LATEST NEWS
Now is the time to review voter registration, early voting sites
Now is a good time for voters to review their registration status and submit voter registration forms, if needed. The 2026 General Election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 3, with a host of federal, state, and local races on ballots, as well as three state constitution amendments. The deadline to register is 5 p.m.…
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Jackson answers Flock records request
Editor’s note: A version of this story appeared in the Smoky Mountain News’ Wednesday, Sept. 30, print edition titled, “Jackson drags heels over Flock records request.” The Jackson…
Candidates vie for board of education amid a grim future term
School board elections in Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties — The Smoky Mountain News coverage area — have brought forth 14 General Election candidates to see who…
Macon County sees competitive school board races
Macon Board of Education District 2 Incumbent Stephanie Hyder Laseter will face Kaleena Messer and Macon County Commission Chair and former board member Gary Shields in Macon’s most…
Four Swain candidates compete for two board of education spots
In Swain County, the only district within The Smoky Mountain News coverage area to hold partisan board of education elections, Democrats Brandy Monteith and Dannie Shuler and Republicans…
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Outdoors
Word from the Smokies: Ron Rash’s journey to literary acclaim
For Ron Rash, the Southern Appalachians hold a sense of eternity. Here, the promise of the future and the beauty — and harshness — of the present are…
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Coming together: Fall festival season kicks off in WNC
As the weather gets cooler and slowly transitions to those cozy fall days, a bevy of longtime and beloved festivals start to pop up in the picturesque mountain communities here in Western North Carolina.
These annual gatherings are a way to bring all of us together after an extended period of summer sunshine as we…
This must be the place
This must be the place: ‘Blow up your TV, throw away your paper, go to the countryand build you a home’
Hello from Room 512 at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Annapolis, Maryland. It’s almost 11 a.m. Checkout time. Hit the elevator button and wait. Exit into the empty lobby. Place the room keys on the front desk and say thank you to the person behind the counter. Grab one more free coffee for the…
This must be the place: ‘You know that old trees just grow stronger, and old rivers grow wilder every day’
Wednesday morning. Stepping onto the front porch of my apartment in downtown Waynesville, the air was cool. A breeze wafted through town from the nearby mountain ridges cradling the community. Walking to my truck, I noticed the first of the fallen leaves on the sideyard. “Felt like fall this morning,” I commented to my publisher in passing later in the office.
Fall will forever be…
Partner content: Old Rules vs New Reality
Recently I asked a question on my social media channels:
“What is a nutrition “rule” you grew up with, but now question – or maybe even realize was flawed and now you know better?”
Old rule – ‘Low fat and fat-free ice cream, cookies and cakes are good for you!’
Reality – We’ve realized when…
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Partner content: What to Eat When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking
We all have those days when we get home and just don’t feel like making dinner, but of course we still need to eat. What do you do? Do you hit the drive through? Go out for dinner? Make a meal of leftovers?
Or do you try and get creative with items you have on…
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Partner content: UnitedHealthcare investment aims to expand care access in Western North Carolina
Getting health care is not always as simple as finding a doctor. For people who are uninsured, live in rural areas or need language support, the path to care can be more difficult – especially when specialty services are involved. This is especially true for individuals in Western Carolina who are still feeling the impact…
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Partner content: Introducing NEW Local Products at Ingles Markets
Ingles Markets is proud to work with local food and beverage makers and farmers. You’ll find local and regional products throughout our stores from in-season fruits and vegetables in our Produce Department, artisan breads from City Bakery and Annie’s Breads in the bakery, local meat and sausage from Hickory Nut Gap Farms, trout from…
Keep readingOpinion
More choices lead to more unease
Who knew the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) would send me into a deep state of reminiscence and reflection? As I sat there watching Snoop Dogg emcee, Taylor…
letters to the editor
My own Trump naming project
Whew! It’s getting hard to keep up with the Trump…
The problem with ‘The Trump’ dividend
At the recent Republican mid-term rally in Texas, Trump offered…
Constitution is worth celebrating
As Constitution Day just recently passed (Sept. 17), it is…
We just want to feel loved
The gifted and recognized poet, Maya Angelou, once wrote, “I’ve…