Thunder Pig

Macon County Commissioners

Coverage of the meetings of the Macon County Board of County Commissioners.

Franklin Town Board of Aldermen

Coverage of the meetings of the Franklin Town Board of Aldermen.

Macon County School Board

Coverage of the meetings of the Macon County School Board.

Saturday, October 31, 2026

Early Voting Totals by Party Registration in Macon County

Early voting is over for the 2026 midterms. Election Day is on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Cumulative totals (Macon County):

Total early voting: 10,645
GOP: 4,362 (14.6% of registered)
Democrats: 2,067 (6.9%)
UNA: 4,183 (14.0%)
Not Voting: 19,231 (64.4%)
Total registered: 29,876

Early Voting in the 2022 and 2026 midterms compared.

In 2022, 9,734 voted early, or 34.8% of the 27,966 registered voters.

In 2026, 10,645 voted early, or 35.63% of the 29,876 registered voters.

Here is a message from Director of the Macon County Board of Elections:

Wow! What a turnout! 10,645 in total!! And Early Voting Is OVER!!

I want to give a huge shoutout to maintenance workers, delivery partners, the IT department, my Board Members, party chairman and women, and all our Polling Officials! We couldn’t have done this without you! To my Deputy Director, Judy Fritts you rock! To my Elections Assistant, John Williams, you’re the Man! To our office helper, Edna Morgan, thank you so much! Your long hours, hard work, dedication, and commitment do not go unnoticed. From the behind-the-scenes preparation to the long days serving our voters, each of you has played an important part in making this election happen. To the voters in Macon County, thank you for being so kind and patient with our officials; we appreciate you all!

I know firsthand how much work goes into running an election, and I am incredibly grateful for the people who show up, step up, and give it their all.

To my staff, thank you for everything you do day in and day out. To our Early Voting poll workers, thank you for your time, patience, and willingness to serve our community.

I couldn't do this without each and every one of you. I am proud of this team, and I appreciate you more than you know!

THANK YOU for making Macon County proud! ️

Voters who could not make it to early voting must go to their proper polling location on Tuesday, November 3^rd to cast a ballot. There is NO VOTING on Monday, November 2^nd.

A Pre-Election Board Meeting will be held on Monday, November 2^nd at 5:00 pm to count early voting and absentee-by-mail ballots. NO results will be given until 7:30 pm.

A Provisional Meeting will be on Tuesday, November 10^th at 3:00 pm.

Canvass will be on Friday, November 13^th at 11:00 am.

Regards,

Melanie D. Thibault

Director, Macon County BOE

Agenda Packet for the November 2026 Franklin Town Council Meeting

10/29/2026 08:58:00 PM 2026 Franklin Town Council Meetings , Franklin Aldermen , Franklin Town Council , MaconGov , Meeting Agenda 0 comments

The Franklin Town Council will be meeting at 6pm in the lower level of the town hall for its November 2026 regular meeting.

The public agenda and agenda packet are posted below.

Agenda - November 2, 2026
6:00 p.m.

1. Call to Order- Mayor Stacy J. Guffey

2. Pledge of Allegiance – Vice Mayor Mike Lewis

3. Adoption of the November 2, 2026 Town Council Agenda - Town Council

4. Approval of the Consent Agenda for November 2, 2026 - Town Council
A.) Approval of Minutes
1. Regular Meeting Minutes October 5, 2026
2. Special Called Meeting Minutes October 12, 2026
B.) Budget Amendment
C.) Approve Contract for Harper XS – Water Treatment Plant
D.) Refer to Planning Board
1. Petition for Rezoning
2. Parking Text Amendment
3. Process Text Amendment

5. Introductions/Recognitions
A.) Bill Allen, Lab Supervisor, received Maintenance Technician 3 Certification – presented by Jason Hopkins, Wastewater Treatment Plant Supervisor/ORC
B.) Jason Hopkins, Wastewater Treatment Plant Supervisor/ORC, received Lab Analyst 1 Certification – presented by Bill Deal, Public Works Director
C.) Swearing in of Interim Town Manager/Finance Director Sarah Bishop – Mayor Stacy Guffey

6. Presentations
A.) Police Presentation – Honorary Police Officer Ceremony

There will be a brief recess.

7. Public Session

8. Items from Council

9. Old Business
A.) Revised Incentive Grant Application – Franklin Machine Company – Interim Town Manager/Finance Director Sarah Bishop

10. New Business
A.) Request approval of Firehouse Subs Grant for Franklin Fire Department – Fire Chief Justin Setser
B.) Request approval of Chemtrac Grant for Franklin Fire Department – Fire Chief Justin Setser
C.) Request Appointment to Town of Franklin Planning Board/Board of Adjustment – 3-year Term - Town Planner Callie Barnett
D.) Request Approval of Resolution Supporting Feasibility Studies Grant Application – Town Planner, Callie Barnett
E.) Request Approval of 3-year Contract with DSI – Town Clerk/HR Director Nicole Bradley
F.) Request Approval of John Deere Lease Agreement – Interim Town Manager/Finance Director Sarah Bishop
G.) Request approval of Street Closures – Interim Town Manager/Finance Director Sarah Bishop
a. Artisan Market, December 12th 2026
b. Ruby Drop, December 30th 2026-January 1st 2027 (2 requests)

11. Announcements
A.) Next Town Council Meeting is Monday, December 7, 2026
B.) Town Offices will be closed on November 11th, 2026 in observance of Veterans Day
C.) Town Offices will be closed on November 26th and 27th, 2026 in observance of Thanksgiving
D.) Ribbon Cutting for Sunnyside Park All Inclusive Playground on November 6th at 1:00 PM
E.) Winter Wonderland (Night One) and Tree Lighting is Saturday, November 28th, 2026. Winter Wonderland will be from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM with the Tree Lighting at 7:00 PM. Winter Wonderland (Night Two) will be on December 5th, 2026 from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM.

12. Adjourn

Agenda Packet | Download 90 page PDF

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Published at 6:00am on Thursday, October 29, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins

Weather Briefing for Thursday, October 29, 2026

10/29/2026 04:37:00 AM 2026 Weather , Daily Weather Briefing 0 comments

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. Dry through at least Saturday. Trending drier Sunday through Tuesday so confidence on rain returning is now very low. Temperatures remain mostly above normal, with the exception of Sunday.

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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....Areas of fog this morning. Sunny. Visibility one quarter mile or less at times this morning. Highs around 70. East winds around 5 mph this morning, becoming light and variable.

.TONIGHT....Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 40s. Light and variable winds, becoming north around 5 mph after midnight.

.FRIDAY....Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. North winds around 5 mph in the morning, becoming light and variable.

.FRIDAY NIGHT....Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s. Light and variable winds, becoming east around 5 mph after midnight.

.SATURDAY....Mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid 60s. East winds around 5 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the morning.

.SATURDAY NIGHT....Cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s.

.SUNDAY....Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers. Highs in the upper 50s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers. Lows in the upper 40s.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

Low relative humidity could result in fires getting out of control this afternoon, so please exercise care when burning outdoors.

SPACE WEATHER FORECAST

Hazardous space weather is not in the current forecast. [LINK] https://spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=29&month=10&year=2026

POLLEN REPORT

Pollen levels are expected to be in the low-medium range (3.1 out of 12) today with Ragweed, Chenopods, and Grasses being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be in the low range (2.2 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 81°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 2016
Lowest Temperature 16°F in Highlands in 1903
Greatest Rainfall 5.98 inches in Highlands in 2020
Greatest Snowfall 0.5 inches in Highlands in 1910

Record weather events for October in Macon County

Highest Temperature 91°F in Franklin on Oct 5, 1954
Lowest Temperature 12°F in Highlands on Oct 30, 1910
Greatest Rainfall 1.0 inches in Highlands on Oct 4, 1964
Greatest Snowfall 1.0 inches in Highlands on Oct 20, 1913

Weather Extremes for North Carolina for the month of October

Highest Temperature 103°F in Wadesboro, Anson County on Oct 3, 2019
Lowest Temperature 8°F in Banner Elk, Avery County on Oct 21, 1952
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 12.53 in Lumberton, Robeson County on Oct 8, 2016
Greatest Snowfall 11.0 inches in Mount Mitchell, Yancey County on Oct 25, 1990

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WNC News

• Man charged in fight at Early Voting [The Franklin Press]
AI is changing the look of political attack ads in North Carolina | WLOS-TV (Asheville), NC

• Macon County Sheriff’s Office Terminates Deputy Named in Outside Criminal Investigation [The Franklin Press]
• Search underway for missing man near Jackson-Macon county line [WLOS-TV Asheville, NC ]
• Maggie Burleson retires as Asheville's city clerk [Asheville Citizen-Times]
• Another fired by Sheriff, criminal investigation launched [Macon Sense]
• Two Macon deputies fired for misconduct [ Smoky Mountain News ]
• Waynesville's new town manager brings wealth of local knowledge [ The Mountaineer ]

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NC News

NC races, particularly U.S. Senate contest, fuel surge in political betting, prediction markets say | WTVD-TV (Durham, NC)

• There are only a few days left for early voting in NC. What to know before heading to the polls [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]
• Vice President JD Vance rallies NC for Republicans with a notable shift in focus [Raleigh News & Observer]
• Purple Primer: Your Guide to the 2026 Elections in North Carolina [NC Local]

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National News

ABC World News Tonight with David Muir - Oct. 28, 2026 | ABC News

NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas Full Episode - Oct. 28 | NBC News

Washington Today (10-28-26): Fed holds interest rates steady | Trump campaigns in OH, Obama in GA | C-SPAN

• Hackers identify thousands of DHS employees in massive data breach [Washington Post ]
• Right-wing activist James O’Keefe charged with unlawful voting, identity theft [The Hill]
• Stolen election rhetoric from Trump isn’t new. His ability to act on those claims is [AP News]
• Trump and Obama trade barbs in closing week of US midterm election Yahoo News]

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Financial News

FOMC Press Conference, October 28, 2026 | Federal Reserve

Jeffrey Gundlach: Fed should be raising rates based on the two-year and yield curve steepening | CNBC Television

Fed Holds Rates With a Hawkish Edge| The Close 10/28/2026 | Bloomberg Television

• Fed votes in split decision to hold interest rates steady despite sticky inflation [Yahoo Finance]
• Trump methane policy rollback may have minimal impact on crude prices, EPA says [CNBC]

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World News

What are the US midterm elections and why are they crucial to Trump? | BBC News

Mein Schiff 3 Collision in Bremerhaven: What Happened? | What's Going on With Shipping?

Curfew imposed in certain areas of Paris every night until Monday morning | FRANCE 24 English

• N. Korea fires nearly dozen ballistic missiles after S. Korea's dialogue offer [Yonhap News Agency]
• 'Desolation, despair': Spain begins three days of mourning after deadly train crash [France 24]
• What to know about Brazil’s Bolsonaro’s departure to the US after his electoral defeat [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

Bonus Episode: Russian recruitment and sabotage | Call Sign Condor | DW News

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

The 50/50 Paradox: Why All Life on Earth is Left-Handed | Anton Petrov

• The weird science behind Mars’ weirdest cloud [Astronomy Magazine]
• TWiV 1368: Clinical Update with Dr. Daniel Griffin [Microbe TV]
• TWiV 1369: Florida Model Makes Measles Great Again [Microbe TV]
• Moon Habitats May Use Layered Mylar to Block Extreme Heat [Universe Today]
• Your blood pressure could be dangerous even when your numbers look normal [ScienceDaily]
• This Week's Sky at a Glance, October 23 – November 1 [Sky & Telescope Magazine]

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Technology News

Only 5% of People Use AI Agents, and the Boom Is Just Starting | 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

• The last, best hope for space tourism just rolled onto a runway in Arizona [Ars Technica]
• There Are 15,000 Ant Species on Earth. Blame the Asteroid That Killed the Dinosaurs [Gizmodo]
• Chile Blocks 1,954 Pirate TV URLs to Protect Citizens’ ‘Privacy and Personal Data’ [Torrent Freaks]

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Interesting Videos

The Forgotten Viking War That United England | Kings and Generals

The Theranos Trap | Hank Green

How Are Americans Affording $80,000 Trucks on $70,000 Salary | The Infographics Show

The Strange Case for Dark Matter Aliens with Daniel Whiteson | Event Horizon

Going Beyond Hubble and Roman to Find Planets With Atmospheres | Fraser Cain

New York City 4K LIVE Manhattan on Thursday Evening (October 22, 2026) | The NYC Walking Show

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CRYPTO & AI NEWS

Bitcoin Bull Market Support Band | Benjamin Cowen

The Rise and Fall of Crypto's Flashiest Founder | Coin Bureau

• Is the Internet Safe Again After the PHP Nightmare? What You Need to Know [Decrypt]
• Bitcoin Core changes security policy as AI makes bugs easier to find [Coin Telegraph]
• Colombian Police Dismantle $42M Crypto Drug Laundering Ring [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:		"mcsopio@maconnc.org" <mcsopio@maconnc.org>, rlofthouse@maconnc.org
cc:		wcabe@maconnc.org
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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font-size: medium;

Letter to the Editor: Concerns About Flock Camera Use and Records Requests in Jackson County, N.C.

10/26/2026 11:34:00 AM ALPRs , Flock Cameras , jackson county , JCSO , Letter to the Editor , Surveillance 1 comment

(Editor's Note: Click on any of the images view at a larger size).

Dear Editor, In light of your recent news report about the gross misuse of Flock cameras by county sheriffs and city police officers

, a family member of mine who lives in Jackson County, N.C., has a pending court case that has been ongoing for three years involving a deputy of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and his ex-wife. This officer is also a candidate in the Jackson County Commissioners race.

My family member and I feel that he is being targeted by this deputy and the Sheriff’s Department for several reasons, one of them being his being flocked by the sheriff’s office

. He is not on social media, so I went on the website that was put on TV so that citizens could check to see if they had been flocked. I ran all of his vehicle plates on “Have I Been Flocked” and sure enough he had been a total of four different times

. In the photo shown there were discrepancies in who the operator of the Flock system was

. And in one of those instances he was flocked for a total of 30 days (Photo #4) and the reason for the surveillance listed was “criminal investigation”

. There were only two of the flockings on the report, but the report says that he was flocked four times

One of his questions is: “Where are the reports for the two other times flocked and when did these occur?” The website states that persons who have been flocked can go to their local sheriff’s office and request a printout of the flocked report. He went to the sheriff’s office and requested those printouts, and they refused to give them to him (he has this request rejection on video), just like all of the reports he has requested involving his pending court case with this deputy and his ex-wife. He has submitted a written request for these documents as well as body cam footage, photos, and audio of the 911 call about his case and been denied.

He has spoken with the sheriff about his concerns with this deputy, who is also a personal friend of the county sheriff and is a candidate in the Jackson County Commissioners’ race, and has been treated horribly. This I feel is an abuse of power by law enforcement. He lives in fear of retaliation by the sheriff and the Sheriff’s Department. He read the story you published about the investigation and dismissal of the Macon County deputy and wanted me to reach out to you and see if your news outlet could reach out to him and listen to his story. He has requested to speak to internal affairs but was told by the sheriff’s office that there is no internal affairs. He doesn’t want to talk to the press in Jackson County because of fear of them having close ties with the parties involved. This whole thing has him scared as well as paranoid in the county he lives in and pays taxes in. He would love to speak with the reporter who investigated the Macon County deputy story.

There is corruption in these small mountain counties, and it needs to be brought to light, addressed, and stopped. Again, he is not on social media at all and asked me to reach out to you. He has a very interesting case that I feel needs to be heard and addressed, and the Sheriff’s Office and that deputy need to be investigated on the state or federal level. If you think you could help him get his story to the right people and possibly get some investigation started into the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, my family member has given me permission to share his story.

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of his story.

Weather Briefing for Monday, October 26, 2026

10/26/2026 04:25:00 AM 0 comments

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. Patchy frost is expected to develop by dawn across portions of the NC mountains and foothills. A Frost Advisory is in effect for those mountain zones that were not turned off during the most recent freeze.

2. Dry high pressure is expected to persist over our region through at least Friday with temperatures climbing back above normal. Rain chances increase this weekend.

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SPONSORSHIPS

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 and frost in the morning. Sunny. Highs in the upper 60s. North winds around 5 mph in the morning, becoming light and variable.

.TONIGHT....Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s. Light and variable winds.

.TUESDAY....Sunny. Highs around 70. Light and variable winds, becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.

.TUESDAY NIGHT....Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s. Southeast winds around 5 mph.

.WEDNESDAY....Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

Low relative humidity could result in fires getting out of control this afternoon, so please exercise care when burning outdoors.

SPACE WEATHER FORECAST

Hazardous space weather is not in the current forecast. [LINK] https://spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=26&month=10&year=2026

POLLEN REPORT

Pollen levels are expected to be in the low-medium range (3.3 out of 12) today with Ragweed, Chenopods, and Grasses being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be in the low-medium range (3.3 out of 12.0)

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MACON CALENDAR

(send your event to editor@maconmedia.com)

WEATHER ALMANAC

Record Weather Events for this date in Macon County (1872-2025)

Highest Temperature 86°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1947
Lowest Temperature 17°F in Highlands in 1903
Greatest Rainfall 2.99 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1977
Greatest Snowfall (no measurable snowfall recorded on this date)

Record weather events for October in Macon County

Highest Temperature 91°F in Franklin on Oct 5, 1954
Lowest Temperature 12°F in Highlands on Oct 30, 1910
Greatest Rainfall 1.0 inches in Highlands on Oct 4, 1964
Greatest Snowfall 1.0 inches in Highlands on Oct 20, 1913

Weather Extremes for North Carolina for the month of October

Highest Temperature 103°F in Wadesboro, Anson County on Oct 3, 2019
Lowest Temperature 8°F in Banner Elk, Avery County on Oct 21, 1952
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 12.53 in Lumberton, Robeson County on Oct 8, 2016
Greatest Snowfall 11.0 inches in Mount Mitchell, Yancey County on Oct 25, 1990

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WNC News

Swain County Heritage Museum preserves history | WLOS-TV (Asheville), NC

• Macon County Sheriff’s Office Terminates Deputy Named in Outside Criminal Investigation [The Franklin Press]
• Two brush fires reported in Johns Creek Road area of Jackson County [WLOS-TV Asheville, NC ]
• Franklin rallies past Smoky Mountain for 42-35 win [Asheville Citizen-Times]
• Local physicians dropped from Humana Medicare Advantage plans [The Franklin Press]
• Another fired by Sheriff, criminal investigation launched [Macon Sense]
• Jackson opioid settlement funds go toward recovery housing [ Smoky Mountain News ]
• Will flu season come early? Cases spark concern for winter season [ The Mountaineer ]

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NC News

Flock cameras in NC: Who can access license plate reader data and how is it protected? | WTVD-TV (Durham, NC)

• Could election betting skew NC voters’ expectations? New study raises concerns ahead of midterms [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]
• Phones? Buttons? Guns? What you may and may not bring to cast your vote in NC [Raleigh News & Observer]
• Purple Primer: Your Guide to the 2026 Elections in North Carolina [NC Local]

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National News

Is the AI Bubble About to Burst? New Financial Risks Exposed | Yahoo Finance

Woman charged with threatening Trump: ABC World News Tonight with David Muir - Oct. 22, 2026 | ABC News

NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas Full Episode - Oct. 22 | NBC News

Washington Today (10-22-26): Rep. AOC campaigns for ME Dem Sen nominee | POTUS defends OH GOP ad | C-SPAN

• Trump says he recommended "powerful" Ramaswamy ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother stay up [CBS News]
• Trump announces he’ll use Defense Production Act to increase domestic gas production [The Hill]
• Mississippi releases video showing fatal shooting of 1-year-old boy by police officer [AP News]
• 'This is despicable': Amy Acton responds to Ohio attack ad featuring her estranged mother Yahoo News]

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Financial News

Treasury Counselor David Zervos: Energy shock, not sticky inflation, driving yields | CNBC Television

OpenAI Trims Target Value & Volvo Cars Cuts 2,500 Jobs | Bloomberg Daybreak Europe 10/23/2026 | Bloomberg Television

• Trump and Crypto Firm Sued for Profiting From Foreign Government [Yahoo Finance]
• Elon Musk invests about $1 billion in Skydance [CNBC]

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World News

Yemen’s humanitarian crisis deepens following Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia | BBC News

Ship Talk: The 1904 Steamboat Fire That Wiped Out a NYC Neighborhood | What's Going on With Shipping?

Curfew imposed in certain areas of Paris every night until Monday morning | FRANCE 24 English

• N. Korea likely planted 960,000 land mines along inter-Korean border since 2024: lawmakers [Yonhap News Agency]
• Live: Macron meets with student representatives and law enforcement ahead of new protests [France 24]
• In India, police shootings of alleged cow smugglers raise alarm about impunity and bias [AP News]

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Iran War News

Ahead of US and Israeli elections, 3-day joint attack on Iran 'would not radically change conflict' | DW News

• Why Iran Escalates: Tehran’s Strategy to Drive America Out of the Middle East [Foreign Affairs]
• Trump administration offers mixed messages on limits to Ukraine’s Starshield access [AP News]
• Iran Update, October 22, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]
• Iran war live: European, Middle East FMs in Istanbul for security talks [AL Jazeera]
• Live Updates: Trump accuses Iran of faking strikes, Huckabee questions BoP's ability to execute Gaza peace plan [Jerusalem Post]

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Russo-Ukraine War

Is Trump trying to end the war in Ukraine, or helping Putin win it? | DW News

Putin got compliments. Kyiv got cluster munitions | World News Tonight | TVP World

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Flock Cameras and Constitutional Rights

Public Records Request for Macon County Flock Safety Cameras

from:		Bobby Coggins robertcogginsjr@gmail.com
to:		"mcsopio@maconnc.org" <mcsopio@maconnc.org>, rlofthouse@maconnc.org
cc:		wcabe@maconnc.org
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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