Regional

Press graphic

Legislators: State budget vote coming soon

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Since early July, Franklin’s two state legislators have been awaiting word to return to Raleigh and the N.C. General Assembly to vote on the biennium state budget. It looks like that vote won’t come until mid-August at the earliest, but it needs to happen before the month ends. Rep.

Map showing the locations of the recipients of the new GREAT grant funding for broadband expansion in Otto and Scaly Mountain.

Macon County working on broadband despite roadblocks

Thomas Sherrill

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

While multiple broadband projects are either queued up or underway in south Macon County and one in Nantahala, many unserved areas of the county are waiting on a company that won’t be in Macon until 2025 at the earliest.

Photo submitted - The Fontana Regional Library Board met in a called meeting on June 5 to review appeals concerning two books.

Regional library board votes to move book

Thomas Sherrill

Tuesday, June 13, 2023

A book aiming to educate teens on relationships and safe sex, among other subjects, was moved to the adult section of the Hudson Library following a vote by the Fontana Regional Library board.

Press graphic

Corbin, Gillespie support new abortion law

Thomas Sherrill

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Elective abortion access is now more restricted in North Carolina after the General Assembly passed a new law over the governor’s veto last week. The act, Senate Bill 20, passed the veto override 72-48 in the House and 30-20 in the Senate, both along party lines, on May 16.

Press graphic

Local leaders push for earlier school start date

Thomas Sherrill

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Renewed efforts at the state level to give local school boards more flexibility in setting their calendars have passed the N.C. House of Representatives, the furthest such bills have gotten in recent years. A total of 11 bills, one of them statewide, have passed the state House.

Photo submitted - Sen. Kevin Corbin speaks at a press conference on April 6.

Bill blocks transgender athletes from female sports

News Staff

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

Titled “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act,” North Carolina SB 631 would require student athletes to participate in the sport of their biological sex or on co-ed teams, with the State Board of Education monitoring both middle and high school sports for compliance of the law.

Press graphic

Medicaid expansion signed into law

Thomas Sherrill

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

After years of waiting, expansion of Medicaid to roughly 600,000 North Carolinians is now state law but has a caveat before it goes into full effect. “First of all, unquestionably great news.

Photo/Bob Scott - Frieda Bennett speaks about the Highlands PreK project during the March 14 Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting.

Highlands residents push for school expansion

News Staff

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

A large crowd of Highlands residents made their way to Franklin to voice their displeasure regarding a recent joint decision between the Macon County Board of Education and Macon County Board of Commissioners to cancel an expansion project at Highlands School.

Photo/Bob Scott Hikers loading up the shuttle to take them from the Hilltop Inn to Winding Stair Gap.

Franklin prepares for AT hiking season

Thomas Sherrill

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

As you read this, someone is at Springer Mountain in Georgia, with a pack full of food, clothes, sleeping bags, thermos and carrying a whole lot of optimism. Roughly 10-14 days from now, that hiker will likely descend Winding Stair Gap on U.S. 64, about 11 miles west of Franklin.

Press graphic

Compromise met on Medicaid expansion

Thomas Sherrill

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

A deal between Republican majority leaders in the North Carolina General Assembly will fast-track a Medicaid expansion bill that local representatives say will help many under-insured people in rural North Carolina.