Here's some context on the DCCC's "red to blue" program, which includes #nc11's Jamie Ager (see @coryvaillancourt.bsky.social's story below). #ncpol Thanks to @the-downballot.com & @cookpolitical.com for making their data available.

National Democrats just signaled they see opportunity in NC-11. Jamie Ager has been added to the DCCC’s “Red to Blue” program — a designation reserved for candidates the party believes can compete in Republican-held districts. For a seat long considered safe for the GOP, that’s a notable shift.

Western Carolina University students just turned early voting into a 1.53-mile protest. After the on-campus polling site was closed, they marched a busy four-lane highway to cast ballots — saying if access gets harder, their resolve gets stronger. #ncpol

Big Data sought a foothold in Canton. Canton said, "Not so fast."

BREAKING: The Town of Canton has unanimously passed a moratorium on data centers. More to come on this soon.

TOMORROW!

Threats and extortion will not change the truth or our reporting about it.

Alex Drueke, who helped train and fought alongside Ukrainian forces in 2022 and became a Russian POW, will speak in Waynesville tomorrow. I spoke with him today.

“It’s a war on students,” board member Siobhan O’Duffy Millen, a retired attorney from Raleigh, said shortly after the board voted Jan. 13 to strip early voting sites from historically Black NCA&T University and UNC-Greensboro in Guilford County and shortly before doing the same thing to WCU.

Here's the full story out of Jackson County, where Republican-led Board of Elections has voted to close a busy early voting site at Western Carolina University.

Waynesville resident Sam Wilds is blind, cannot work, uses her entire Social Security disability check for household bills, has approximately $50 left on her SNAP card for the month of October, and once it’s gone, it’s gone.

Another candidate has now filed w/ the FEC to run in #nc11 as a Democrat--WNC native, scientist, and current Orange County registered voter Paul Maddox. For more, see this @coryvaillancourt.bsky.social profile: smokymountainnews.com/news/item/40... #ncpol

@smokymountainnews.bsky.social: On Oct. 1, a #FEMA spokesperson said operations would continue largely as normal. #SocialSecurity checks will still be distributed, but field offices may have staffing limits. Visit ssa.gov/agency/emergency for more information. smokymountainnews.com/news/item/40...

Frontline philanthropy: How Nonprofit aid stepped up in Helene's wake

On the cusp of a week that marks 1 year since Helene devastated #wnc, a Republican is entering the #ncpol GOP primary against incumbent Chuck Edwards with a message centered around Helene response. Story ⬇️ by @coryvaillancourt.bsky.social smokymountainnews.com/news/item/40...

This story, from my hometown newspaper, @smokymountainnews.bsky.social, details the dismal response from the trump admin & Michael Whatley, who is running for Tillis' senate seat. Thank you @coryvaillancourt.bsky.social for covering this important story. #NCPOL smokymountainnews.com/news/item/40...

Grateful for the opportunity to speak with West Virginia Public Broadcasting about the work @appalachiacomics.bsky.social is doing to help rebuild from Helene and give voice to the people of the region. wvpublic.org/wvpb-podcast...

The #NC11 Dem primary is already on fire: Four candidates blast party leaders for favoring Jamie Ager at upcoming gala, threaten boycott, raise legal/ethical questions #ncpol

Plenty has been said about the rape and sexual assault charges against Swain County Republican Sheriff Curtis Cochran, but not much has been said about his 20-year tenure. Until now.

smokymountainnews.com/news/item/39...: Fourth-generation farmer Jamie Ager enters #NC11 race, pitching rural roots, business chops and bipartisan grit in a challenge to Chuck Edwards. #ncpol

You still have time to pledge my friend @andrewaydin.bsky.social #comics anthology, featuring stories of Appalachian survivors of Hurricane Helene. Supporting contributors include @natepowell.bsky.social @gregpak.net @lauramartin.bsky.social @alexsegura.bsky.social and @thiendog.bsky.social!

BREAKING: After 81 years, Jackson County has voted to leave the Fontana Regional Library system over LGBTQ+ content. Critics warn of higher costs, legal risks and diminished service.

Helpful longread by @coryvaillancourt.bsky.social about the Jackson County commission's flirtation w/ leaving the Fontana Regional Library. Easy to discount it as too local if you're outside the #828, but doing so would be a mistake; a similar story is being repeated across #ncpol & the US.

A perfect lazy Sunday read — the most comprehensive look yet at Jackson County’s library fight. Commissioners vote Tues. on leaving the Fontana system over LGBTQ+ content, a move that could cost $500K more each year

TONIGHT!

Come on out this Friday!

Now that it’s been presented to the House Finance Committee, a bill filed by Haywood Republican Rep. Mark Pless that would have essentially abolished the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority looks much different.

Thank you @smokymountainnews.bsky.social for letting me tell my story🏳️‍⚧️ smokymountainnews.com/news/item/39...

More than a year after the incident, Paige LeBlanc is finally ready to talk about being filmed in a Western Carolina University bathroom.

Sign up for updates and launch notifications for our upcoming Kickstarter, the first volume of ‘Islands in the Sky’ the story of Helene and what came after, as told by the survivors themselves. www.kickstarter.com/projects/878...

North Carolina's 11th Congressional District Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards now has his first real opponent. #ncpol #nc11

Tonight, catch me on NC Capital Tonight w/ Tim Boyum, talking more about recent developments in the "Sylva Sam" Confederate monument saga.

Here's more from @charlotteobserver.com (using my previous reporting) on #FEMA's failure to pay WNC for Hurricane Helene damage, seven months later.

“If you're a contractor, your work is needed here, and we're glad that you're interested, but here's the thing, you better treat people fairly. You better be honest. You better do what you say you're going to do. We are not going to tolerate contracting fraud.”

Have questions about challenged ballots in the Griffin/Riggs case? The State Board of Elections has the answers.

Thanks to our friend @andrewaydin.bsky.social, some folks will be telling the stories of Hurricane Helene survivors — and, they want to hear from you.

“I challenge FEMA to reimburse us,” Sutton said. ‘We have received zero funds from FEMA as has been reported, and I challenge FEMA to reimburse us this quickly so that we can get it back in our general fund.”

The real story of flood recovery in WNC is that almost nobody's getting paid, six months later.

Read all about it — while you still can.

@kyleperrotti.bsky.social writes about Cliff Graham, a Christian author who is finding a new home for his work despite a history of abandoned business deals and unpaid creditors: Out of the Lion’s Den www.theassemblync.com/culture/reli...

Veterans issues have been top-of-mind here lately — VA Secretary Doug Collins visited the Asheville VA on Tuesday. Here's how that went.

If you've already read about Rep. Chuck Edwards' town hall last week, you probably don't know the whole story. Here it is.

A group of veterans is currently demonstrating outside the Charles George VA in Asheville ahead of VA Secretary Doug Collins' visit today.

JUST IN — got a tip, and independent confirmation, VA sec'y Doug Collins to visit Charles George VA in Asheville tomorrow. No other details. No notice. No invitation.

Listen to the inside story of this shit show with @coryvaillancourt.bsky.social on MUCK YOU! co-hosted by @moedavis.bsky.social & @davidbwheeler.bsky.social americanmuckrakers.substack.com

BREAKING: Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-Henderson) had to be escorted from an event in Canton by police earlier today after refusing to answer questions about cuts to federal services.

NEW from ME: a Social Security office in Macon County (Franklin) appears to have been targeted for closing by Elon Musk's DOGE.

The importance of a healthy National Park System to storm-ravaged Western North Carolina's economy cannot be understated. Here's why.

JUST IN — Rep. Mark Pless files bill to abolish room occupancy taxes in Haywood County. Haywood TDA collects approx. $3m /yr