Community backlash ensues following AMC decision

Macon County residents have made a clear statement that they oppose Mission Health’s decision to discontinue labor and delivery services…
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Connecting pets and people: PAWS swoops in to shelter puppy mill rescues

A large-scale rescue effort involving multiple animal welfare agencies resulted in the removal of more than 400 animals from a…
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Folkmoot's Cultural Conversations: A more equitable community

Over the course of the six Cultural Conversations sessions I participated in at Folkmoot, our diverse little group — sitting…
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Tools of the Trade: GE grants Pisgah High $100K for industrial education

Advanced manufacturing and machining in Western North Carolina just got a huge boost from a Fortune-500 multinational conglomerate with more…
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Progressives, citizens criticize Congress, President

After a busy week of rallies around the country, the state and the county, progressives gathered at the Historic Haywood…
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A short break with Coffay

Born in Florida but raised in tiny Blue Ridge, Georgia — just a few miles outside of Murphy and not…
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Is this thing on? WNC groups claim Meadows isn’t listening

Members of several progressive groups concerned over the moral and monetary implications of Affordable Care Act repeal in rural Western…
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Harnessing the progressive tide

A progressive tour de force has emerged across the mountains since the election of President Donald Trump.
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Late to the party? Democrats welcome progressives in symbiotic alliance

Thousands of pop-up progressive activist groups have emerged around the country since November’s election.
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Waynesville man charged with murder
 

Waynesville man charged with murder

Justin Scott Fuller, of Waynesville was arrested Saturday, April 22, and charged with murder following a dispute with Christopher Phillips.
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Asheville Democrat to run against Meadows

A powerful Republican Congressman who also serves as the leader of his party’s most conservative faction now has his first…
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Canton keeps it moving: Burrell to replace departing Hendler-Voss

Canton’s search for a new town manager took about an hour. “We’ve sent a clear signal to the town and…
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Bear activity reported in Panthertown
 

Bear activity reported in Panthertown

Recent bear encounters in Panthertown have spurred the U.S. Forest Service to issue a warning for visitors to the area. 
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A grassroots progressive group takes off in Haywood
 

A grassroots progressive group takes off in Haywood

A progressive tour de force has emerged across the mountains since the election of President Donald Trump.
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The petri dish of American politics: Homegrown factions wreak havoc on mainstream parties

The recent tug-of-war for control of the Haywood County Republican Party has left many conservatives cringing and embarrassed over the…
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Bryson City reconsiders railroad request

It only took about two weeks for the Bryson City Board of Aldermen to change its mind regarding a request…
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Swain ER visits down from last year

Still struggling to make people understand that Swain Community Hospital’s emergency room is still open 24 hours, seven days a…
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Mill Street lane reduction work to begin soon

Mill Street will be getting a makeover after Sylva’s board of commissioners approved funding for the lane reduction project in…
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Panthertown purchase gets a boost

A key piece of land bordering Panthertown Valley Backcountry Area will be conserved following a pledge from the Jackson County…
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Macon changes policy to include elected officials

Macon County Sheriff Robbie Holland said he’s been trying for years to get commissioners to change the county’s personnel policy…
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Tax Day cometh, but not for Trump

A little rain couldn’t drown out the voices of a small group of protestors who gathered at the Historic Haywood…
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Mountain Projects acquires building

A Waynesville-based regional social services agency will finally get that new building its been after.
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DOT land could go to Haywood schools

Parking may get easier and safer for Junaluska Elementary School parents if a bill introduced by Rep. Mike Clampitt, R-Bryson…
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New Maggie police chief brings experience, focus

The straightforward Russ Gilliland is a fifth-generation Haywood County resident, but his path to becoming Maggie Valley’s newest police chief…
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Get a peek behind the curtains of Maggie Valley government

A new program by the Town of Maggie Valley offers citizens a candid look at what the town does, how…
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School libraries install STEM stations
 

School libraries install STEM stations

In many of Haywood County Schools’ media centers, including North Canton Elementary School, media specialists are working with teachers to…
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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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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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Lake Junaluska wins six awards
 

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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