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 […]
Unseen Scars
November 7, 2014 by
Local veterans will host their first round table discussion on Veteran’s Day at 7 p.m. featuring members from the Vet to Vet program. The program aids local veterans of all ages and genders to talk about traumatic experiences they may have encountered while in combat. Founders Darwin Thomas and Tom Baker started the program together when […]
