Another death at the Jackson County Detention Center

For the fifth time in eight years, and the second time since July, someone has died while incarcerated at the…
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NC Supreme Court orders state to fund Leandro Plan

The latest development in the Leandro v. The state of North Carolina court case came last week when the North…
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WCU alumnus providing leadership gifts

Steve Couch, a 1985 graduate of WCU with a degree in industrial technology, is having a major impact on the…
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Republicans gain two seats on N.C. Supreme Court

Republicans have shifted the balance of the North Carolina supreme court.
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Budd beats Beasley

Ted Budd has beat Cheri Beasely to become the next senator for North Carolina. 
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Edwards takes 11th Congressional District over Beach-Ferrara

Hendersonville’s three-term Republican Sen. Chuck Edwards is moving up in the world, from Raleigh to Washington, after defeating his Democrat…
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Farmer wins Jackson Sheriff

In another tight race for Jackson County, Republican Doug Farmer has come out on top of the race for sheriff. 
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Wilke to become next Haywood Sheriff

Private investigator, retired Army colonel, former Asheville police officer Bill Wilke will be sworn in as the first elected Republican…
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Laseter, Breeden win Macon School Board race; county votes no to quarter-cent sales tax

Stephanie Hyder Laseter and Diedre Kaye Breeden will join the Macon County School Board after winning elections for their respective…
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West out as Haywood tax collector

The state of North Carolina’s only elected tax collector and one of Haywood County's few elected Democrats will lose his…
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Jackson County Commission too close to call

With all precincts reporting, the race for Jackson County Commission is too close to call. Results will not be official…
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Three incumbents, one newcomer for Haywood School Board

All three incumbents in the race for Haywood County School Board will return to their seat on the board alongside…
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Pless survives challenge, will return to Raleigh

Haywood County Republican Mark Pless may have produced his share of controversy during his first term in the General Assembly,…
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Clampitt holds on to reconfigured 119th District

Republican Rep. Mike Clampitt will return to the Republican majority in Raleigh after defeating Transylvania County Democrat Al Platt in…
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Republicans sweep Swain County School Board

With all precincts reporting, unofficial results show Republicans R.L. Taylor and Lisa Loftis have won seats on the Swain County…
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Corbin cruises in North Carolina’s westernmost senate district

Incumbent Republican Sen. Kevin Corbin, of Macon County, will go on to serve another two years in North Carolina’s General…
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A matter of trust: NC-11 seeks stability after Meadows & Cawthorn

Western North Carolina’s last two Republican congressmen, Mark Meadows and Madison Cawthorn, have left behind them a combined decade-long legacy…
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Pless, Remillard face off with GOP supermajority at stake

Although it may look lopsided by the numbers, the race for North Carolina’s 118th House District could be a bit…
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Beasley, Budd battle for U.S. Senate

The race for United States Senate in North Carolina has been dubbed a sleepy one, but with Election Day now…
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Democrats face uphill battle for Corbin’s seat

North Carolina’s 50th Senate District remains a bastion of Republican power in the west; nonpartisan mapping site davesredistricting.org puts it at…
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Supreme Court candidates navigate partisan campaigning and judicial integrity

They may be the most consequential races in North Carolina this year, yet most people don’t even know who’s running.
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Clampitt, Platt look to gain new ground in 119th District

In North Carolina politics, some things change, while others stay the same. 
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Local school boards becoming more politicized

Public schools have grappled with constant change over the last several years due to the impacts of COVID-19.
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Four candidates left in race for Swain County School Board

Unique among the Smoky Mountain News’ four county coverage area, the Swain County School Board is a partisan-elected board. This…
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Three newcomers, three incumbents on the ballot for Haywood Schools

On the heels of new academic data showing Haywood County Schools ranking seventh among the state’s 115 districts, school board…
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Macon to vote on new school board members, funding option for new high school

This year, Macon County Schools began the process of building a new high school. The Franklin High School that exists…
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As NC Republicans eye supermajority for abortion 
restrictions, Edwards calls pro-choice voters ‘evil’

The debate over abortion rights now moves to the General Assembly — and therefore, the ballot box — but both…
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Performance vs. Promise: West, Cothran seek Haywood tax collector position

This is probably the only election story you’ll read about a county tax collector’s race in North Carolina, because Haywood…
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Five vie for three seats on Haywood Commission

Three incumbents, along with two challengers, are all running for the Haywood County Board of Commissioners this year, and there…
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Big changes coming in WNC law enforcement leadership

Earlier this year candidates for sheriff began campaigning across the region, hoping to earn the trust of voters who, in…
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Bryson, Wilke square off in highly anticipated Haywood sheriff race

After nearly 10 years in office, Haywood County Sheriff Greg Christopher announced his retirement in Mach 2021, giving prospective candidates more…
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Jackson sheriff race down to Buchanan, Farmer

With the impending retirement of Jackson County Sheriff Chip Hall, two candidates will compete for the seat this fall in…
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Cochran seeks fifth term as Swain Sheriff

To be a sheriff in North Carolina is to be the most powerful elected official in a county.
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Race for Jackson County Commission: 
Incumbent Democrats vs. Republican newcomers

The Jackson County Commission has three seats on the ballot this fall. In addition to commission chairman, districts one and…
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McMahan and Letson compete for commission chair 


This election season, there are three seats up for grabs on the Jackson County Commission, all held by Democrats, all…
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Macon commission candidates address issues facing county

Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that John Shearl ran unopposed in his party's primary, which is not…
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Forgiveness for me, but not for thee: Right wing hypocrisy on debt forgiveness reaches WNC

Democratic President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan drew its fair share of cheers and jeers, but as it turns…
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Legislators, candidates stake out positions on abortion ban

After nearly 50 years of contention and debate over what was once considered “settled law,” abortion has now become a…
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House GOP majority could target Social Security, Medicare

The life story of Hendersonville resident Marge Cullen isn’t much different than that of many other retirement-aged Americans.
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Election deniers are targeting North Carolina elections

With dozens of debunked allegations surrounding a “rigged” 2020 election still fresh on the minds of right-wing conspiracy theorists, Western…
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New grant funding available for tech-oriented small businesses
 

New grant funding available for tech-oriented small businesses

Applications are now being accepted for a new round of grantmaking from the One North Carolina Small Business Program, a…
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Tribal Council commits $324 million for sports-related brand, resort projects

During Annual Council Oct. 24, Tribal Council approved “Project Coda,” a $324 million effort to control “a brand recognized worldwide”…
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American hero starts new chapter at SCC-PSTC

Arin Canon doesn’t utilize the parking spot reserved for veterans at Southwestern Community College’s Public Safety Training Center.
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Experts explain IRS’s data security plan template
 

Experts explain IRS’s data security plan template

Anyone renewing their preparer tax identification number (PTIN) for 2023 will be asked to attest to their data security responsibility…
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WNC mourns Lambert Wilson

The Oct. 20 death of Lambert Wilson — a beloved educator, business owner and supporter of Native American art —…
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Moody’s bond revoked for failure to appear

The Haywood County woman charged with 59 counts of interstate threats and conspiracy to kidnap after sending threatening letters to public officials…
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Tribal Council approves anti-panhandling law

In a unanimous vote Monday, Oct. 17, the Cherokee Tribal Council passed an ordinance that prohibits begging and panhandling in…
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Waynesville housing development makes quick progress

Construction on one of Waynesville’s largest ever single-family home development hasn’t been underway for long, and it’s already transformed the…
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Community Care: With successful data in hand, Sylva’s pilot police program grows

When Western Carolina University Professors Katie Allen and Cyndy Caravelis approached Sylva Police Chief Chris Hatton with a proposal for…
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Taylor domestic violence case headed to trial

Former Tribal Council Rep. Dennis Edward “Bill” Taylor is now facing a fourth charge in the domestic violence case that…
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