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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.

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Coverage of the meetings of the Macon County School Board.

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Saturday, May 2, 2026

Weather Briefing for Saturday, May 02, 2026

5/02/2026 03:41:00 AM , 0 comments






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

• [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. Rain chances this morning. They taper off in the afternoon with showers moving east of our area by the early evening. Temperatures will remain well-below normal today.

2. Cool temperatures across the mountains tonight could result in frost early Sunday morning. Precautions may need to be taken to protect sensitive plants.

3. Another cold front may bring rain to the area during the middle part of the week, but the chances for significant rain or severe storms remain low.

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....Cloudy with a chance of showers this morning, then mostly sunny with a slight chance of showers this afternoon. Highs around 60. North winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

..TONIGHT....Mostly clear. Patchy frost after midnight. Lows in the mid 30s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the evening.

..SUNDAY....Patchy frost in the morning. Sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. Northwest winds around 5 mph.

..SUNDAY NIGHT....Mostly clear. Lows around 40. West winds around 5 mph.

..MONDAY....Sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.

..MONDAY NIGHT....Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 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.

Hazardous is not expected today or tonight.





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




State and Local News


Public Safety Services and The Southern Scoop Offer Hats and Patches in Support of Nick Birchard at Parker Meadows This Morning




Thousands of educators gather, march for 'Kids Over Corporations' rally | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)



• Macon Action Rallies at Speakers Corner [Macon Media]

• Teacher rally: NC educators focus on funding, pay issues as thousands march in Raleigh [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• Buncombe Over Billionaires May Day rally: more public school funding [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• Raleigh marchers demand higher pay for NC teachers, support for public schools [Raleigh News & Observer]



Iran War News


Is the Jones Act Waiver Working and is it Necessary? | What Does the US Need to Do in the Future? | What's Going on With Shipping?



How is the US-Israel war with Iran affecting the Kurdish struggle? | DW News



• Iran Update Special Report, May 01, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Fox News Liveblog [Fox News]

• Trump says he’s ‘not satisfied’ with Iran’s proposal to end the war [AP News]

• Iran war: What’s happening on day 64 as Trump rejects Tehran’s proposal [Al Jazeera]

• US blockade costs Iran $4.8 billion, US Navy acting 'sort of like pirates,' Trump says - report [Jerusalem Post]

• Iran war briefing: What could US' next move on Iran be? [Sky News]

US administration says war "terminated", no approval needed | FRANCE 24 English





World News


Inside the room as King Charles calls on Trump’s “unyielding resolve” over Ukraine | World in 10 | TVP World



• US to withdraw thousands of troops from Germany [DW News]

• Trump says U.S. will increase tariffs on EU cars and trucks to 25 pct next week [Yonhap News Agency]

• Workers across the world march for peace and better pay in May Day rallies [France 24]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 01, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

'Is Anthropic the new Dr Frankenstein?' | BBC News




National News


ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - May 1, 2026 | ABC News



How is a depleted Iran damaging so many US bases? A CNN investigation | CNN



• Louisiana Republicans eliminate elected position days before an exoneree was set to take office [AP News]

• Appeals court approves sweeping abortion pill restrictions, teeing up SCOTUS showdown [Politico]

• Who is eligible for Trump’s new order expanding retirement benefits? [The Hill]

• Spirit may shut down after 'final' bailout offer from Trump admin [UPI]

• Trump teases US will be 'taking over' Cuba 'almost immediately' in Florida speech [Fox News]


Financial News


Wall Street Week | Warsh’s Fed, Vibe Coding, Geothermal Energy, Vegas Bets Big | Bloomberg Television



• U Parliament Trade Chief Calls Trump Tariff Threat Unacceptable [Yahoo Finance]

• Exxon Mobil CEO expects higher oil prices due to Iran war: ‘The market hasn’t seen the full impact’ [CNBC]


Science and Technology


New Species of ‘Walking Whale’ Fills a Major Gap in Evolution | 7 Days of Science



• US falls below Ukraine in press freedom as global autocracy takes hold [Ars Technica]

• A Stray SpaceX Rocket Will Smash Into the Moon at Mach 7 in August, Analyst Says [Gizmodo]

• New treatment cuts bad cholesterol by nearly 50% without statins [Science Daily]

• Beyond the Noise #104: How to be an effective anti-vaccine activist [Microbe TV]

Nannoteuthis: The 19-Meter Super-Predator We Never Knew Existed | Anton Petrov




Crypto News


Understanding the Quantum Attack Vectors | Bitcoin 2026 | Bitcoin Magazine



• Crypto industry reels as April sees highest number of hacks ever [DL News]

• CLARITY Act stablecoin yield rules finalized: ‘Go time’ for crypto bill [Coin Telegraph]

• Nansen Predicts AI Agent Dominance by 2028 [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, May 02, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins


Read More

Friday, May 1, 2026

Macon Action Rallies at Speakers Corner

5/01/2026 05:14:00 PM , , , 0 comments


Civic Coverage 
May 01, 2026

Franklin, NC

Rally | Macon Media


Macon Action group rallied at the Speaker's Corner at the courthouse in support of workers across America over billionaires. They also held a food drive to benefit Macon Carenet. Macon Media spoke with Lisa Walker, the organizer of the rally. Summary She highlighted how inflation and rising cost of living have squeezed middle- and lower-income people, while a few are getting very wealthy.

She pointed out North Carolina's poor rankings — teachers paid 46th and state troopers 50th in the country — calling it embarrassing and shameful for essential workers. She emphasized that the state can and should do better to support them.

Read More

Weather Briefing for Friday, May 01, 2026

5/01/2026 06:40:00 AM , 0 comments






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

• [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. Likely remaining dry today, but with rain chances returning tonight and at least the first half of the day Saturday. Below normal high temperatures can be expected each afternoon, especially on Saturday.

2. Cooler temperatures for the weekend with frost possible for portions of the mountains and freezing temps at the higher elevations Saturday night. Dry weather and warmer temperatures expected through Tuesday.

3. Another cold front may bring rain chances to the area by midweek, but forecast confidence remains low.

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....Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. Southwest winds around 5 mph.

..TONIGHT....Cloudy. A chance of showers after midnight. Lows in the mid 40s. Northwest winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

..SATURDAY....Cloudy in the morning, then becoming partly sunny. Patchy fog in the morning. A 50 percent chance of showers. Highs in the upper 50s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.

..SATURDAY NIGHT....Mostly clear. A chance of rain showers in the evening. Lows in the mid 30s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the evening. Chance of rain 40 percent.

..SUNDAY....Sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. Northwest winds around 5 mph.

..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.

Hazardous is not expected today or tonight.





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




State and Local News


Fox News article calls downtown Asheville unsafe | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)



• NC Senate aims to curb Medicaid costs and allow more insight into hospital charges [NC Local]

• Thousands expected to rally in Raleigh for public education support [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• Chuck Edwards investigated by House Ethics for sexual harrassment; reports [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• NC teachers are protesting again in Raleigh. Follow today’s May Day march, rally [Raleigh News & Observer]



Iran War News


Global Shipping Crisis: From UN Pirate Accusations to the Record $4M Panama Toll | What's Going on With Shipping?



Has the Iran war strengthened the regime's resolve? | DW News



• Iran Update Special Report, April 30, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• AP News Liveblog [AP News]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• DW News Liveblog [DW News]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Fox News Liveblog [Fox News]

• Trump administration says its war in Iran has been ‘terminated’ before 60-day deadline [AP News]

• Iran vows ‘long, painful’ response if US renews attacks [Al Jazeera]

• Trump tells aides to prepare for extended blockade of Iran, WSJ reports [Jerusalem Post]

• The war in Iran is coming for Britain's favourite food [BBC News]

No mercy from Trump: now Italy and Spain face U.S. troop pullout talks | Morning Report | TVP World





World News


Cold Response: Is NATO preparing for a new Arctic front? | TVP World



• Germany benefits from work with Ukraine — defense minister [DW News]

• U.S. expert says OPCON transfer won't 'unzip' S. Korea-U.S. alliance [Yonhap News Agency]

• ‘Public health time bomb’: How France allowed cadmium to poison its crops and soil [France 24]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 30, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

Victory Day truce? Zelenskyy counters Putin’s offer | World News Tonight | TVP World




National News


ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - April 30, 2026 | ABC News



Why GLP-1s may or may not be for you | Chasing Life | CNN



• Amtrak may make it easier to bring guns on its trains despite the alleged attempt on Trump’s life [AP News]

• Big Tech Is On Track To Spend $750 Billion On AI This Year [Forbes]

• Johnson quells revolts to pass major bills — but faces lingering anger and looming headaches [The Hill]

• Trump pick for Fed Reserve chairman advances to final vote [UPI]

• Vance, Cruz, head to Iowa on 2026 missions as 2028 GOP race to succeed Trump heats up [Fox News]


Financial News


Iran War: Trump Says Blockade Having 'Incredible' Effect | Daybreak Europe 05/01/2026 | Bloomberg Television



• The stock market just had its best month since the pandemic rebound: Chart of the Day [Yahoo Finance]

• Trump scraps Scotch whisky tariffs ‘in honor’ of King Charles [CNBC]


Science and Technology


The Level1 Links with Friends Show May 1 2026: Cocaine Fish



• US falls below Ukraine in press freedom as global autocracy takes hold [Ars Technica]

• A Stray SpaceX Rocket Will Smash Into the Moon at Mach 7 in August, Analyst Says [Gizmodo]

• New treatment cuts bad cholesterol by nearly 50% without statins [Science Daily]

• Beyond the Noise #104: How to be an effective anti-vaccine activist [Microbe TV]

We Found Galaxies Too Old for the Universe | PBS Space Time




Crypto News


Jerome Powell's Last FOMC as Chair | Benjamin Cowen



• Elizabeth Warren slams Trump after expose ties World Liberty Financial to crypto projects linked to human trafficking group [DL News]

• Tokenized RWA market grows 420% since 2025 on regulatory clarity, access [Coin Telegraph]

• Bitcoin Miner Riot Platforms Offloads Another 500 BTC to NYDIG, Extending Sell Streak [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 Friday, May 01, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins


Read More

Thursday, April 30, 2026

Weather Briefing for Thursday, April 30, 2026

4/30/2026 04:17:00 AM , 0 comments






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

• [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. Showers and a few storms this morning give way to sunny skies this afternoon. Dry and cooler tonight.

2. The next weather-making disturbance will track along the Gulf Coast and into the western Atlantic on Friday and Saturday, bringing a round of beneficial rainfall to the western Carolinas through Saturday afternoon.

3. Dry and quiet weather will persist from Sunday through the middle of next week. Another cold front may approach the area by late next week, but forecast predictability is low at this time.

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....Partly sunny with a chance of showers this morning, then mostly sunny this afternoon. Highs in the mid 60s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

..TONIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 40s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.

..FRIDAY....Mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid 60s. Southwest winds around 5 mph.

..FRIDAY NIGHT....Cloudy. A chance of rain in the evening, then rain likely after midnight. Lows in the mid 40s. Northwest winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

..SATURDAY....Mostly cloudy. Rain likely, mainly in the morning. Highs in the mid 50s. North winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

..SATURDAY NIGHT....Partly cloudy with a chance of rain in the evening, then clear after midnight. Lows in the mid 30s. Chance of rain 40 percent.

..SUNDAY....Sunny. Highs in the lower 60s.

..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.

Hazardous weather (other than a few lightning stikes this morning) is not expected today or tonight.

The final round in the recent wave train of showers and a few storms associated with a decaying MCS (Mesoscale Convective System) will move across the area this morning. Can`t rule out a strong storm, but rainfall amounts, where rain does fall, will remain in the beneficial range.





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




State and Local News


North Carolina businesses discuss recovery 18 months after Helene (FULL ROUNDTABLE) | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)



• Thousands of teachers plan to rally in Raleigh on Friday. Which NC school districts are closed? [NC Local]

• NC voter ID lawsuit: NAACP appeals loss in voting rights case [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• Photos: Hot Springs library reopens after Helene damage [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• NCAE calls school closures for protest a ‘powerful choice’ drawing online backlash [Raleigh News & Observer]



Iran War News


Global Shipping Crisis: From UN Pirate Accusations to the Record $4M Panama Toll | What's Going on With Shipping?



Sky News visits one of the most targeted coalition military bases in the Middle East | Sky News



• Iran Update Special Report, April 29, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• AP News Liveblog [AP News]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• Sky News Liveblog [Sky News]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Fox News Liveblog [Fox News]

• The world’s most important 21 miles [AP News]

• UAE quits OPEC: What that means for the Gulf, energy markets and beyond [Al Jazeera]

• CENTCOM prepares 'short and powerful' wave of strikes on Iran, Trump to be briefed on plan - Axios [Jerusalem Post]

• Oil jumps to highest price since 2022 after report Trump to be briefed on new Iran options [BBC News]

Viral LEGO-style AI videos blur line between entertainment and propaganda | FRANCE 24 English





World News


King Charles urges U.S. unity with allies on NATO and Ukraine | World News Tonight | TVP World





• World press freedom hits new low as authoritarianism rises [DW News]

• BOK (Bank of Korea) sees rising uncertainty in U.S. monetary policy path after new Fed chair [Yonhap News Agency]

• Libya ‘corruption pact’: Sarkozy returns to court as his former right-hand man turns against him [France 24]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 29, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

Russia scales down WW2 victory parade due to Ukrainian threat | FRANCE 24 English




National News


ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - April 29, 2026 | ABC News



Supreme Court narrows Voting Rights Act, Hegseth testifies on Capitol Hill and more | The Takeout | CBS News



• Supreme Court ruling will reshape American politics. The only question is when [AP News]

• In major Voting Rights Act case (Louisiana v. Callais), Supreme Court strikes down redistricting map challenged as racially discriminatory [Forbes]

• Six takeaways from Hegseth’s first hearing since Iran war started [The Hill]

• US war in Iran has cost $25 billion so far, says Pentagon official [Reuters]

• Fed holds rates steady but with highest level of dissent since 1992 [Ground News]

• Trump weighs pulling US troops from Germany amid clash with chancellor over Iran war [Fox News]

Day three of US state visit: 9/11 memorial and Trump's outbursts | Sky News




Financial News


FOMC Press Conference, April 29, 2026 | Federal Reserve



• Implementation Note issued April 29, 2026 [Federal Reserve]

Fed Keeps Rates Steady As Powell's Leadership Nears End | Balance of Power 04/29/2026 | Bloomberg Television



• Jerome Powell announces plans to remain on Federal Reserve board, citing 'series of legal attacks' against the central bank [Yahoo Finance]

• Brent crude hits 4-year high, soaring past $126, as U.S. military to reportedly brief Trump on action against Iran [CNBC]


Science and Technology


10 Interesting Scientific Discoveries for April of 2026 | John Michael Godier



• Drone pilot makes US rescind no-fly zones around unmarked, moving ICE vehicles [Ars Technica]

• Meta Could Spend $145 Billion This Year Due to AI [Gizmodo]

• A photon was teleported across 270 meters in stunning quantum breakthrough [Science Daily]

• Beyond the Noise #104: How to be an effective anti-vaccine activist [Microbe TV]

Repairing Chernobyl - Inside the €500M Project | Kyle Hill




Crypto News


FOMC: The End of an Era | Benjamin Cowen



• Celsius Founder Alex Mashinsky Banned From Crypto Industry in $10 Million FTC Settlement [Decrypt]

• US Senator Tillis to push Senate Banking vote on stalled crypto bill [Coin Telegraph]

• Who Owns the Stack: From Bitcoin to AI, the Race for Power Is Going Off-Grid [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 Thursday, April 30, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins


Read More

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Weather Briefing for Wednesday, April 29, 2026

4/29/2026 05:13:00 AM , 0 comments






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

• [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. Another round of beneficial rain this morning. A cold front brings scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening, a few of which could become strong to severe. Confidence on the severe threat remains low. Yet another round of early morning showers are possible late tonight.

2. The next active system arrives late Friday into Saturday, bringing another round of much-needed rainfall to the western Carolinas.

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....Cloudy this morning, then becoming partly sunny. Patchy fog this morning. A chance of thunderstorms. Showers, mainly this morning. Highs around 70. West winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..TONIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

..THURSDAY....Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the morning.

..THURSDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 40s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.

..FRIDAY....Mostly cloudy. Highs in the lower 60s. Northeast winds around 5 mph, becoming southwest in the afternoon.

..FRIDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the evening, then showers likely after midnight. Lows in the mid 40s. Chance of rain 70 percent.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER



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

Isolated strong to severe storms will be possible this afternoon and evening. The main concern will be damaging winds and hail.





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




State and Local News


Leaders urge water conservation amid drought in western North Carolina | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)



• North Carolina General Assembly gives final approval to $319M in Medicaid funding [NC Local]

• Protesters flood legislature, succeed in defeating land-grab bill over water access [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• NC 'law-and-order' US Senate nominee Whatley faced arrest in 2015 [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• NC lawmakers scrap controversial land acquisition plan after local outcry [Raleigh News & Observer]


King Charles III State Visit


King Charles III Addresses Joint Meeting of U.S. Congress | C-SPAN



Trump welcomes King Charles III to the White House for events | Associated Press



Trump hosts King Charles III for White House state dinner | Associated Press



• Here’s what’s on the White House’s state dinner menu for King Charles [The Hill]

• Liveblog: King Charles III meets Trump in Oval Office, delivers historic address to Congress in state visit [MS NOW]

Epstein survivor says she is 'disappointed' King Charles did not mention victims in speech | NBC News



• Trump saw 2 kings, Charles saw something much different [Politico Magazine]

• Who is Cole Allen? California man named as suspect in White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting [CBS News]

• 'Our collective strength' -- 4 takeaways from King Charles III's address to Congress [ABC News]

• Five takeaways from the King's historic address to Congress [BBC News]


Iran War News


The Strait of Hormuz Crisis: Week 8 Recap: Competing Blockades and Piracy Surge | What's Going on With Shipping?



Trump lashes out at German Chancellor after Merz' Iran comment | DW News



• Iran Update Special Report, April 28, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• AP News Liveblog [AP News]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Fox News Liveblog [Fox News]

• Tired and worried, seafarers have been stranded in the Persian Gulf for weeks [AP News]

• Is India’s Chabahar dream in Iran dead? [Al Jazeera]

• Trump tells aides to prepare for extended blockade of Iran, WSJ reports [Jerusalem Post]

• Faisal Islam: Why the UAE's exit from Opec is a big deal [BBC News]

Finally free: Minsk regime swaps out Polish-Belarusian journalist | World News Tonight | TVP World





World News


King Charles urges Trump and Congress not to abandon Nato and Ukraine | BBC News



• The international rules-based order is under stress [DW News]

• Appeals court increases ex-President Yoon's sentence to 7 yrs in obstruction of justice case [Yonhap News Agency]

• France urges citizens to leave 'extremely volatile' Mali 'as soon as possible' [France 24]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 28, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

Putin desperate for troops, targets 18,500 foreigners | Morning Report | TVP World




National News


ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - April 28, 2026 | ABC News



Trump's DOJ indicts ex-FBI Director Comey a 2nd time | CNN



• Ex-FBI Director Comey indicted again, in a probe over an online post officials call a Trump threat [AP News]

• 3 days after correspondents’ dinner, FBI still unsure who shot officer outside ballroom [Forbes]

• Trump allies fume over Obama’s post on shooting suspect’s motives [The Hill]

• Exclusive: Trump approval sinks to new low as war with Iran drives cost-of-living concerns [Reuters]

• James Comey indicted again as DOJ probe deepens into ex-FBI chief [Fox News]


Financial News


UAE Exits OPEC, OPEC+; Hormuz Blockade Continues | Horizons Middle East & Africa 4/29/2026 | Bloomberg Television



• Trump's $1.5 Trillion Defense Plan Draws Rare Republican Pushback [Yahoo Finance]

• Here’s everything to expect when the Fed issues its latest interest rate decision Wednesday [CNBC]


Science and Technology


The Level1 Links with Friends Show April 29 2026: Sticker Shocked



• FCC orders review of ABC licenses after Kimmel joke offends Trump and first lady [Ars Technica]

• ‘Never Talk About Goblins’: OpenAI’s Instructions to Codex Have a Weirdly Emphatic No-Creatures Policy [Gizmodo]

• A one-in-a-million supernova seen five times could reveal the Universe’s true speed [Science Daily]

• Beyond the Noise #104: How to be an effective anti-vaccine activist [Microbe TV]

Is There Something Smaller Than Quarks? Experimental Test | Anon Petrov




Crypto News


FOMC: The End of an Era | Benjamin Cowen



• CFTC Backs Prediction Markets in Yet Another Lawsuit Against a State [Decrypt]

• Aptos says its new privacy coin seeks to fix one of crypto’s biggest trade-offs [Coin Telegraph]

• Ethereum ICO Participant Moves $22.88 Million in ETH After 11 Years of Dormancy [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.



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Published at 6.00am on Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins


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