both…
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Raleigh budget squabbles impact WCU

A state-level budget stalemate that’s been ongoing since July could cause real problems — and real changes — at Western…
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NC elections highlight the importance of the West

There’s a strong, long-held sentiment here in rural Western North Carolina that the region is often overlooked when balanced against…
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Meadows move leaves his district hanging

A tweet issued by President Donald Trump on the evening of March 6 made Rep. Mark Meadows’ next move pretty…
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Jackson jail death spurs lawsuit

The family of a Sylva woman who died by suicide in the Jackson County Detention Center last year has filed…
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Breaking: NC11 Rep Mark Meadows to become President Trump’s next chief of staff

After more than two months of speculation as to his next move, Western North Carolina Congressman Mark Meadows will become…
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UNC President visits WCU to discuss budget needs

University of North Carolina System Interim President Bill Roper joined Chancellor Kelli R. Brown to tour the campus of Western…
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Corbin cruises in Senate race

Republican voters in seven western counties have again decided that a candidate from Franklin, in Macon County, should be their…
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Clampitt takes nomination in 119th District

It looks like one of North Carolina’s longest-running political feuds will go another round. 
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North Carolinians decide state and federal offices

From president to state auditor, the March 3 Primary Election was full of an almost overwhelming slate of federal and…
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Wallace, Young will fight for Macon in November

As the top vote-getters from each party, Democrat Betty Cloer Wallace and Republican Josh Young will battle it out for…
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Carson, Parsons to continue for Swain commissioner

Democratic candidates Roger Parsons and Phil Carson will move on to the November election after being the top two vote-getters…
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Bogardus to advance in Jackson contest

Susan Bogardus has won the Democratic primary in the race to represent Jackson County’s District 3 on the Board of…
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Republicans stick with incumbents in Haywood

When Canton businessman Brandon Rogers led the county commission ticket in 2016, he helped narrow the Democratic majority from 4-to-1…
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Wild finish in 11th Congressional District

Last fall, few people expected to be devoting so much time, energy and money to two Primary Election races in…
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Wingate wins GOP judicial primary

Once Judge Richard K. Walker announced he wouldn’t seek re-election, four Republicans from three of the seven counties in the…
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A new chapter: Other options explored for Marianna Black Library

No one is thrilled about the idea of having Swain County’s only public library located in a strip mall, but…
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Rock netting coming to Nantahala Gorge
 

Rock netting coming to Nantahala Gorge

N.C. Department of Transportation officials recently awarded a $450,000 contract to increase the stability of a hill beside U.S. 19/74…
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Erosion issues persist at Millennial Apartments

The Millennial Apartments project overseen by Zimmer Development Corporation has racked up seven notices of violations of state standards since…
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Smoky Mountain News again recognized for journalistic excellence

It was another good year for community journalism in Western North Carolina, and writers from The Smoky Mountain News were…
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Banishment law changes considered in Cherokee

Tribal Council will consider a pair of ordinances proposing changes to the tribe’s banishment laws during its March 5 meeting,…
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Catamounts hope to continue basketball turnaround

By Todd Vinyard • Contributing Writer | Western Carolina University basketball has been using the hashtag #ItsComing on social media…
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Oregon State’s Alex Gary named WCU athletics director

By Todd Vinyard • Contributing Writer | Alex Gary, a former student-athlete on the Western Carolina University baseball team who…
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Attorney General wants answers from HCA

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein issued a letter to HCA Healthcare’s president last week wanting answers to the many…
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Haywood County voter turnout off to a good start

When Super Tuesday dawned in Western North Carolina, most voters awoke to torrential downpours, but the heavy rain doesn’t seem…
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Democrats want to capitalize on open Lt. Gov. seat

Six Democrats are competing for their party’s nomination in the lieutenant governor’s race; one of nine Republicans also seeking the…
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Republicans look to thin large field in Lt. Gov. primary

With the departure of Lt. Gov Dan Forest – running for governor and with a primary contest of his own…
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Insurance commissioner primary features familiar face

Charlotte Republican Ronald Pierce will again challenge incumbent Commissioner of Insurance and fellow Republican Mike Causey. In 2016, Pierce finished…
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State Auditor faces primary challenge, Republican opponents

The office of State Auditor might be the most unnoticed, misunderstood agency in the state, but the job is tremendously…
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Three GOP candidates seek Secretary of State nomination

On Tuesday, March 3, Republican Primary voters will be asked to choose between three candidates for the Secretary of State…
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Forest, Grange fight for right to face Cooper

Two Republican candidates, Lt. Gov. Dan Forest and Rep. Holly Grange are seeking their party’s nomination for the November gubernatorial…
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Sen. Tillis faces primary challengers

Three Republican candidates have thrown their hat in the ring with hopes of taking out U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis during…
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Five Dems run for Sen. Tillis seat

The Smoky Mountain News: What do you think the biggest issue is in the primary right now?
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Another wild turn in Lynda Bennett “never Trump” saga

Audio purporting to depict the full context of a discussion in which Lynda Bennett can be heard expressing disdain for…
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Judicial race heats up

When most people think about exciting election action, they don’t often think about judgeships.  Judicial races are not usually contested,…
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Attorney General wants answers from HCA

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein issued a letter to HCA Healthcare’s president on Tuesday wanting answers to the many…
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TWSA hires new director

The Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority will have a new executive director on the job by March 19 after the…
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Schools confront inequity in education
 

Schools confront inequity in education

Nothing represents a community’s diversity better than its public schools. Each school is a cultural melting pot of ethnicities, identities,…
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WNC charities receive Dogwood Health funding

Dogwood Health Trust has awarded more than $3.7 million to a diverse range of 259 nonprofit and government agencies from…
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Proposed ordinance aims to ensure transparency for tribal boards

Tribal Council is considering an ordinance change that would require the tribe’ various boards and committees to publicly televise or…
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Tribal LLC buys modular home company

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians hopes to see a recent $5.8 million purchase by Kituwah LLC generate revenue for…
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Fentanyl overdose results in federal charges

Cherokee resident Shannon White, 42, will face federal charges for allegedly distributing fentanyl that resulted in an overdose death.
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Policy change aims to improve sheriff recruitment

Sheriff Chip Hall is hoping that a recently adopted policy change will make it easier for the Jackson County Sheriff’s…
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Waynesville wastes no time in budget discussions

Waynesville’s elected officials, administrators and department staff were supposed to spend Feb. 21 talking about the year’s upcoming budget —…
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Paying the cost to be the boss: NC’s 11th Congressional District race, by the numbers

There are plenty of arguments for getting money out of politics, but anybody who wants to get money out of…
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UPDATED: Lynda Bennett campaign under fire for sham endorsement

(Editor's note: This story was originally published on Feb. 22, but has been updated with new information as of Feb.…
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Virginia casino bills move forward

In Virginia last week, both the House and Senate passed versions of a bill that would allow for casino gambling…
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