Cars speed down the busy four-lane highway, some drivers honking in support while others leaned out their windows to heckle as more than 50 WCU students marched along the shoulder toward the nearest early-voting site on Feb. 13. The march comes after the controversial decision by the Jackson County Board of Elections to eliminate the […]
Motion denied: 3 NC college campuses lose access to early voting
February 16, 2026 by
A version of this story was published in the Sylva Herald Students at Western Carolina University, North Carolina A&T State University and University of North Carolina at Greensboro will not have early voting sites on their campuses during this year’s primary election, despite efforts by students at these three schools. In late January, students from […]
Great Sapphire Outhouse Race set to hit the slopes
February 6, 2026 by
The Great Sapphire Outhouse Race returns for the 19th time to the slopes at Ski Sapphire Valley Resort on Saturday, Feb. 7, bringing decorated outhouses, live music and a day of fun (and fundraising) to Cashiers. Starting at 3 p.m. the teams of three people participating will race homemade outhouses down the ski slopes. Each […]
New House Bill reinforces immigration procedures for NC sheriffs
January 31, 2026 by
A version of this story was published in The Western Carolinian and The Sylva Herald Jan. 28 edition New North Carolina House Bill 318, called the Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act, is requiring sheriffs to work even more closely with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. According to the bill, jail administrators would be required to notify […]
JCPS construction projects estimated to be nearly $30 million over budget
January 30, 2026 by
A version of this story was published in The Sylva Herald Jackson County Public Schools’ new building projects and renovations are nearly twice as much as the county had previously allocated. This was the main topic of the regular joint meeting between the Jackson County Board of Education and the Board of Commissioners on Jan. 22 where no decision was […]
WCU winter weather: Students get a snow day on Monday
January 24, 2026 by
Winter storm Fern is expected to bring snow and ice to Cullowhee, starting Saturday at 1 p.m. The National Weather Service is predicting these conditions to last until Monday and has issued an Ice Storm Warning. To keep students and staff safe WCU made the decision Friday afternoon, Jan. 23 to operate under condition level […]
