SMN: Edwards dodges questions on Medicare, Franklin Social Security office closing

Story from Smoky Mountain News politics editor Cory Vaillancourt, re-published with permission In what could very well be a sneak preview of his in-person town hall in Asheville later today, Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-Henderson) abruptly walked away from a podium in Canton’s Sorrells Street Park and refused to answer questions about federal cuts to programs […]

DEI policy a ‘moving target’ for WCU

Story produced with Mackenzie Atkinson The University of North Carolina system sent out a memorandum on Feb. 5 about systemwide implementation of President Donald Trump’s Jan. 21 Executive Order “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” to all chancellors and provosts. The memo goes into detail about new requirements for working with federal agencies that […]

Bringing the Jedi life to WCU

You have probably seen lightsabers out by the Blue Ridge lawn around dinnertime on Wednesday and Saturday. The Catamount Saber Legion is sharing its love of Star Wars at WCU. The club has over 80 active members who regularly attend meetings. Club president, Gabriel Baker said that the Saber Legion started as a social experiment […]

Mental Health in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Helene devastated the lives of many throughout Western North Carolina and as many are working on rebuilding, mental health is not a priority. But should it be that way? Helene caused the damage of more than 100,000 homes in WNC, affecting nearly 200,000 people total. Eighty community emergency response teams volunteered logging more than […]

Sylva bookstore City Lights makes it to 40

Story originally published in The Sylva Herald, Feb. 19 edition City Lights, Sylva’s independently owned used and new bookstore will celebrate its 40th anniversary on Sunday, Feb. 23, from 3 to 5 p.m. It will be a proper birthday party with friends having fun with live music, refreshments and cake. Because of corporate bookstores, such […]

That’s Politics: Contested N.C. Supreme Court ballots

No the elections are not over in North Carolina. At least not for the 6th Associate Justice seat in the N.C. Supreme Court. The republican candidate Jefferson Griffin is contesting the legitimacy of roughly 60,000 ballots in his race against incumbent Associate Justice Allison Riggs. Listen to the podcast to learn more about the contested […]