News Staff (AP) – A bill banning transgender girls from participating in sports that correspond with their gender identity advanced Tuesday in the Republic run North Carolina Senate. The proposed restrictions now head to the Rules Committee and could reach the Senate floor for a vote as early as Thursday. LGBTQ+ rights advocates say these Republican pushed … Read more
WAYNESVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) – The name of a man found dead Tuesday [April 18] underneath a bridge leading to Autumn Care of Waynesville has been made public. The Waynesville Police Department says the deceased has been identified as, 48-year-old Maggie Valley resident Michael D. Roland, and there were no obvious injuries or evidence that would … Read more
FRANKLIN, N.C. (WLOS) – Three people who were arrested separately on drug trafficking charges in Macon County have accepted plea deals in the case. The suspects appeared in Macon County Superior Court this week [APRIL 18]. All three, Adam Sackman, 35, Jeremiah Smith, 41, Reyna Angelicka Garcilita, 26, all from Franklin, pleaded guilty to felony … Read more
UPDATE – We’re learning more about a fiery plane crash over the weekend in the North Carolina foothills of the Smoky Mountains that claimed the life of a Fort Campbell soldier. According to a media update from the Cherokee County, North Carolina Sheriff’s Office, the plane, described as a ‘Homebuilt Velocity aircraft,’ reportedly slammed into … Read more
A packed agenda greeted Macon County Board of Commissioners at their Tuesday meeting keeping members busy well past midnight. Commissioners tackled, nine new business items, numerous reports, and discussed the Franklin High School (FHS) Track and Field Team. They also heard a County Public Library Trustees report as well as an update on the master … Read more
Nantahala Health Foundation’s Board of Directors elected a new slate of officers, all of whom assumed their new responsibilities in April. Franklin-native Lisa Leatherman was unanimously selected to serve as the board chairperson. Roger Plemens, another of NHF’s founding members, was elected vice chair. Angie Knight, superintendent of Graham County Schools, and Alison Cochran, director … Read more
RALEIGH – A Jackson County business made the list of stores being fined for price scanning errors. The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division reported that more than 3 dozen stores in 22 counties were penalized for overcharging customers, due to inconsistencies with the prices advertised and the prices that ring up … Read more
Property owners currently being served by the Center Pigeon Fire Department, but not within the fire district boundaries could soon see bigger insurance savings. Until recently, property owners got no break on their home insurance coverage if they lived more than 5 miles from a fire department, but now that the rules have changed to … Read more
(Raleigh, N.C.) – The State Treasurer, CPA, and the State Health Plan (Plan) announced Monday they have been notified that UnitedHealthcare Services will not appeal the awarding of the Plan’s 2025 Third-Party Administrative Services Contract to Aetna. The health care giant was awarded a three-year initial service period beginning Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, … Read more
Park it Forward’ is generating big bucks for Great Smoky Mountains. After one month the “Park it Forward” program, which requires park visitors to purchase a parking tag as made more than $1 million. The money will go toward park maintenance and visitor experience, according to a press release. MEANWHILE… In 2021, the Great Smoky … Read more