A bill in the General Assembly would reduce the maximum number of early voting days in North Carolina from 17 to eight. Reducing early voting has little to no impact…
Should private organizations fund election administration? Bill Banning Zuck Bucks Passes but Gets Vetoed The General Assembly said “no” last year when it passed Senate Bill 725, a bill banning…
After months of anticipation, piles of money spent, endless TV commercials watched and too many visits from candidates to count, the 2020 election is finally here. Several of my colleagues…
• Following a recount, former state Sen. Joe Sam Queen, D-Haywood, wins his primary by 17 votes. He’ll face Republican Mike Clampitt for House District 119. • The Pat…
About 100 people showed up to a meeting to protest revals in Waynesville, Clyde, Beaverdam, and Maggie Valley. One unhappy property owner is faced with a 52% increase. The group…
In a recent post, I missed an angle. The Haywood County commissioners were not being unreasonably irresponsible in electing to spend $440,583 of North Carolina Education Lottery funds on bleachers…
The Haywood County Commissioners agreed to spend $440,583 in North Carolina Education Lottery funds for bleacher maintenance and upgrades at most of its secondary schools. Before voting in favor of…
The Haywood County Commissioners are attempting to scale back plans to remodel an old Wal*Mart into a DSS building. The county purchased the building with part of a $12.5 million,…
The Haywood County Commissioners are scheduled to vote on a new animal ordinance November 2. It would require dog tethers to swivel and be “of a suitable length” over an…
5 of 5 precincts from Swain County have reported the following winners: Mike Clampitt (R), County Commission Chair, 66.41% John Ensley (D), Sheriff, 28.97% Curtis Cochran (R), Sheriff, 77.09% Hester…
The Haywood County Commissioners suspended payments to the fairgrounds as a budget cutting measure last year. Now, the fairgrounds doesn’t have enough money to pay off its loans. The commissioners…
A recent audit of Swain County’s budget strongly recommended a tax hike. The county’s fund balance has fallen substantially below the level required by the Local Government Commission. The county…