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Female leadership key in Jackson government
While men hold the highest-paying and highest number of jobs in most Western North Carolina governments, Jackson County is a…
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Waynesville takes steps to address gender balance, pay
As the largest North Carolina town west of Asheville, Waynesville often sets the bar for how other municipal governments handle…
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Local governments show room for improvement in gender pay equality
From the very birth of this nation, the words “All men are created equal” never really meant all men, and…
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Cunningham responds to Tillis attacks
Ever since my days in Scouts, I’ve loved hiking, backpacking, and traveling in Western North Carolina. As adults, my wife…
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Governments work toward equal pay
In recognition of the 19th Amendment’s centennial anniversary this month, The Smoky Mountain News is doing a series of stories to…
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BLM marchers again take to Maggie Valley under increased security
The Aug. 1 Black Lives Matter demonstration in Maggie Valley may have been bigger and louder than its predecessor on…
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Cherokee will delay budget hearings, adopt baseline budget
In a resolution passed last month, Tribal Council decided that it will not hold budget hearings this year but will…
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Tribe engages firm to pursue expanded casino holdings
As states throughout the Southeast consider allowing or expanding commercial gaming in their jurisdictions, Tribal Council has voted to enter…
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Turning towards woodturning: Mike McKinney’s path to discovering his craft
By Andrew Dundas • Contributing Writer | Bowls in various stages of production scattered the workshop around Mike McKinney, piled onto tables…
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Haywood schools to adopt new complaint policy
Haywood County Schools Title IX Coordinator Jason Heinz recently discussed policy changes that must go into effect by Aug. 14…
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Harris urges community to wear masks
Harris Regional Hospital is urging community members to wear face masks or cloth face coverings in public areas where social…
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More COVID-19 outbreaks reported in WNC
According to the Haywood County Health Department, a significant number of the close contacts of positive COVID-19 cases recently identified…
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School board, community work to garner internet access
At a July 30 special called meeting, Dr. Trevor Putnam presented the Haywood County School Board with a contract in…
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New COVID-19 outbreak identified in Macon
Macon County Public Health has identified a COVID-19 outbreak in staff and residents at Drake Cottage, a congregate living facility.…
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COVID-19 death reported in Jackson
A new COVID-19 death has been confirmed in Jackson County, bringing the county’s total death toll to four.
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Complete United Way COVID-19 impact survey
United Way of North Carolina launches a statewide survey today to assess how COVID-19 has impacted community members across the…
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Haywood reports two more COVID-19 related deaths
Haywood County Health and Human Services is reporting two additional COVID-19 associated deaths. Both individuals died on July 28 at…
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Slide closes U.S. 19/74 in Nantahala Gorge
BRYSON CITY – A band of heavy rains late Friday night started a mudslide that closed U.S. 19/74 in the Nantahala…
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Jackson to discuss Confederate monument
An agenda for the Jackson County Commission meeting slated for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, shows that the board will…
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Morgan serving second round as Sylva’s interim manager
Sylva Town Manager Paige Dowling is currently out on maternity leave, but Sylva will be in experienced hands until her…
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Haywood has 74 new COVID-19 cases
Haywood County Public Health received notice of 74 new cases of COVID-19 since the last press release on July 24.…
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With an eye on safety, Maggie Valley passes protest ordinance
Some new rules will be in place for all future protest activity in Maggie Valley after the town’s board unanimously…
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Third COVID-19 related death in Macon County
A Macon County resident diagnosed with COVID-19 has died. The person was over the age of 65 and had underlying…
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National forests welcome new leadership
In the midst of a summer characterized by coronavirus-related disruptions on top of the closing of the public comment phase…
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Volunteers show up big for creek cleanup
Haywood Waterways Association saw its biggest group of litter pickup volunteers ever when 22 people showed up July 11 to…
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Hike series to feature discussions about racism, diversity
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent Cassius Cash will lead a series of small-group hikes through the park with the…
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Speak on the future of Chestnut Mountain
An online forum at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, will seek public input to help shape plans for the Chestnut…
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A story about second chances
A friend in a book club to which I once belonged disliked Anne Tyler’s novel, Saint Maybe. “I’ve read other…
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I serve every Franklin resident
To the Editor: As the Mayor of Franklin, I represent every man, woman and child in the town, regardless of…
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What would the Founding Fathers do?
To the Editor: “He has erected a multitude of new officers and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our…
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Have you been sprayed by Duke?
To the Editor: Duke Energy, through a contractor, has started aerial spraying of herbicides over the rights-of-way for their transmission…
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Stop using MLK defense
To the Editor: Heather Hyatt Packer would have Haywood County’s School superintendent resign for posting a meme on his Facebook…
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Is this a fit Commander-in-Chief?
To the Editor: The first duty of our Commander in Chief, Donald Trump, is to protect the people of these…
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Look to the stars and beyond
I’ve been looking at the stars a lot lately. It started several weeks ago. It was 10:18 p.m. on a…
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Back to school plans for Swain County
Swain County will be operating this fall under a hybrid of in-person and remote learning. Parents can choose Plan B,…
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Macon schools offer virtual option
Parents of Macon County students will have to choose their child’s learning plan for fall semester by July 31.
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Haywood chooses hybrid plan for school reopenings
As the Coronavirus Pandemic continues to grow in both size and scope, educators across the country and the state have…
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Teachers concerned for school safety
The start of this school year has been a topic fraught with debate about student needs, logistical hurdles and funding…
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Colleges, universities announce plans for fall 2020
In less than three weeks, classes will resume at Western North Carolina’s institutions of higher learning, and while instruction won’t…
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Schools balance safety, learning
Public schools and colleges are being forced to develop plans, contingency plans and worst-case scenarios as they prepare for the…
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‘We’ve got your back’: Large Franklin gathering shows support for law enforcement
A rally hosted by Macon County Sheriff Robert Holland in downtown Franklin July 25 drew hundreds of law enforcement officers…
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Public records laws complicate law enforcement transparency
Despite the complexity of discussions surrounding reform and accountability in American law enforcement, it’s likely that many issues would disappear…
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‘Zoom bomb’ shows shortcomings of virtual meetings
Since the Coronavirus Pandemic began, Zoom meetings have become a commonplace replacement for government meetings that would otherwise take place…
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Nursing home outbreak: ‘What we really feared’
Despite seemingly doing everything right, a long-term care facility in Haywood County is now reporting 36 cases of COVID-19, spread…
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Cawthorn: Davis, Democrats are ‘racist’
Two congressional candidates vying to represent a district where one municipality has already passed a resolution exploring reparations for its…
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‘Save Our Stages Act’ now in the hands of Congress
Standing in front of a microphone on Sunday evening, singer-songwriter Jane Kramer looked out onto the small, socially-distant crowd inside…
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This must be the place: Cast your dancing spell my way, I promise to go under it
It was odd and surreal feeling to be watching live music this past weekend. As you probably read on the…
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Special meeting called in Maggie Valley for protest ordinance
In response to an adversarial demonstration that took place on July 18 and in anticipation of a repeat on Aug.…
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COVID-19 cluster found in Waynesville
A COVID-19 cluster at Waynesville Pharmacy has been identified after five current or former employees there tested positive for the…
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Officer-involved shooting occurs in Canton
A Haywood County deputy is recovering from surgery and a suspect is dead following an incident July 28 in which…
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