The Student Government Association’s candidates for President, Vice President and Senate have begun their campaigning for the 2026-27 school year. Candidates campaigning opened Feb. 9 at 12 a.m. and closes Feb. 18 at noon. Few WCU students and potential voters noticed that there are elections coming. The campaigning went unnoticeable since the candidates were running […]
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 […]
Man on a mission: In NC-11, former Green Beret confronts GOP incumbent he says fell short
February 15, 2026 by
Story written by Cory Vaillancourt. Published at Smoky Mountain News. Republished Over the past decade or more, Western North Carolina Republicans have proven that the only candidates that can beat incumbent Republican congressmen are other Republicans. Adam Smith talks like someone who has already settled on that outcome and is now working backward to make it […]
The Great Outhouse Race brings bittersweet win to the slopes
February 10, 2026 by
This story was co-produced with Ryan Creel. The annual Great Sapphire Outhouse race returned to Sapphire Valley Ski Resort on Feb. 7, drawing in crowds for an entertaining day on the slopes. The event included a $5 parking fee and an admission fee of $5, with the proceeds used to raise funds for the Rotary […]
Students help students vote the primary elections
February 8, 2026 by
With on-campus polling locations no longer available, the Student Democracy Coalition at Western Carolina University is organizing efforts to help students access the polls and stay informed ahead of the upcoming primary election. The coalition addressed these concerns during its first meeting of the spring semester on Tuesday, Feb 3. It also held elections to restructure its executive cabinet […]
Republican Primary tests identity and power in 119th District
February 7, 2026 by
Story by Cory Vaillancourt published in the Smoky Mountain News Feb. 4 ed. Republished The Republican primary in House District 119 — Jackson, Swain and Transylvania counties — now unfolds against a backdrop of unresolved disaster recovery and rising voter frustration with a legislature that has struggled to deliver a state budget but still found time to strip powers from incoming […]
