ANNOUNCEMENTS
• Town of Franklin Asks Residents to Observe Voluntary Water Restrictions [Macon Media]
• Nine N.C. counties in exceptional drought as statewide drought continues [Macon Media]
WEATHER OUTLOOK
1. Heavy rainfall and potential flash flooding through at least Friday. A Flood Watch is in effect through Thursday for much of western NC.
2. A return to typical summer weather beginning next week, with hot temperatures and daily thunderstorm chances.
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SPONSORSHIPS
WEATHER SPONSOR
This space available
This half price sale is for those who sign up during July and remains effect for the rest of the year. Current sponsors receive the half price discount automatically.
DAY SPONSOR
This space available
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FORECAST
(since this is a quick forecast intended to cover the whole county, bear in mind that higher elevations may experience cooler temperatures than this and the lower elevations may experience higher temperatures than those in the forecast)
.TODAY....Showers. A slight chance of thunderstorms this morning, then a chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. Patchy fog. Highs in the upper 70s. West winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain near 100 percent.
.TONIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then a chance of showers after midnight. Patchy fog. Lows in the mid 60s. Light and variable winds, becoming south around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of rain 70 percent.
.FRIDAY....Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then showers with thunderstorms likely in the afternoon. Patchy fog. Humid with highs in the mid 70s. Southwest winds around 5 mph in the morning, becoming light and variable. Chance of rain 90 percent.
.FRIDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Showers with thunderstorms likely in the evening, then a chance of showers after midnight. Lows in the mid 60s. Light and variable winds. Chance of rain 90 percent.
.SATURDAY....Showers likely. A chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 70s. Light and variable winds, becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain 70 percent.
.SATURDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy with showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then partly cloudy after midnight. Lows in the mid 60s. Chance of rain 70 percent.
.SUNDAY....Partly sunny in the morning, then mostly sunny with a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 80s. Chance of rain 50 percent.
.SUNDAY NIGHT....Partly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the lower 60s. Chance of rain 40 percent.
HAZARDOUS WEATHER
...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...
Flood Watch
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...
* WHAT...Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible.
* WHERE...Portions of Piedmont and western North Carolina, including Macon, Swain, and Jackson Counties.
* WHEN...Through this evening.
* IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations, including urban areas.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Waves of heavy rain showers and scattered thunderstorms are forecast to move along a slow-moving cold front tonight into Thursday. While widespread 1-2 inch rainfall amounts are expected across western North Carolina through tonight, isolated locations are expected to see multiple rounds of very heavy rainfall, and localized amounts as high as 5 inches are possible. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Flood Watch for flash flooding means there is a potential for rapid onset flooding based on current forecasts. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation and may impact areas that do not typically flood. Please monitor the latest forecasts and be prepared to take action quickly should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.
POLLEN REPORT
Pollen levels are expected to be in the low range (0.5 out of 12) today with Grasses, Plantain, Chenopods being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be in the low range (0.5 out of 3.0).
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MACON CALENDAR
(send your event to editor@maconmedia.com)
Benefit for Randy Drinnon
July 25th at 5pm
Learn more on Facebook
Friends of the Greenway would like to invite you to our Christmas in July sale, July 22-25, 9-2 each day. Do some Christmas shopping early with 20% off everything in the Gift Shop. On Saturday, July 25th, have a Christmas cookie and enjoy great music from 11-1. Greenway Visitor Center/FROG Quarters, 573 E Main St, Franklin.
The many ways you can connect to Mountain Findings to arrange donation pick-ups, drop-off location, shopping hours, volunteering, and to learn more on our community grants programs and graduating seniors scholarships.
Facebook: @MountainFindings
Phone: 828-526-9929
Email: MountainFindings1@gmail.com
Webpage: MountainFindings.org
Location: 452 Spruce St, Highlands, NC
LIVE SATURDAY MIDDAY MUSIC CALENDAR FOR JUNE/JULY 2026
11a to 1p at Friends of the Greenway, Inc.
573 E Main St, Franklin, NC 28734
contact: frog28734@gmail.com; 828-369-8488
7-25-2026---Bill Petersen will be singing the blues along with maybe some originals. Then, up from Florida, hear John Bois and the Emotional Support Band.
To find out more about the Greenway and our organization, our website is: littletennessee.org.
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WEATHER ALMANAC
Record Weather Events for this date in Macon County (1872-2025)
Highest Temperature 96°F in Franklin in 1952
Lowest Temperature 44°F in Highlands in 1915
Greatest Rainfall 2.89 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1970
Record weather events for July in Macon County
Highest Temperature 101°F in Franklin on Jul 29, 1952
Lowest Temperature 34°F in Highlands on Jul 27, 1911
Greatest Rainfall 21.15 inches in Highlands on Jul 29, 1879
Greatest Snowfall no measurable snowfall has been recorded since records started being kept in 1873
Weather Extremes for North Carolina for the month of July
Highest Temperature 109°F Albemarle, Stanly County Jul 28, 1940
Lowest Temperature 32°F Celo, Yancey County Jul 10, 1961
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 21.15 in Highlands, Macon County Jul 29, 1879
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WNC News
Sylva Pride Parade permit appeal explained | WLOS-TV Asheville, NC
• Community speaks against redistricting proposal [The Franklin Press]
• Franklin invests in water [Macon Sense]
• Where FEMA's latest $25M of funding is going in WNC counties [Asheville Citizen-Times]
• Cashiers teachers struggle with cost of living [Smoky Mountain News]
• Democrat Ager reports a nearly 9-to-1 fundraising advantage over Edwards in GOP-leaning 11th District [Asheville Watchdog ]
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NC News
Protesters at legislature call to keep ICE out of NC | WTVD-TV (Durham, NC)
• Can North Carolina lower health care costs? New bipartisan commission gets to work [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]
• New texts show Dallas Woodhouse anticipated backlash to Sunday voting cuts in NC [Raleigh News & Observer]
• NC AG Jackson leads states in opposing EPA rollback of PFAS in water [NC Local]
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National News
ABC World News Tonight with David Muir - July 22, 2026 | ABC News
NBC Nightly News Full Episode - July 22 | NBC News
• 6 Democrats cross aisle, join GOP to back annual defense policy bill [The Hill]
• House Republicans adopt $95 billion package for the Iran war and Trump’s priorities [AP News]
• House takes first step to ban lawmakers from trading stocks [Yahoo News]
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Flock Cameras and Constitutional Rights
We Hacked Flock Safety Cameras in under 30 Seconds. 🫥 | Benn Jordan
• Brickbat: Unlicensed Search [Reason Magazine]
• Police say Flock cameras help solve crimes, but critics call them an invasion of privacy [PBS News]
• Schmidt v. Norfolk [ACLU]
• Chatrie v. United States [SCOTUSblog]
• Under Surveillance: Constitutional Concerns Surrounding Flock Cameras [North Carolina Journal of Law & Technology]
• Research Report on Automatic License Plate Readers: Legal Status and Policy Recommendations for Law Enforcement Use [Brennan Cebnter for Justice]
This Flock Camera Leak is like Netflix For Stalkers | Benn Jordan and 404 Media
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Public Records Request for Macon County Flock Safety Cameras
As an independent citizen journalist covering local government in Macon County for over 16 years, I have submitted a public records request to the Macon County Sheriff’s Office for documents related to the Flock Safety automated license plate reader system. This request seeks contracts, board approvals, usage policies, camera locations, performance data, and related correspondence to promote full transparency and public accountability in how this surveillance technology is funded, deployed, and operated with taxpayer resources. By making these records available, we can separate facts from myths, address community concerns about privacy and effectiveness, and ensure informed civic dialogue about tools that impact public safety and individual rights in our rural mountain community.
| from: | Bobby Coggins robertcogginsjr@gmail.com | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| to: |
| ||
| cc: |
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| date: | Jul 11, 2026, 2:13 AM | ||
| subject: | Public Records Request – Flock Safety Cameras / ALPR / License Plate Reader Contract & Related Documents – Macon County Sheriff’s Office | ||
| mailed-by: | gmail.com |
Sheriff’s Office Public Records Custodian,
Pursuant to the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. Chapter 132), I request the following records related to Flock Safety (or any automated license plate reader/ALPR system):
- All contracts, agreements, amendments, proposals, invoices, payment records, and correspondence between Macon County Sheriff’s Office (or County) and Flock Safety (or Flock Group, Inc.), including any subscription, installation, maintenance, or data access terms.
- Board of Commissioners agendas, minutes, resolutions, motions, or approvals authorizing the purchase, funding, or use of Flock cameras (including budget line items from FY 2023–2024 onward).
- Policies, procedures, manuals, training materials, or guidelines for use of the Flock system by Sheriff’s Office personnel (including access controls, data retention, audit logs, and privacy protections).
- Any usage statistics, reports, or summaries on camera performance, alerts generated, cases assisted, or data shared (redacted as necessary for law enforcement sensitivity).
- Location list or map of all deployed Flock cameras in Macon County.
- Any privacy impact assessments, legal opinions, or correspondence regarding compliance with NC law or data sharing.
Preferred format: Electronic copies (PDF/email) where possible. I am willing to pay reasonable costs; please notify me in advance if fees will exceed $50.
Please provide these records as soon as practicable. If any portion is denied, please provide a written explanation with the specific legal basis and contact information for appeal.
Thank you for your assistance. I can be reached at robertciogginsjr@gmail.com.
Sincerely, Bobby Coggins, Publisher Macon Media [robertciogginsjr@gmail.com]
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Published at 6:00am on Thursday, July 23, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins
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