Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week runs from Nov. 16 to 22 this year. Here is what hunger looks like in Jackson County. Feeding America creates yearly reports on food insecurity. The 2025 data set covers the years 2019 to 2023. The report breaks down statistics by county, state and congressional district. In Jackson County, approximately 7,430 people faced food insecurity […]
Food and toiletries drive collects goods for local pantries
November 13, 2025 by
The Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning is hosting a food and toiletries drive through the end of November, just in time for Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week that runs from Nov. 16 to Nov. 22. With the holidays approaching, CCESL associate director Natalie Newman, who is overseeing the drive, says it is […]
Whee Life: 2025 municipal election recap
November 7, 2025 by
The episode is co-produced with Halle Stanley Election Day for the 2025 municipal elections was Nov. 4. Jackson County Election Director Amanda Allen shares more about all that happened this year. Listen to hear more about election results, what municipal elections are and early information about the primary election happening in March. Hear us on […]
SNAP benefits lapse with government shutdown
November 6, 2025 by
As the federal government shutdown continues on for over one month, concerns have emerged on what this means for the average person. Amid the shutdown’s impacts, SNAP benefits were not rolled out on Nov. 1. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services says that “this means no new benefits will be added to EBT […]
Early voting open in municipal non-partisan elections
October 22, 2025 by
Early voting is now open in North Carolina for the 2025 municipal election season. Early voting will run until Nov. 1. During municipal elections, voter choose officials to represent them in their local governments, including mayor, councilpersons and board of commissioners. “Local elections have the greatest impact on citizens’ day-to-day lives, so it’s important to […]
New state law requires phone policies in classrooms
October 12, 2025 by
Story originally published in The Sylva Herald, Oct. 8 edition Over the summer, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a bill that mandates all local boards of education create a phone policy for their districts. NC House Bill 959, approved on July 1, includes the minimum standards for these phone policies. This includes limiting student […]
