Chances are if you drive you’ve noticed increasing prices at gas stations. But why is that? An AP-NORC poll done in March showed that 45% of people surveyed are extremely or very concerned about being able to afford gas, compared to 30% in the same survey from 2024. The national average retail price for regular […]
Political identity shapes trust in news, says WCU guest speaker
April 13, 2026 by
How journalists cover democracy may matter less than the readers’ political identity, according to a guest speaker at WCU on April 6 as part of the Haire Speaker Series. Dr. Katie Searles, the Olin D. Johnston Endowed Chair of Political Science at the University of South Carolina, presented her research about democracy coverage to students […]
Sylva “No Kings” draws hundreds of protesters
March 31, 2026 by
A version of the story was published in The Sylva Herald, April 1 edition Over 700 protesters filled downtown Sylva near the Jackson County Historic Courthouse for the third “No Kings” protest on Saturday, March 28. This protest was one of 3.100 organized across the country bringing over eight million people in a single protests across all 50 states making […]
Ukraine war continues with no end in sight
March 20, 2026 by
As Russia’s war against Ukraine reaches its fourth year, WCU’s Global Spotlight Series hosted a panel of experts to discuss what has changed in the four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. One of the panelists was Cory Vaillancourt, a reporter at Smoky Mountain News who went to Ukraine in late 2022 and the […]
From the mountains to a war zone: WNC reporter covers Ukraine aid
March 16, 2026 by
A local reporter went to the front lines of Ukraine for two weeks in December 2022, a trip that changed his perspective on journalism forever. Born and raised in Chicago to a Ukrainian mother, journalist Cory Vaillancourt originally wanted to become a lawyer. However, after working as a field organizer for Al Gore’s 2000 presidential […]
JCPS revises construction projects after costs exceed budgets
March 15, 2026 by
Version of the story was published in The Sylva Herald, March 12 edition After learning that projected construction costs are nearly double the amount allocated, the Jackson County Board of Education is reassessing its planned construction projects and prioritizing essential student needs. At its monthly meeting on Feb. 24 the board discussed these updated projects […]
