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. Another frontal system arrives from the west this later today through Sunday. The front may briefly stall across our area early next week, bringing back high rain chances, below-normal temperatures, and some potential for locally heavy rainfall.
2. A return to typical mid-summer weather is expected next week.
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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 likely. A slight chance of thunderstorms this morning, then a chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.
.TONIGHT....A chance of thunderstorms. Showers. Patchy fog in the evening. Areas of fog after midnight. Visibility one quarter mile or less at times after midnight. Lows in the mid 60s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain near 100 percent.
.SUNDAY....Mostly cloudy. Areas of fog in the morning. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Visibility one quarter mile or less at times in the morning. Highs in the upper 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.
.SUNDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the lower 60s. Southwest winds around 5 mph in the evening, becoming light and variable. Chance of rain 70 percent.
.MONDAY....Partly sunny with a chance of thunderstorms. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers likely in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 70s. Southwest winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.
.MONDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy with showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then partly cloudy after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. Chance of rain 70 percent.
HAZARDOUS WEATHER
Showers and thunderstorms will move across the area today and tonight. A few storms may become strong to severe mainly late today or tonight, with damaging winds the primary threat. Localized flooding will also be possible in any locations that see repeated or prolonged periods of heavy rain.
A few strong to severe storms will still be possible into Sunday.
POLLEN REPORT
Pollen levels are expected to be in the low-medium range (3.4 out of 12) today with Grasses and Nettle being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be in the low-medium range (4.5 out of 3.0).
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MACON CALENDAR
(send your event to editor@maconmedia.com)
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
654:25 AM 7/28/2026 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 97°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1999
Lowest Temperature 45°F in Highlands in 1895
Greatest Rainfall 2.73 inches in Franklin in 1948
Record weather events for July in Macon County
Highest Temperature 99°F in Franklin on Aug 9, 1980
Lowest Temperature 40°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station on Aug 29, 1968
Greatest Rainfall 9.68 inches in Highlands on Aug 13, 1940
Greatest Snowfall no measurable snowfall has been recorded since records started being kept in 1873
Weather Extremes for North Carolina for the month of August
Highest Temperature 110°F Fayetteville, Cumberland County Aug 21, 1983
Lowest Temperature 31°F Banner Elk, Avery County Aug 23, 1930
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 12.43 in Morehead City, Carteret County Aug 12, 1955
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WNC News
Inside a western NC Helene documentary | WLOS-TV Asheville, NC
• Judge rejects HCA Healthcare's motion to avoid trial, Attorney General Jackson says [WLOS-TV Asheville, NC ]
• New program helps families find stability [The Franklin Press]
• The Bascom to host annual Community Barn Dance [Macon Sense]
• Yes, it was a tornado. Winds peaked at 80 mph, weather service says [Asheville Citizen-Times]
• Sylva greenlights Pride parade [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
Yellow-legged hornets confirmed in North Carolina | WTVD-TV (Durham, NC)
• A flesh-eating parasite is back in the U.S. after nearly 60 years. Here's what it means for NC [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]
• An Amazon data center in NC wants to use diesel power. Why there’s pushback [Raleigh News & Observer]
• Balancing public safety and privacy [NC Local]
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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 Saturday, August 01, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins
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