NASA accomplished something historic in April. We are step closer to stepping again to the Moon. Artemis II mission to orbit the moon and come back in 10 days was successful and as NASA says on their website “the first crewed Artemis flight marks a key step toward long‑term return to the Moon and future […]
HERE committee seeks funding after embezzlement scandal
April 16, 2026 by
The story was published in The Sylva Herald, April 15 edition. Jackson County leaders heard a presentation from the HERE Committee at the Board of Commissioners meeting on April 7, as the organization seeks continued funding while recovering from a recent financial controversy. Cris Weatherford, HERE’s board chair, and Paul Phillips, interim director, shared an overview of the committee’s […]
WCU trumpet professor Brad Ulrich retirement swan song performance
April 16, 2026 by
The classical works of Vivaldi, Debussy and Bach matched perfectly with more contemporary works of Horowitz and Turrin during the final concert of Dr. P. Bradley Ulrich which was worthy of the name “Final Trumpet Extravaganza.” The matching tones of Paul Merkelo and Ulrich’s trumpets reverberating throughout Coulter’s Recital Hall were coordinated with the expertise […]
Gas prices in the US: Everything to know about the rise in cost
April 13, 2026 by
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 […]
Women’s History Month expands how women’s impact is understood
April 12, 2026 by
Women’s History Month is often used to highlight figures who fought for equality and changed history. Historian Elizabeth McRae said that focus only tells part of the story. McRae, an associate professor of history and the author of “Mothers of Massive Resistance: White Women and the Politics of White Supremacy,” spoke at Western Carolina University […]
