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
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
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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Fatal stabbing in Hyder Mountain community
Updated: 2/19/20 10:30 a.m Jody Vance Jones, 26, of Clyde, has been charged with murdering his father Marion Jones and…
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In Fitzgerald’s fields
In Fitzgerald’s fields they toiled, sun-dappled and rain-soaked, caked in mud and in blood and in sweat. They raised corn…
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Waynesville merchants offer discounts for locals
It's February, which means Waynesville merchants are once again offering special discounts for locals the entire month of February. Look…
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Waynesville names homelessness task force members
Although there was more than a little wrangling over logistics, the Town of Waynesville has finally announced the membership of…
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Charter renewed for Shining Rock Classical Academy
The North Carolina State Board of Education recently voted to renew the charter for Shining Rock Classical Academy for another…
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Council approves purchase of Franklin properties
Franklin Town Council recently approved purchasing two parcels of land in the downtown area for a total cost of $206,660.
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Debate over Second Amendment sanctuary continues in Macon
More than a hundred people crammed Franklin’s Macon County courthouse to speak both for and against designating the county a…
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Pancake Day fundraiser free to community
The beloved community fundraiser known as Pancake Day will return Tuesday, Feb. 25, to First United Methodist Church of Waynesville.
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Macon starts preliminary budget talks
Macon County continues to find itself in a secure financial position heading into the 2020-21 fiscal budget process, but commissioners…
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Work begins on Haywood County budget
Haywood County’s financial position remains strong ahead of talks about next year’s budget, but a host of challenges will test…
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Morris announces internet speed, access increases
Morris Broadband has significantly upgraded and expanded its service in Macon and Jackson counties, increasing both its download speeds and…
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Cherokee, Sylva pass food truck ordinances
The landscape got a bit brighter for food truck owners following a pair of decisions in Cherokee and Sylva this…
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Haywood commissioners face Primary Election opponents
Two years ago, voters in Haywood County made some decisions at the polls that were at odds with not only…
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Sample ballots for WNC
Early voting is underway in Western North Carolina for the March 3 Primary Election. View sample ballots here:
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Democrats fight to flip 11th Congressional District seat
The 2018 General Election was a momentous one for Democrats still smarting from the stunning 2016 loss by one of…
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Agriculture commissioner election about more than just farming
From the mountains to Manteo, it’s easy to see that agriculture is North Carolina’s largest industry, but while driving through…
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Republicans seek to maintain control of Meadows’ seat
Last September at a Macon County GOP event, Franklin Republican and five-term Sen. Jim Davis announced that he wouldn’t be…
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Youth voters on the rise
The elusive youth voter. Politicians want to know what they’re thinking, what issues motivate them and what it takes to…
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Rep. Mark Meadows announces retirement, 18 seek his seat
Santa Claus was especially good to Western North Carolina Democrats this year, delivering from his sack one big item on…
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