LATEST NEWS
Corbin defends Senate seat against Downing
Incumbent Sen. Kevin Corbin will face newcomer Tom Downing in the race for the state Senate District 50 this November.
The two spoke with The Smoky Mountain News to discuss what they consider to be the biggest issues facing constituents this election.
The Senate district covers all of Cherokee, Clay, Macon, Craham, Swain, Jackson and…
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Hughes aims to unseat veteran Sen. Ralph Hise
Ralph Hise will square off against challenger Frank Hughes III for the second campaign in a row as he vies to become the longest-serving member of the state…
Community planning sessions zero in on Canton’s future
A series of events last week allowed the community to weigh in on Canton’s vision, from the future of the property where the paper mill is currently being demolished…
Jackson implements data center moratorium
Jackson County commissioners are putting a one-year pause on new data center development, joining a growing number of communities across Western North Carolina that have moved to temporarily…
Swain County makes rudimentary plans for opioid settlement
Swain commissioners at an Aug. 18 meeting voted unanimously in favor of pursuing a $60,000 Purdue-Sackler settlement-funded contract with Tonya Snider from tenBiz, Inc. to facilitate implementation of…
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Outdoors
“The Intention of the Eye”
“Stop, Burt!” I braked.
We were driving home one summer afternoon in 2023 when Becky spotted a box turtle crossing our driveway and called out. I thought the…
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The other side of blue: Melissa Etheridge to play Harrah’s Cherokee
Award-winning singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge will bring her trademark scorching vocals and intimate lyrics to our backyard for a special concert that’ll be held at 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort.
The performance promises to be a healthy blend of Etheridge classics you’ve known and loved since she first shook up the…
This must be the place
This must be the place: ‘The questions of a thousand dreams, what you do and what you see’
Hello from Room 108 at the Thunderbird Inn, located in downtown Savannah, Georgia. This is the first morning in the last two weeks where I’ve walked outside and it hasn’t felt like an oppressive oven of heat and humidity. With recent daily heat indexes hovering around 110 degrees down here, it’s quite refreshing to step…
This must be the place: ‘Way back in the early days, when we were runnin’ through the maze’
Hello from Jacksonville Beach, Florida. This is my third time here this year. Usually, I’m wandering and pondering through here in the spring. But, since it’s where my girlfriend, Rebecca, calls home, I continue to roll in, happily. First time in Florida in the depths of summer. Still hot, humid. Still soothing to the core of my ramblin’ soul, especially those evenings with a warm…
Partner content: Can You be MISDIAGNOSED with Celiac Disease?
Yes! But typically, this would only be if you self-diagnosed without being tested or were diagnosed by a medical provider solely by your symptoms/reactions to eating foods with gluten and didn’t have testing. A medical provider should order blood tests for screening. The gold standard for diagnosing celiac disease is a biopsy of the lining…
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Partner content: The Color of SALMON
Do you ever wonder about the color of salmon?
Why some salmon may be really dark orange, and some may be lighter and perhaps more of a pink hue? That’s due to a pigment called astaxanthin which is a carotenoid (the vitamin A family).
Salmon need this pigment – it is like an essential vitamin…
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Partner content: what to ADD to your meals
White rice is a good source of carbohydrates and a handy and versatile grain to keep on hand as it stores well.
Here are 5 things you can do with white rice:
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Partner content: Health, Humidity and Hydration
White rice is a good source of carbohydrates and a handy and versatile grain to keep on hand as it stores well.
Here are 5 things you can do with white rice:
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Be patient and let Trump be Trump
As Donald Trump’s political standing shows signs of erosion — whether due to legal troubles, policy failures or simple fatigue among voters — the United States is approaching…
letters to the editor
We must do better for DV victims
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It is supposed to…
One-party rule is a disaster
To the Editor: This is a Republican utopia. The President,…
The road to Iran runs through Israel
Steven Berner’s letter (SMN, July 15, 2026) was spot on…
Silence is not an option
I’m a lifetime member of the American Legion and the…