@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...

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...

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

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.

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

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.”

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.

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

by @kyleperrotti.bsky.social for @theassemblync.bsky.social www.theassemblync.com/culture/reli...

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.

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

BearWaters Brewing in Canton has been a symbol of the gritty tenacity of flood-ravaged WNC — they'll soon reopen, partner with Green Man Brewery and offer river-related recreation.

#BREAKING: great news for Canton, Haywood County and NC taxpayers — Pactiv Evergreen will repay a portion of a 2014 economic development grant after settling state lawsuit. smokymountainnews.com/news/item/39...

More on the major developments concerning Interstate 40 and SECDOT Sean Duffy's visit to Haywood County today.

#BREAKING from our @kyleperrotti.bsky.social: Gov. Stein says Interstate 40 will reopen with one lane in each direction on March 1.

Sen. Thom Tillis again tours damage to Interstate 40 in Haywood County along with local officials & EBCI leaders as they await the arrival of Sean Duffy, U.S. Secretary of transportation. More on this later. Photo: @kyleperrotti.bsky.social

New U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy will visit Western North Carolina on Monday morning to survey Hurricane Helene recovery efforts, including Interstate 40.

In 2022 I embedded with a USAID-funded humanitarian NGO delivering aid to Ukrainians in Kherson Oblast, which had only recently been liberated from Russian control. Read this story, look at the photos & tell me how the foreign assistance freeze helps the US achieve development & humanitarian goals.

Federal gun charges, animal cruelty, chopping people’s hands off & drinking one’s own urine — in a Hurricane Helene story! Here's another insane investigation of the personalities behind popular “charitable relief” efforts in Haywood County & WNC. smokymountainnews.com/news/item/39...

The “People’s March,” held days before the Inauguration in Washington, wants to show the world that the incoming presidential administration doesn’t represent the views of every American and won’t get a free pass over the next few years. Stunning photos here from our Jeffrey Delannoy.

North Carolina Republicans had a lot to do with how our government looks today — and here's how they did it.

Our Kyle Perrotti was able to shadow #NC11's elector during inauguration weekend, including her appearance at a J6 rally for convicts who were later pardoned.

COMING UP: catch SMN politics editor Cory Vaillancourt live from Washington DC on WWNC w/ Mark Starling at 6:05 wwnc.iheart.com?pname=www.ww...

Here's a sneak peek of what we've been working on in Washington, and what you'll see in the next issue of The Smoky Mountain News.

Starting today, my team (News Editor Kyle Perrotti & photog Jeffrey Delannoy) will be in Washington, D.C. to focus on some WNC-specific Inauguration coverage. Find us on all the socials, or follow our updates at: www.smokymountainnews.com

“My understanding is there may be some attorneys in this litigation on the other side who were hoping that a new attorney general would dismiss this case. What I want to do is send a message that that's not going to happen ..." smokymountainnews.com/news/item/38...

JUST IN: the deed for the sale of the 185-acre Pactiv mill parcel has been recorded in Haywood County. Sale price to Spirtas Worldwide was $3.36 million. Previous valuation was $19.7 million.

Here's more — much more — on that sale of the Canton mill parcel to a private developer, including from Gov. Stein & Atty Gen'l Jeff Jackson, both of whom took great interest in the situation over the past year or more. smokymountainnews.com/news/item/38...

This is all we know right now about the sale of Pactiv Evergreen's 185-acre mill parcel, but I'm working to learn more and will publish again later today. Stay tuned! #WNC

#BREAKING: The buyer pursuing the Pactiv-Evergreen mill site in Canton says he's made a deal to acquire the site, which had been bogged down in a lawsuit. More to come. #WNC

Contrary to inaccurate/vague reports from multiple broadcast outlets, the checkout date for FEMA's Temporary Shelter Assistance is Jan. 12, NOT Jan. 11. Pass it on! #WNC #helene

Here's a first look at the executive orders — five in all — Gov. Stein announced in #AVL today regarding #Helene recovery in #WNC.

Gov. @JoshStein_ is about to speak at the Buncombe County government administration building, announcing executive orders related to Hurricane #Helene in #WNC. Sen. Corbin leads off — more to come ...