Archives for October 2024

Rebuilding WNC: Relief and recovery efforts

Edited by Deanna Sipe Efforts to help those affected by Hurricane Helene continue across Western North Carolina. Helene led to thousands without power and hundreds of unprecedented deaths. Community, State, and Federal agencies have banded together to help with relief efforts for those affected by Helene. As attempts to recover from Helene continue, relief organizations […]

Community Table feeds Jackson County after Helene

Edited by Stewart Butler, Deanna Sipe A nonprofit food pantry in Sylva is lending a helping hand after Hurricane Helene. Community Table is feeding 80 to 100 Jackson County residents every day. Director Paige Christie says it’s essential to get the word out that Community Table is open. “We’re going to be rocking and rolling […]

Voting after Helene: Interview with Jackson County Elections Director

The elections are less then a month away WNC is facing a lot of challenges after Helene considering the damages and distraction of many voting places and election boards. The deadline for voter registration is today, Oct. 11 and NC voters will need to show a voter ID when casting a vote in person or […]

#WNCsmart: an interview with WCU shoreline expert Robert Young

Story co-reported with Marrah Ste. Marie On Tuesday, Oct. 8 reporters Deanna Sipe and Marrah Ste. Marie interviewed Dr. Robert Young the Director of Western Carolina’s Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines for the student-run radio station 95.3 FM. Listen below.

NC legislation passes relief package for WNC after Helene

The North Carolina Senate and House of Representatives unanimously passed the Disaster Relief Act 2024, granting $273 billion in relief funds for the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The bill covers 25 counties in WNC as well as Brunswick and New Hanover counties who were hit by PTC8, a potential tropical typhoon, on Sept. 16. The […]

Swain County: What you need to know on how and where to vote

As Election Day quickly approaches, it’s important to make a voting plan to ensure your vote is counted in November’s elections. In the last general elections in 2020 over 70% of the 10,088 registered voters in Swain County voted. Voters in Swain County will receive the same ballot except a small number of voters in […]