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. A slow moving front to our west will produce multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms capable of producing heavy downpours and isolated flash flooding through this evening. A low- end severe weather risk is also possible this afternoon.
2. A more typical late summer pattern returns next week, but daily thunderstorm chances may remain elevated.
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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....Patchy fog this morning. Partly sunny with a chance of thunderstorms. A chance of showers. Visibility one quarter mile or less at times this morning. Highs in the upper 70s. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.
.TONIGHT....Partly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the lower 60s. Southwest winds around 5 mph in the evening, becoming light and variable. Chance of rain 50 percent.
.MONDAY....Mostly sunny in the morning, then partly sunny with showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 70s. Light and variable winds, becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. 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. Light and variable winds. Chance of rain 70 percent.
.TUESDAY....Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the morning, then showers with thunderstorms likely in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 70s. Light and variable winds. Chance of rain 90 percent.
.TUESDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the mid 60s. Chance of rain 70 percent.
HAZARDOUS WEATHER
A slow moving front to our west will produce multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms capable of producing heavy downpours and isolated flash flooding through this evening. A low- end severe weather risk is also possible this afternoon.
POLLEN REPORT
Pollen levels are expected to be in the low range (0.6 out of 12) today with Grasses and Nettle being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be in the low range (0.7 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 94°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1999
Lowest Temperature 45°F in Highlands in 1895
Greatest Rainfall 3.66 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station 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
Mission Hospital lawsuit heads to trial | WLOS-TV Asheville, NC
• Man accused of following women in Asheville arrested again, charged with assault on female [WLOS-TV Asheville, NC ]
• 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
NC Democrats keep focus on affordability issues at Unity Dinner | WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)
• NC political investigation expanding to include new target, Wake DA says [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]
• Federal judge’s NCAA eligibility ruling sends shockwaves through college sports [Raleigh News & Observer]
• Balancing public safety and privacy [NC Local]
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National News
ABC World News Tonight with David Muir - August 1, 2026 | ABC News
NBC Nightly News Full Episode - August 1 | NBC News
After Words: Stuck - How Money, Media and Violence Prevent Change in Congress | C-SPAN
• DOJ dropping Reflecting Pool vandalism case against Olympian David Hearn, citing 'flawed' work by contractor [ABC News]
• Trump rips Pirro decision as DOJ looks to drop Reflecting Pool case: ‘I don’t agree’ [The Hill]
• Idaho fast food restaurant shooting leaves 3 dead and 7 injured, city spokesman says [AP News]
• Trump wanted interest rate cuts to be 'Rocket Fuel' for the economy. He is losing that fight so far [Yahoo News]
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World News
How scientists see through rainforests | BBC News
• Middle East live : Trump says US to stop new strikes on Iran, calls for 'rapid deal' on Hormuz [France 24]
• Iran Update Special Report, August 1, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]
• Warsaw pauses to remember 82nd anniversary of WWII Uprising [TVP World]
• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 1, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]
• Photos show Russian missile and drone attack on Ukrainian capital Kyiv [AP News]
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Iran War News
US military carries out fresh strikes on Iran | BBC News
• Iran Update Special Report, July 30, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]
• Gaza live: Hamas reportedly agrees to ‘historic’ disarmament agreement [AL Jazeera]
• Live Updates: Trump announces 'historic' Hamas disarmament deal, which US officials say will prevent next Oct. 7 [Jerusalem Post]
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Russo-Ukraine War
How Ukrainian attack drones are striking deep inside Russia | The Security Brief | BBC News
Russia strikes again: Zelenskyy signals urgent need for Patriot munitions | World News Tonight | TVP World
• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 1, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]
• How US Senate Russia sanctions could spell 100% tariffs for India, China [Al Jazeera]
• Russian strikes across Ukraine kill 10 and NATO scrambles jets after a missile falls in Poland [AP News]
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Financial News
FOMC Press Conference, July 29, 2026 | Federal Reserve
Fed's Credibility Questioned, ‘Bond Vigilantes’ Return | Real Yield 7/30/2026 | Bloomberg Television
• Korean Stocks Jump Record 14% on Renewed AI Trade Optimism [Yahoo Finance]
• Oil prices ease as recovering Hormuz Strait traffic tempers war premium [CNBC]
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Science News
Sky & Telescope’s Sky Tour Podcast — August 2026
• Astronomers just found the first atmosphere on a rocky exoplanet in the habitable zone [Astronomy Magazine]
• What Killed Galaxies in the Early Universe? [Universe Today]
• AI can tell if your brain is aging faster than you are [ScienceDaily]
• This Week's Sky at a Glance, July 24 – August 2 [Sky & Telescope Magazine]
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Technology News
The Level1 Links with Friends Show July 31 2026: Front Row May Get Wet
• Trump FCC faces blowback in attempt to police speech on broadcast TV [Ars Technica]
• The Pentagon’s Case Against Anthropic Isn’t Going Well [Gizmodo]
• HBO’s Blocking Order Takes Out Popular Pirate Streaming Domains Including Streamzy.to [Torrent Freaks]
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Interesting Videos
Interview: The Future of AI and Us | Particles of Thought | NOVA PBS Official
Could We See Into Our Own Past? (And Other Questions) | Joe Scott
The First Exomoon/Exosatellite Discovered ... And its Weird | John Michael Godier
Will non-alcoholic wine save the winemakers? | DW Documentary
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CRYPTO & AI NEWS
Bitcoin: The Beauty of Mathematics (Part 72) | Benjamin Cowen
• US senators sent revised ethics rules to White House for CLARITY Act: Report [Decrypt]
• Telegram founder Pavel Durov internationally wanted, Russia’s FSB says [Coin Telegraph]
• AI Economy Can Jumpstart Dollar Stablecoin Dominance [Bitcoin.com]
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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: |
| ||
| 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 Sunday, August 02, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins
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