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Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Town of Franklin Asks Residents to Observe Voluntary Water Restrictions



Under the direction from the NC Department of Environmental Quality, as of April 14, 2026, parts of 30 North Carolina counties, including Macon County, are in Extreme Drought (D3). According to Session Law 2008-143, each local government and large community water system must report weekly water use if they are in a county that contains an area of Extreme or Exceptional drought and implement conservation efforts within their Water Shortage Response Plan (WSRP). Effective April 22, 2026, the Town of Franklin is asking citizens to voluntarily restrict water usage by 5%.

PRESS RELEASE (04-21-2026) TOWN OF FRANKLIN

Voluntary Water Restrictions to begin April 22, 2026

As of April 14, 2026 there are parts of 30 North Carolina counties in Extreme Drought (D3) including Macon County. According to Session Law 2008-143, each local government and large community water system must report weekly water use if they are in a county that contains an area of Extreme or Exceptional drought and implement conservation efforts within their Water Shortage Response Plan (WSRP). The Town of Franklin is asking citizens to voluntarily restrict the amount of water being used effective April 22, 2026. Due to the lack of rain, water levels in Cartoogechaye Creek at the inflow to the water treatment plant are below normal and this has triggered a Stage 1 voluntary water restriction.

In accordance with the Town of Franklin’s WSRP, a stage 1 voluntary water restriction means that all water users are being asked to reduce their normal water use by 5%. Examples of ways to voluntarily restrict water use can include eliminating of washing vehicles, waiting to wash clothes until you have a full load, checking for leaks or toilets that may be running or use of dishwashers, limiting watering or irrigating outdoor landscapes.

The Town is asking for citizen cooperation by limiting the use of water, when possible, until there is enough precipitation to raise water levels and reduce fire danger.

Any updates related to the water restrictions will be forwarded to the media and posted on the Town’s website and the Town, Police and Fire social media pages.

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If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.



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Published at 4.30am on Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins


Weather Briefing for Wednesday, April 22, 2026







...INCREASED FIRE DANGER ACROSS MUCH OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA FROM 11 AM EDT THIS MORNING THROUGH 8 PM THIS EVENING...

• [Public Safety Notifications]

• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]
 
• You can now support Macon Media with a $1.99 monthly Facebook subscription at [LINK]





NWS GENERAL OUTLOOK

1. Increased Fire Danger across the area this afternoon, with a Fire Danger Statement in effect for our NC and GA counties. Above normal temperatures return today and persist through at least the end of the week. Very low-to-critical relative humidity is forecast each afternoon, keeping the fire danger elevated through Friday. Any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly. No outdoor burning!

2. Trending towards a wetter pattern this weekend into early next week. However, there may be a brief lull in precipitation Sunday into Monday behind a departing cold front and ahead of the next system. A cooling trend develops this weekend into Monday before warmer temperatures return Tuesday.


WEATHER SPONSOR

This space available




DAY SPONSOR


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GENERAL 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....Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. West winds around 5 mph.

..TONIGHT....Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s. Northwest winds around 5 mph.

..THURSDAY....Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. North winds around 5 mph, becoming southwest in the afternoon.

..THURSDAY NIGHT....Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. West winds around 5 mph.

..FRIDAY....Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. West winds around 5 mph.

..FRIDAY NIGHT....Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s.


HAZARDOUS WEATHER



A statewide burn ban issued by the North Carolina Forest Service is currently in place. Open burning of any kind is illegal.

...INCREASED FIRE DANGER FROM 11 AM EDT THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING...

Relative humidity is forecast to fall into the 20 to 25 percent range across much of western North Carolina this afternoon. Winds are expected to be somewhat elevated in the afternoon, with gusts between 15 and 20 mph. The low humidity combined with gusty winds and very dry vegetation will result in an elevated threat for the rapid spread of wildfires across the area.







NEWS UPDATES
(Links aggregated to show what various news outlets are reporting)






State and Local News


Camping experiences see impact as drought increases fire risks | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)


• Town of Franklin Asks Residents to Observe Voluntary Water Restrictions | [Macon Media]

• NC lawmakers will fill Medicaid funding gap, but larger state budget issues remain unresolved [NC Newsline]

• North Carolina’s Berger optimistic about budget, blames Democrats for primary loss [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• The 2026 Great Smoky Mountains synchronous firefly lottery is coming. How to enter [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• NC Senate leader Phil Berger, after years at top of GOP power, starts last sessionhttps://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article315487498.html [Raleigh News & Observer]




Iran War News


Schrödinger's Strait: Is It Open or Closed | Week 7 Strait of Hormuz Recap (April 12 to 19) | What's Going on With Shipping?



• Iran Update Special Report, April 21, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• AP News Liveblog [AP News]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• BBC Liveblog [BBC News]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Fox News Liveblog [Fox News]

• Iran attacks ship in Strait of Hormuz, complicating diplomatic efforts to resume talks [AP News]

• Iran war: What’s happening on day 54 as Trump extends ceasefire? [Al Jazeera]

• US potentially facing 'near-term risk' of running out of key ammunition after Iran war - report [Jerusalem Post]

Iran yet to decide on sending delegation to Islamabad for US talks, official says | BBC News








World News


Palantir’s manifesto: How tech is trying to redefine war and power | DW News



• Taiwan president cancels trip after African countries close airspace [BBC News]

• Japan scraps a ban on lethal weapons exports in a change of its postwar pacifist policy [Yonhap News Agency]

• Russia's Sergei Shoigu says safety of Russians in Transnistria under threat, TASS reports [France 24]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 21, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

Magyar moves to form government after Orbán era ends | World News Tonight | TVP World






National News


ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - April 21, 2026 | ABC News



• Trump media company replaces CEO, ex-congressman Nunes after stock plunge that wiped out billions [AP News]

• What the Passage of the Virginia Redistricting Plan Means for Control of Congress [Time Magazine]

• Democrats boost midterm edge with Virginia redistricting win: 5 takeaways [The Hill]

• Trump says he will 'remember' companies that don't seek tariff refunds [Reuters]

• Virginia redistricting referendum results: What changes, who benefits [Fox Business]




Financial News


Stocks Extend Drop, Trump Extends Iran Ceasefire | The Close 4/21/2026 | Bloomberg Television



• A New York Suit Called Prediction Markets 'Illegal' Gambling. That Hit These Crypto Stocks [Yahoo Finance]

• SpaceX says it can buy Cursor later this year for $60 billion or pay $10 billion for ‘our work together’ [CNBC]




Science and Technology


New Glenn's First Failure - What Do We Know? | Scott Manley



• Pentagon wants $54B for drones, more than most nations’ military budgets [Ars Technica]

• Some Unknown Group Is Reportedly Using Claude Mythos Without Permission [Gizmodo]

• Scientists just captured trees glowing with electricity during storms [Science Daily]

• TWiV 1314: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin [Microbe TV]




Crypto News


Gold: Dubious Speculation | Benjamin Cowen



• Tether Asserts Stablecoin Dominance Over Circle's USDC Amid Major Crypto Hacks [Decrypt]

• Bitcoin risks losing $70K as Strategy's STRC slips below $100 [Coin Telegraph]

• FTX Sold Cursor Stake for $200K. SpaceX Now Has a $60 Billion Option to Buy It [Bitcoin.com]

Support Macon Media


• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]
 
• You can now support Macon Media with a $1.99 monthly Facebook subscription at https://www.facebook.com/MaconMediaNews/posts/pfbid0sraDv94aqwTXUA5KqivnmL3U4H5bhjgkZkYdmknBUx5fedENQXAWuQZqndTyNhUel?comment_id=1161740932841534

If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.



Become a Patron!



Or, if you prefer Pay Pal, try PayPal.me/MaconMedia


Published at 6.00am on Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins


Monday, April 20, 2026

Weather Briefing for Monday, April 20, 2026







...INCREASED FIRE DANGER ACROSS MUCH OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA FROM 11 AM EDT THIS MORNING THROUGH 8 PM THIS EVENING...

• [Public Safety Notifications]

• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]
 
• You can now support Macon Media with a $1.99 monthly Facebook subscription at [LINK]





NWS GENERAL OUTLOOK

1. A Red Flag Warning is in effect from Noon to 8 PM for northeast Georgia and a Special Weather Statement is in effect from 11 AM to 8 PM for most of western North Carolina (outside the northern mountains). Burn bans remain in effect until further notice across the Carolinas. Any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

2. A Freeze Warning is in effect for the Northern North Carolina mountains and a Frost Advisory in effect for the majority of the North Carolina mountains (outside the Freeze Warning), the northern North Carolina Foothills, and the northern North Carolina Piedmont from midnight tonight through 9 AM Tuesday. Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.

3. Temperatures return to above normal during the latter half of the week, while very dry conditions continue. Very low-to- critical afternoon RH will enhance the fire danger through the end of the work week. A frontal system will bring rain chances next weekend.


WEATHER SPONSOR

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DAY SPONSOR

Young Tree Service is sponsoring Macon Media for today.

They provide complete tree care, are licensed and insured. Specializing in low ground impact. Danger tree removal. Crane Service, Pruning, Views, 24 hr emergency service. Call 828-421-0967 for more information.


GENERAL 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....Sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

..TONIGHT....Mostly clear. Patchy frost after midnight. Lows in the upper 30s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph in the evening.

..TUESDAY....Areas of frost in the morning. Sunny. Highs around 70. West winds around 5 mph.

..TUESDAY NIGHT....Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s. West winds around 5 mph.

..WEDNESDAY....Sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. West winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.

..WEDNESDAY NIGHT....Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s.


HAZARDOUS WEATHER



A statewide burn ban issued by the North Carolina Forest Service is currently in place. Open burning of any kind is illegal.

...INCREASED FIRE DANGER ACROSS MUCH OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA FROM 11 AM EDT THIS MORNING THROUGH 8 PM THIS EVENING...

Brush and leaf litter are very dry in all but the northern mountains of North Carolina, where fuel moisture values are higher due to recent rainfall. Relative humidity will fall to around 30 percent in the mountains and below 25 percent in the foothills and Piedmont this afternoon. Wind gusts up to 35 mph can be expected across the mountains, with wind gusts up to 25 mph across the foothills and Piedmont. Given these conditions, outdoor fires will be able to spread quickly once started, increasing the danger of wildfires.







NEWS UPDATES
(Links aggregated to show what various news outlets are reporting)






State and Local News


Wildlife intake increases as drought causes animals to search for water | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)



• Extreme Drought Expands in North Carolina [Mountain Xpress]

• NC lawmakers return to session this week. What top insiders are pushing for [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• NC legislators call on attorney general to step up Medicaid fraud probes [WFAE-FM (Charlotte, NC)]

• For the first time since Helene, a train passes through NC’s Old Fort Loops [Raleigh News & Observer]




Iran War News


US Opens Fire, Disables & Seizes an Iranian Ship Attempting to Break the Blockade | 19 April 2026 | What's Going on With Shipping?



• Iran Update Special Report, April 19, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• AP News Liveblog [AP News]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• BBC Liveblog [BBC News]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Fox News Liveblog [Fox News]




World News


Police suspect possible use of 'Iranian proxies' in London | Sky News



• Bulgaria: Pro-Russian Radev takes lead in early vote count [DW News]

• Tanker with 2 million barrels of crude clears Strait of Hormuz on way to Taiwan [Yonhap News Agency]

• French prosecutors summon Elon Musk over sexualised AI deepfakes on X [France 24]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 19, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

Lavrov downplays peace talks as Ukraine faces fresh attacks | World News Tonight | TVP World






National News


ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - April 19, 2026 | ABC News



• Man kills 8 children and shoots his wife and another woman in Shreveport, Louisiana [AP News]

• The FBI Director Is MIA [The Atlantic]

• Patel says he’ll sue Atlantic for defamation over report on heavy drinking [The Hill]

• Michigan refuses Trump administration demand for 2024 election ballots [Reuters]

• Distress call captures tanker under fire, Iran shuts Hormuz trapping thousands of sailors [Fox Business]




Financial News


Iran War: US Seize Iranian Ship & Peace Talks Uncertain | Daybreak Europe 4/20/2026 | Bloomberg Television



• Stock market records, Iran updates, and Tesla earnings: What to watch this week [Yahoo Finance]

• European stocks open lower Gulf tanker attacks threaten ceasefire [CNBC]




Science and Technology


NASA’s New Nuclear Moon Plans | Anton Petrov



• Blue Origin’s rocket reuse achievement marred by upper stage failure [Ars Technica]

• Palantir Posts Very Long X Post Denouncing ‘Vacant and Hollow Pluralism’ [Gizmodo]

• Hundreds of millions at risk as river deltas sink faster than rising seas [Science Daily]

• Beyond the Noise #103: RFK Jr.’s Latest Disservice to Children with Autism [Microbe TV]




Crypto News


Bitcoin Rallies to the Bear Market Resistance Band | Benjamin Cowen



• Sam Altman's World Teams With Zoom, Tinder to Better Verify Humans in the AI Age [Decrypt]

• Bitcoin price drops to $75K as new Hormuz closure puts focus on oil [Coin Telegraph]

• Oil Prices Bounce as Middle East Conflict Reignites [Bitcoin.com]

Support Macon Media


• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]
 
• You can now support Macon Media with a $1.99 monthly Facebook subscription at https://www.facebook.com/MaconMediaNews/posts/pfbid0sraDv94aqwTXUA5KqivnmL3U4H5bhjgkZkYdmknBUx5fedENQXAWuQZqndTyNhUel?comment_id=1161740932841534

If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.



Become a Patron!



Or, if you prefer Pay Pal, try PayPal.me/MaconMedia


Published at 6.00am on Monday, April 19, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins


Saturday, April 18, 2026

Weather Briefing for Saturday, April 18, 2026







...OUTDOOR BURN BAN IN EFFECT...

• [Public Safety Notifications]

• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]
 
• You can now support Macon Media with a $1.99 monthly Facebook subscription at [LINK]





NWS GENERAL OUTLOOK

1. Breezy, mostly dry, and hot again today with afternoon temperatures flirting with record highs east of the mountains. A cold front brings cooler temperatures, gusty winds, and beneficial rain tonight into Sunday. However, with only light rainfall amounts expected, there will be very little (if any) relief from the drought and fire weather concerns will stick around.

2. Normal to slightly-below-normal temperatures are forecast early next week, with Fire Weather concerns continuing. Some frost is possible over the mountains Sunday and especially Monday night, so precautions might be needed to protect sensitive vegetation.

3. Very warm and dry conditions return late next week, exacerbating Fire Weather concerns and drought conditions.


WEATHER SPONSOR

This space available




DAY SPONSOR


This space available




GENERAL 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....Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph this afternoon.

..TONIGHT....Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the evening, then showers likely after midnight. Lows in the lower 40s. West winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

..SUNDAY....Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers in the morning, then mostly sunny in the afternoon. Breezy and much cooler with highs in the upper 50s. North winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

..SUNDAY NIGHT....Clear. Lows in the upper 30s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph in the evening.

..MONDAY....Sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

..MONDAY NIGHT....Clear. Lows in the upper 30s.


HAZARDOUS WEATHER



A statewide burn ban issued by the North Carolina Forest Service is currently in place. Open burning of any kind is illegal.

...INCREASED FIRE DANGER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...

Relative humidity values will fall below 35 percent this afternoon across the region. Breezy wind gusts from 15 to 20 mph can also be expected this afternoon. Low relative humidity, breezy winds, very low fuel moisture, and ongoing drought will allow any fires that develop to spread quickly.

Showers and storms will move into the area through this evening with some strong to marginally severe storms possible. Damaging winds and hail are the main concerns, especially along and north of Interstate 40.

A statewide burn ban issued by the North Carolina Forest Service is currently in place. Open burning of any kind is illegal.







NEWS UPDATES
(Links aggregated to show what various news outlets are reporting)






State and Local News


Outdoor adventure companies see strong bookings amid drought worries | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)



• What happens if I am identified as a ‘potential noncitizen’ on the voting rolls? [NC Local]

• NC voters could be questioned about citizenship under new elections rule [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• Judge halts local TV giant Nexstar's takeover of rival Tegna until trial [WUNC-FM (CHapel Hill, NC)]

• Thousands of teachers are expected to march in Raleigh on May 1. Is it a strike? [Raleigh News & Observer]




Iran War News


US Executes Blockade Against Iran | Turns Ships Around and Threatens to Board Iranian Ships Globally | What's Going on With Shipping?



• Iran Update Special Report, April 17, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• AP News Liveblog [AP News]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• BBC Liveblog [BBC News]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Fox News Liveblog [Fox News]




World News


Calls grow for PM to quit over Mandelson - as allies of 'scapegoat' civil servant hit back | Sky News



• Europe looks to secure shipping in Strait of Hormuz [DW News]

• Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz; Trump says blockade will remain until deal is signed [Yonhap News Agency]

• Jeffrey Epstein and the French connection [France 24]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 17, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

Orbán era ends, Iran tensions rise | Press Talks | TVP World






National News


ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - April 17, 2026 | ABC News



• Stories of Black and Indigenous patriots come into focus as US remembers the American Revolution [AP News]

• Senate GOP losing patience with Speaker Johnson as DHS faces crisis [The Hill]

• Trump, IRS in talks to settle US president's $10 billion lawsuit [Reuters]

• Oil prices plunge after Iran says Strait of Hormuz open for commercial shipping traffic [Fox Business]




Financial News


Wall Street Week | Paulson on Iran War, Energy Market Disruptions, Copper Supply Strain, Tax Debate | Bloomberg Television



• Oil prices plunge after Iran foreign minister says Strait of Hormuz is 'completely open,' Trump says regime has agreed to indefinitely suspend nuclear program [Yahoo Finance]

• Fed Governor Waller says Iran war and labor market risks are keeping central bank on hold [CNBC]

• Judge blocks Nexstar-TEGNA merger over antitrust concerns [Google News]




Science and Technology


Incredible Scientific Discoveries About Planet Earth (2026 Compilation) | Anton Petrov



• US-sanctioned currency exchange says $15 million heist done by “unfriendly states” [Ars Technica]

• NASA Plans to Start a Fire on the Moon in First-of-Its-Kind Experiment [Gizmodo]

• Total solar eclipse led to seismic quiet for cities within its path [Science Daily]

• TWhat is Mythos, Anthropic’s unreleased AI model, and how worried should we be? [Scientific American]




Crypto News


Bitcoin: Dubious Speculation | Benjamin Cowen



• Sam Altman's World Teams With Zoom, Tinder to Better Verify Humans in the AI Age [Decrypt]

• Crypto market liquidations hit $820M as Bitcoin price taps $78K [Coin Telegraph]

• EU's Highest Court Backs German Player's Right to Reclaim Gambling Losses From Malta-Licensed Operator [Bitcoin.com]

Support Macon Media


• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]
 
• You can now support Macon Media with a $1.99 monthly Facebook subscription at https://www.facebook.com/MaconMediaNews/posts/pfbid0sraDv94aqwTXUA5KqivnmL3U4H5bhjgkZkYdmknBUx5fedENQXAWuQZqndTyNhUel?comment_id=1161740932841534

If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.



Become a Patron!



Or, if you prefer Pay Pal, try PayPal.me/MaconMedia


Published at 6.00am on Saturday, April 18, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins


Friday, April 17, 2026

Weather Briefing for Friday, April 17, 2026







...OUTDOOR BURN BAN IN EFFECT...

• [Public Safety Notifications]

• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]
 
• You can now support Macon Media with a $1.99 monthly Facebook subscription at [LINK]





NWS GENERAL OUTLOOK

1. Mostly dry through Saturday with fire weather concerns sticking around. Hot conditions will return each afternoon with highs east of the mountains flirting with records on Saturday.

2. A cold front will bring only spotty beneficial rainfall to the mountains Saturday night into Sunday, with significantly cooler temperatures to follow early next week. Some frost is possible over the mountains Sunday and Monday night, so precautions might be needed to protect sensitive vegetation. Fire Weather concerns will otherwise continue, as very low afternoon RH returns.

3. Hot and dry conditions will return during the latter half of next week, with no relief in site for drought or fire weather conditions.


WEATHER SPONSOR

This space available




DAY SPONSOR




Macon Media is being underwritten today by Bourbon & Bacon. (Formerly Franklin Office Supply)
Visit their store at 161 Highlands Road in Franklin or check out their website at bourbonandbaconfs.com




GENERAL 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....Sunny. Highs around 80. Northwest winds around 5 mph.

..TONIGHT....Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 50s. Northwest winds around 5 mph, becoming south after midnight.

..SATURDAY....Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

..SATURDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the evening, then showers likely after midnight. Lows in the mid 40s. West winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

..SUNDAY....Mostly cloudy with showers likely in the morning, then mostly sunny in the afternoon. Much cooler with highs in the upper 50s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. Chance of rain 60 percent.

..SUNDAY NIGHT....Clear. Lows in the upper 30s.


HAZARDOUS WEATHER



A statewide burn ban issued by the North Carolina Forest Service is currently in place. Open burning of any kind is illegal.

...INCREASED FIRE DANGER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...

Relative humidity values will fall below 30 percent again this afternoon across the region. With low fuel moisture, the ongoing drought, and favorable meteorological conditions, fires will be able to catch and spread rapidly.

A statewide burn ban issued by the North Carolina Forest Service is currently in place. Open burning of any kind is illegal.







NEWS UPDATES
(Links aggregated to show what various news outlets are reporting)






State and Local News


Hundreds attend public hearing on national forest 'Roadless Rule' rollback | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)



• April 2026 Meeting of the Macon County Board of Commissioners [Macon Media]

• Is NC catching enough Medicaid fraud? Lawmakers question state officials [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• Some NC schools will close May 1 due to NCAE mass teacher protest in Raleigh [SMoky Mountain News]

• Shigella bacteria poses public health threat, CDC says: What we know [Asheville Citizen-Times]




Iran War News


Can the U.S. Load All the Empty Super Tankers | Why Is an American Carrier Beating Around the BUSH? | What's Going on With Shipping?



• Iran Update Special Report, April 16, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• AP News Liveblog [AP News]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• BBC Liveblog [BBC News]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Fox News Liveblog [Fox News]




World News


Are we seeing the end of LIV Golf? | Sky News



• Trump Turns Against Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, Broadening Clash With Europe [HIndustan Times]

• Can Africa’s informal economy become the continent’s next investment frontier? {Business Africa} [Africa News]

• Macron, Starmer chair meeting to mull European post-war mission in Strait of Hormuz [France 24]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 16, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

New defense deals strengthen Ukraine’s military ties | World News Tonight | TVP World






National News


ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - April 16, 2026 | ABC News



• County prosecutor charges ICE agent with assault for pointing gun at people on Minneapolis highway [AP News]

• RFK Jr. grilled over vaccines, MAHA in back-to-back hearings: Key takeaways [The Hill]

• Hegseth shares air rescue group’s ‘Pulp Fiction’ prayer at Pentagon service [Reuters]

• Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons submits resignation letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin [Fox News]




Financial News


Stock Rally Stalls as Markets Await Iran Ceasefire | The Asia Trade 4/17/2026 | Bloomberg Television



• Oil Drops as War Nears 50-Day Mark and Trump Strikes Upbeat Tone [Yahoo Finance]

• Trump says gas prices ‘not very high’ as most U.S. voters blame him for price spike [CNBC]

• Chinese carmaker patents voice-controlled 'in-vehicle toilet' [BBC News]




Science and Technology


Earth’s Core Should Be Impossible. A New State of Matter Explains It. | PBS Space Time



• New undersea cable cutter risks Internet’s backbone [Ars Technica]

• Pentagon Reportedly Asks Detroit to Use More Car Factories as Arms Factories [Gizmodo]

• Can sparkling water boost metabolism and help with weight loss? [Science Daily]

• TWiV 1313: Maybe they’re all dementia vaccines [Microbe TV]




Crypto News


NFA Live! Bitcoin in 2026 | Benjamin Cowen



• UK Sets Path to Crypto Regulation With FCA Consultation [Decrypt]

• Ex-Treasury chief warns of US bond crash, calls for contingency plan [Coin Telegraph]

• MiCA Decoded: Your Crypto White Paper Can’t Just Be a Gitbook or PDF [Bitcoin.com]

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Published at 6.00am on Friday, April 17, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins