ANNOUNCEMENTS
• Back to School Safety Tips for the 2026-2027 School Year [Macon Media]
• 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. Cold air damming will gradually weaken over the area, allowing temperatures to warm back above normal over the next few days.
2. Rain chances return Wednesday into Thursday as a frontal system moves through our area.
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SPONSORSHIPS
WEATHER SPONSOR
The weather is being sponsored by the Caleb for NC Campaign. Caleb is running for the NC House in District 120. Read more about his campaign at https://calebbrownfornc120.com. 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....Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. Southeast winds around 5 mph.
.TONIGHT....Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s. Southeast winds around 5 mph.
.TUESDAY....Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
.TUESDAY NIGHT....Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.
.WEDNESDAY....Mostly cloudy. Rain becoming likely by afternoon. Highs in the lower 60s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph in the morning. Chance of rain 70 percent.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT....A chance of thunderstorms. Rain. Lows in the mid 50s. Chance of rain 90 percent.
HAZARDOUS WEATHER
Hazardous weather is not expected today or tonight.
SPACE WEATHER FORECAST
Hazardous space weather is not in the current forecast. [LINK]
POLLEN REPORT
Pollen levels are expected to be in the low-medium range (2.3 out of 12) today with Ragweed, Chenopods, and Grasses being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be in the low range (0.9 out of 12.0)
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MACON CALENDAR
(send your event to editor@maconmedia.com)
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 OCTOBER 2026
11a to 1p at Friends of the Greenway, Inc.
573 E Main St, Franklin, NC 28734
contact: frog28734@gmail.com; 828-369-8488
TBA
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 82°F in Franklin in 1974
Lowest Temperature 16°F in Highlands in 1954
Greatest Rainfall 3.20 inches in Highlands in 1966
Greatest Snowfall 0.5 inches in Highlands in 1917
Record weather events for November in Macon County
Highest Temperature 83°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station on Nov 4, 2003
Lowest Temperature -3°F in Highlands on Nov 25, 1950
Greatest Rainfall 4.69 inches in Highlands on Nov 29, 1914
Greatest Snowfall 6.0 inches in Highlands on Nov 28, 1922
Weather Extremes for North Carolina for the month of November
Highest Temperature 89°F in Asheboro, Randolph County on Nov 7, 2024
Lowest Temperature -12°F in Grandfather Mountain, Avery County on Nov 15, 1969
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 9.70 in Lake Toxaway, Transylvania County on Nov 19, 2003
Greatest Snowfall 13.0 inches in Mount Mitchell, Yancey County on Nov 1, 2014
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WNC News
• Agenda Packet for the November 2026 Franklin Town Council Meeting [The Franklin Press]
North Carolina program helps inmates build a path to addiction recovery (Swain County) | WLOS-TV (Asheville), NC
Should you leave a forest full of curved trees? | The Geo Models
• Early Voting Totals by Party Registration in Macon County [The Franklin Press]
• Early voting ends in North Carolina; what voters need to know for Election Day [WLOS-TV Asheville, NC ]
• CarePartners celebrates 30 years of serving Western North Carolina [Asheville Citizen-Times]
• Grants awarded for classroom equipment [The Franklin Press]
• North Carolina joins ‘overcharging’ lawsuit against Dollar General [Macon Sense]
• Trout in crisis: Climate change adds to the strain on a mountain economy [ Smoky Mountain News ]
• Max Patch makes a comeback [ The Mountaineer ]
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NC News
Watch for deer: NC drivers urged to stay alert as deer season increases risk on roads | WTVD-TV (Durham, NC)
• Election Day is Tuesday. What you need to know to vote in NC’s 2026 midterms [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]
• Democrats hold early voting lead in North Carolina, state data shows [Raleigh News & Observer]
• Purple Primer: Your Guide to the 2026 Elections in North Carolina [NC Local]
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National News
Horrific and deadly plane crash in Florida ABC World News Tonight with David Muir - Nov. 1, 2026 | ABC News
NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas Full Episode - Nov. 1 | NBC News
After Words: "The Art of the Obituary" with NYT Obituarist, Sam Roberts | C-SPAN
Nate Silver On What the Polls Say — And What His Gut’s Telling Him | The Ezra Klein Show
• The Final Polls Show a Blue Surge. Can We Trust Them? [New York Times ]
• Judge tosses DOJ’s lawsuit over Alaska Senate race [The Hill]
• El-Sayed’s primary opponent stuns Democrats by endorsing Republican opponent in Michigan Senate race [AP News ]
• Trump White House maps path to govern without Congress if Democrats win Yahoo News]
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Learjet Crashes in Florida
A Learjet 60 Crashed in Palm beach County, Florida on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Here are some articles and video describing what happened. Some of the articles and video may contain information and audio some readers find distressing.
• A Learjet 60, N722BD, impacted the ground in Greenacres, Florida [Aviation Safety Network]Private jet crashes in Palm Beach County, Florida, with 9 onboard | ABC News
Initial Learjet Crash Analysis | Matthew Cappucci and MyRadar Weather Radar
9 on board Learjet killed in crash near Greenacres | WPBF-TV (Tequesta–West Palm Beach, FL)
• Portion of Military Trail closed, mobile home residents impacted after Learjet crash [WPBF-TV (Tequesta–West Palm Beach, FL)]
Learjet 60 Palm Beach Crash: Shocking Cause | Jeff Ostroff
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Financial News
A screening bot reads your resume before a person ever does | Yahoo Finance
Asia's Traders Weigh Tech Selloff, US Midterms | The Asia Trade 11/02/2026 | Bloomberg Television
• Stock futures jump ahead of a monster week after a $5 trillion AI rout [Yahoo Finance]
• These Senate races may help determine the fate of Social Security [CNBC]
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World News
Why is the UK Prime Minister saying he's open to a slavery apology? | BBC News
What the Ship (Ep 150): Global Shipbuilding Boom, Dock Strike & Chokepoint Attacks | What's Going on With Shipping?
France reports largely peaceful protests | FRANCE 24 English
• Lee vows bold investment in AI, future growth engines for 'growth for all' [Yonhap News Agency]
• Bennett to recommend Eisenkot as prime minister, B'Yachad party says ahead of meeting with Herzog [Jerusalem Post]
• Live: Russia and Ukraine trade blame for cyber attacks as fragile ceasefire ends [France 24]
• Iran war live: Tankers hit in Hormuz; Trump again says conflict to end soon [Al Jazeera]
• India’s opposition parties stage new protest against the country’s election chief [AP News]
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Iran War News
Israel's political puzzle and what it could mean | DW News
• The Israel Netanyahu Made: Why Bibi’s National Security Vision Will Endure [Foreign Affairs]
• US warns allies to prepare for possible Iran strikes, retaliation after elections, AP sources say [AP News]
• Iran Update, October 28, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]
• Iran war live: Trump says he approved Vance outreach over medical supplies [AL Jazeera]
• Live Updates: Netanyahu's Likud maintains lead with 91% of votes in as counting of double envelopes continues [Jerusalem Post]
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Russo-Ukraine War
Russia’s Oil Nightmare Just Returned IN FORCE | Paul Warburg
Ukraine under fire ahead of planned Abu Dhabi talks | World News Tonight | TVP World
• Russia committed war crimes in Ukraine by attacking its energy grid, UN-backed inquiry says [AP News]
• Putin’s Strategy Is Working: Trump Could Salvage the Kremlin’s Objectives in Ukraine [Foreign Affairs]
• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 28, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]
• Russia’s alleged sabotage campaign in Europe raises fears of escalation [Al Jazeera]
• Ukraine and Russia begin Oleshky ceasefire for aid mission [DW News]
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Science News
How Did We Miss This Massive Object in Our Backyard? | Anton Petrov
• Mars’ moon Phobos is destined to become a ring [Astronomy Magazine]
• TWiV 1370: Clinical Update with Dr. Daniel Griffin [Microbe TV]
• TWiV 1371: How to Bat Away Marburg Virus [Microbe TV]
• New Research Resolves the Mystery Behind Van Gogh's The Starry Night [Universe Today]
• Even moderate drinking linked to cancer and early death, major study finds [ScienceDaily]
• This Week's Sky at a Glance, October 30 – November 8 [Sky & Telescope Magazine]
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Technology News
Americans Don't Want AI Data Centers Anymore. Here's Why. | Yahoo Finance
Apple and Meta's AI gamble: The end of data centres? | AI Decoded | BBC News
Most AI News Is Useless for Developers. These 3 Stories Aren’t. | Educative
• Flesh-eating screwworms spread to third state and are attacking pets [Ars Technica]
• NASA’s Begging the Commercial Space Industry to Save the Doomed Hubble Telescope [Gizmodo]
• Ex-Meta Researcher Torrented Pirated Books Dataset, Deleted It ‘Due to All This Litigation’ [Torrent Freaks]
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Interesting Videos
Yugoslavia 1991: How the Wars Began | Kings and Generals
Charlie Brown and the Quiet Sadness of Growing Up | DoctorW42
Why Russia Thinks It Can Attack Europe and WIN | RealLifeLore
Nuclear War Myths: Would Civilization Really End? | Isaac Arthur
Why a Russia vs Europe Nuclear War would not be so one-sided | Fraser Cain
New York City Halloween Parade 2026 🎃 53rd Annual Village Halloween Parade NYC | The NYC Walking Show
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CRYPTO & AI NEWS
Bitcoin: The Beauty of Mathematics (Part 74) | Benjamin Cowen
.Why AI Insiders Are Cashing Out | Coin Bureau
• Bitcoin ETF Investors Head for the Exits After Record Binance Hack [Decrypt]
• Binance net outflows surge to $5.8B as withdrawals resume after record hack [Coin Telegraph]
• This Week in Crypto Law (November 1, 2026) [Bitcoin.com]
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Flock Cameras and Constitutional Rights
Flock Cameras Are Not Even the Worst Part of the System | TREX LABS
• 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: |
| ||
| 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 Monday, November 02, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins
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