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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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Thursday, May 14, 2026

News and Weather Briefing for Thursday, May 14, 2026

5/14/2026 05:12:00 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. Warm and dry conditions, outside of an isolated shower or storm, continue through the weekend. A wetter pattern may return next week.

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

..TONIGHT....Mostly clear. Lows around 40. North winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the evening.

..FRIDAY....Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. Southwest winds around 5 mph.

..FRIDAY NIGHT....Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s. West winds around 5 mph.

..SATURDAY....Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. Southwest winds around 5 mph.

..SATURDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s.

..SUNDAY....Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s.

..SUNDAY NIGHT....Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER



Hazardous weather is not expected today or tonight.





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




State and Local News


• County Manager Presents Annual Budget Message to County Commissioners [ Macon Media ]

Children and the horrors of AI deepfakes: What parents should know | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)



Some educator advocates say proposed pay increase is not enough | WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)



• NC Senate bill seeks to cut adult care home inspections [NC Newsline]

• Sen. Thom Tillis urges Campbell Law graduates to lead with integrity in divided legal climate [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• NC budget could make teachers 'highest paid in the South'. Where it stands now [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• What NC budget deal means for your income tax rate, and how you can vote on it [Raleigh News & Observer]



Iran War News


Tactical Victory or Strategic Failure? Secretary Hegseth on U.S. Control of the Strait of Hormuz | What's Going on With Shipping?



What Iran war could mean for Taiwan - as Trump visits China | Sky News



• Iran Update Special Report, May 13, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• DW News Liveblog [DW News]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Fox News Liveblog [Fox News]

• Hegseth gets bipartisan grilling on rising costs of the Iran war and Trump’s end game [AP News]

• Iran war: Why the BRICS foreign ministers meeting in India matters [Al Jazeera]

• Iran ‘frighteningly close’ to developing nuclear weapons, US energy secretary says - report [Jerusalem Post]

• Iran war: US has spent $29 billion so far — Pentagon [DW News]

What Satellite Images Reveal About Iran’s Attacks on U.S. Bases | The New York Times





World News


“Pray” takes Poland to the Eurovision 2026 grand final | World News Tonight | TVP World



Xi greets Trump in China ahead of bilateral meeting | CNN



• Liveblog: Trump in China [DW News]

• Trump, Xi signal desire to manage bilateral ties but reaffirm positions on Taiwan, trade [Yonhap News Agency]

• Who holds the cards at the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing? [France 24]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 13, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

What if America quits NATO? | Caspian Report




National News


ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - May 13, 2026 | ABC News



NBC Nightly News Full Episode - May 13 | NBC News



• The Great Fragmentation: How Culture Stopped Arriving Together [The Intellectualist]

• A Conspiracy Theory About QR Codes Has Led to Chaos Ahead of Georgia's Midterms [WIRED]

• Lutnick testified he knew little about Epstein, his next-door neighbor [CBS News]

• Ukraine bill heading to the floor after discharge petition wins 218th signature [The Hill]

• Gov. Kemp calls special session to redraw Georgia's congressional map [UPI]

• China rolls out red carpet for Trump as Xi meeting tests trade, Taiwan tensions [Fox News]


Financial News


Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025, May 13, 2026 | Federal Reserve



• Justice Dept. Officials Consider Settling Trump Suit Against I.R.S. [New York Times]

'VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT': Inside the data center debate in Georgia | Fox Business



Trump-Xi Summit: Xi Warns Trump Of ‘Clashes’ If Taiwan Issue Mishandled | Daybreak Europe 05/14/2026 | Bloomberg Television



• Asia stocks gain on AI enthusiasm as Trump meets Xi [Yahoo Finance]

• Five takeaways from the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing so far [CNBC]


Science and Technology


Space Cowboys Plan to Build Massive Satellite - Deep Space Updates May 13th | Scott Manley



• FCC angers small carriers by helping AT&T and Starlink buy EchoStar spectrum [Ars Technica]

• Worst-Case Scenarios for El Niño Are Literally Off the Charts [Gizmodo]

• Scientists discover the Southern Ocean is “sweating” more as climate change intensifies [Science Daily]

• TWiV 1320: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin [Microbe TV]

Astronomers Found a Link Between Little Red Dots and Black Holes | Anton Petrov




Crypto News


Market Returns by Political Party | Benjamin Cowen



• Bitcoin Firm Metaplanet Posts $725 Million Loss, Delays Preferred Share Offerings [Decrypt]

• Bitcoin traders expect ‘fast move’ to $90K following CLARITY Act vote [Coin Telegraph]

• ADI Foundation and Settlemint Launch ADGM Tokenization Rail for $30.9B RWAs [Bitcoin.com]

The Bitcoin Hero's Journey | Bitcoin 2026 | Bitcoin Magazine


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 9.00am on Thursday, May 14, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins


Read More

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

County Manager Presents Annual Budget Message to County Commissioners

5/13/2026 12:54:00 PM , 0 comments



The Macon County Board of Commissioners met last night for their regular May 2026 meeting. During that meeting, County Manager Warren Cabe presented the annual budget message to introduce the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2026-2027, which runs from July 1st to June 30th. 

Below is the video segment of the meeting, an Executive Summary, and a longer, more in-depth article. At the end is a copy of the proposed budget that is both readable online and downloadable so you may inspect it at your leisure.

County Manager's Budget Message for FY 2026-2027






 Executive Summary: Macon County Proposed FY 2026-2027 Budget

Tax Rate: Maintained at $0.27 per $100 of assessed value (no increase).

Total Proposed General Fund Budget: $68,045,008 (balanced).

Key Revenues (approx.):

  • Tax Collections: $37,054,763 (54%)
  • Sales Tax: $14,416,536 (21%)
  • Intergovernmental: $8,561,757 (13%)
  • Service Fees: $5,065,752 (7%)
  • Fund Balance Appropriation (one-time): $1,150,000 (primarily for schools capital)

Departmental Requests vs. Proposed: Requests totaled $75.73 million; proposed budget addresses this through prioritization, cuts to some capital items, and the fund balance use.

Major Highlights:

  • No tax increase despite ~$7.5M gap between requests and revenues.
  • Personnel: 2% COLA + step increases; adjustments for pay inequities; absorbed 6% health insurance rise and retirement contribution increases.
  • Education (Macon County Schools): Total funding ~$13.44M–$15.38M (including supplements, SROs, nurses, debt service, etc.), or ~23% of General Fund. Operational funding proposed at $9.88M + $1.15M capital (from fund balance); below the $3.59M increase requested.
  • Pay-Go Capital: $2.55M (reduced from typical to maintain tax rate; includes vehicles, IT, ambulance, pool resurfacing, schools tech/outlay).
  • Major Projects: Continuing Franklin High School ($122M); pickleball courts; Carson Convenience Center & recycling upgrades (grant-funded); Armory renovation + SCC driving track; Greenway improvements; various maintenance.
  • Debt Service: ~$9M (down ~$240K–$250K from prior year); expected further declines in coming years, creating capacity for future borrowing if needed (e.g., Justice Center).
  • Solid Waste: Tipping fee increase of $6/ton (to $72/ton); other fee adjustments; availability fee unchanged.

The budget emphasizes fiscal conservatism, employee retention, infrastructure maintenance, and leveraging grants while prioritizing core services.





Longer Summary of the Budget Presentation (May 13, 2026)

County Manager Warren Cabe presented the FY 2026-2027 proposed budget to the Macon County Board of Commissioners, noting that the full package was provided that evening for review, with more detailed discussion planned for the upcoming work session.

Accomplishments highlighted included progress on the $122 million Franklin High School project (the largest in western NC), roof repairs, library/detention center work, Greenway upgrades (including upcoming Arthur Drake boardwalk), tennis court renovations, and the start of pickleball court construction. The county secured over $3.8 million in grants to support these efforts.

Upcoming Priorities: Pickleball courts, Carson Convenience Center (fully grant-funded), recycling building upgrades, boardwalk repairs, early college building repairs, courthouse electrical upgrades, National Guard Armory remodel (tied to SCC lease and burn building), and resurfacing the SCC driving track for CDL classes. Cabe stressed addressing space needs (Senior Services, Board of Elections, Veterans, Justice Center) and developing a robust, honest Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

Revenues & Tax Rate: The budget holds the property tax rate steady at $0.27/$100. Taxable values have increased (real/personal property up ~$244M, vehicles up ~$46M), with strong collection rates (~98.43%). One penny of tax generates ~$1.348 million. Other revenues (sales tax, service fees, intergovernmental) are up modestly, with conservative estimates. A $1.15M fund balance appropriation balances the budget; this is viewed as low-risk given historical fund balance growth (averaging ~$4M/year, even in high-expenditure years).

Expenditures: Total requests exceeded revenues by ~$7.5M. Increases occurred across operating categories due to inflation (purchasing, fuel, etc.). Notable shifts reflect the Health Department consolidation. Pay-Go capital was trimmed (e.g., fewer patrol cars, no additional ambulance remount) to avoid a tax hike.

Personnel Focus: The budget includes a 2% COLA, step advancements, and targeted fixes for pay scale inconsistencies (moving employees up to no more than 3 steps below expected based on service). Lower pay grades were adjusted for market alignment. A sample comparison showed county positions competitive for standardized roles but ~3.25% below (or ~7.5% for public safety) on specialized entry salaries. Health insurance rose 6% (absorbed by county); retirement contributions mandated to increase. A 1% appreciation bonus and 2% 401k contribution continue. Total full-time positions: ~408 filled, 16 vacant.

Education Funding: Macon County Schools requested a ~$3.59M increase. Proposed: $9.88M operational + $702K supplements + $1.15M capital (fund balance) + other items (timber sales, solid waste fees, $50K PULSE internship, SROs ~$1.14M, nurses ~$418K), totaling around $13.44M–$15.38M when including debt service. This represents ~23% of the General Fund. Southwestern Community College operational funding held near prior levels (~$510K), with capital items (e.g., driving track ~$600K or less) to be addressed separately.

Other Areas:

  • Library: Proposed $1.25M (vs. higher request impacted by Jackson County withdrawal); discussion suggested using library fund balance.
  • Capital & CIP: Commitments noted for burn building, science rooms, pickleball (~$3M proposed), Highlands playground, rec park phase, potential East Franklin Elementary (lottery-funded up to ~$42M max). Maintenance needs emphasized to avoid larger future costs.
  • Solid Waste Enterprise Fund (separate): Tipping fee +$6/ton; brush fee adjustments (pass-through contractor costs, higher in Highlands); per-item charges for bulky items like mattresses/tires to better reflect space/processing costs. Availability fee unchanged.
  • Fire Departments: Minor rate adjustments proposed for a few districts.

Financial Outlook: Debt service declining, creating future capacity. Emphasis on maintaining services affordably, prioritizing projects, and aligning with financial policies. Cabe expressed appreciation for Finance and HR staff efforts. Commissioners offered positive initial feedback on balancing employee and taxpayer needs.







The full PDF provides additional details, charts, tables (e.g., specific capital line items), and departmental breakdowns for further review.


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 12.55pm on Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins

Read More

Weather and News Briefing for Wednesday, May 13, 2026

5/13/2026 08:45:00 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. A cold front will bring spotty showers, and possibly a thunderstorm, this afternoon and evening. Warm and dry weather returns late week into the weekend.

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

..TONIGHT....Partly cloudy. A chance of showers in the evening. Lows in the mid 40s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

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

..THURSDAY NIGHT....Clear. Lows in the lower 40s. North winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the evening.

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

..FRIDAY NIGHT....Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER



Hazardous weather is not expected today or tonight.





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




State and Local News


• Macon County Board of Commissioners: Downloadable Agenda Packet and Live Video of Meeting [ Macon Media]

• NC leaders unveil budget framework with teacher, law enforcement raises [ WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC) ]

Asheville Tea Company finds new home after Helene | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)



NC lawmakers advance proposal to limit property tax increases | WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)



• NC Republican leaders announce end to state budget impasse [NC Newsline]

• Sen. Thom Tillis urges Campbell Law graduates to lead with integrity in divided legal climate [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• State Democrats propose 7% tax on income over $1M to fund NC schools [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• Budget deal outlined + Details on raises and bonuses for state workers, teachers [Raleigh News & Observer]



Iran War News


The Great Battleship Debate | John Konrad of gCaptain and Zach Cooper of AEI | What's Going on With Shipping?



US defends cost of war as Iran threatens to enrich uranium | BBC News



• Iran Update Special Report, May 13, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• DW News Liveblog [DW News]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Fox News Liveblog [Fox News]

• Shipping industry fears fuel shortages as Iran war squeezes bunker fuel supply [AP News]

• Bahrain-led UN resolution on Strait of Hormuz gains support of 112 nations [Al Jazeera]

• Iran retains access to majority of missile launch sites, US intelligence shows - report [Jerusalem Post]

• The war is on hold, but Iran’s internal crackdown is only deepening [NBC News]

Russia, China and Iran: What do Beijing and Moscow want to gain from conflict? | FRANCE 24 English





World News


Yermak faces charges in Ukraine corruption case | World News Tonight | TVP World



The Trump Administration's China Strategy | The Dispatch



• Liveblog: Trump in China [DW News]

• South Korea's AI chip boom sparks labor dispute at Samsung, profit-sharing debate [Yonhap News Agency]

• (video) Hantavirus: How was ‘patient zero’ infected? [France 24]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 12, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

Why German companies are pivoting to defense production | The Dip Podcast | DW News




National News


ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - May 12, 2026 | ABC News



The Battle Over the Federal Reserve’s Independence (full documentary) | FRONTLINE (PBS)



• Trump brushes off Iran war’s cost at home: ‘I don’t think about American financial situation’ [Independent (UK)]

• The Great Fragmentation: How Culture Stopped Arriving Together [The Intellectualist]

• A Conspiracy Theory About QR Codes Has Led to Chaos Ahead of Georgia's Midterms [WIRED]

• Mysterious Meddling in Democratic Primaries Has G.O.P. Fingerprints [New York Times]

• Senate GOP balks at $1B in security for White House ballroom, despite Secret Service pitch [The Hill]

• Raffensperger: 'I will not back down' after campaign bomb scare [UPI]

• Inside the ‘digital lockdown’ for US officials as Trump arrives in China [Fox News]


Financial News


CLARITY Act is missing this one HUGE thing | Yahoo Finance and The Wolf Of All Streets



Economist WARNS surging energy prices are ‘BLEEDING THROUGH’ | Fox Business



Trump Heads to China, SoftBank Profit Jumps on OpenAI Bet | The Opening Trade 5/13/2026 | Bloomberg Television



• Nvidia's Jensen Huang is a late addition to Trump's China trip, joining Elon Musk, Tim Cook, and others [Yahoo Finance]

• Gas tax holiday as Trump promises? Not so fast, trucking, construction industries say [CNBC]


Science and Technology


Most Galaxies Spin, This One Just Stands Still. New JWST Mystery | Anton Petrov



• Twin brothers wipe 96 gov’t databases minutes after being fired [Ars Technica]

• Imminent Samsung Strike Could Be an Earthquake for AI [Gizmodo]

• Quantum breakthrough could revolutionize teleportation and computing [Science Daily]

• TWiV 1320: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin [Microbe TV]

The Level1 Links with Friends Show May 13 2026: OT III (Any%)




Crypto News


Inflation Rises to 3.8% | Benjamin Cowen



• Bitcoin Miner MARA Sells $1.5 Billion in BTC, Reports $1.26 Billion Q1 Loss[Decrypt]

• Arkham maps Iran central bank wallets after $344M USDT freeze [Coin Telegraph]

• Whale Accumulates 21,800 ETH in a $47M Bet on Ethereum’s Long Game [Bitcoin.com]

The Sovereign Individual in the Bitcoin Era | Bitcoin 2026 | Bitcoin Magazine


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 9.00am on Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins


Read More

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Macon County Board of Commissioners
Downloadable Agenda Packet and Live Video of Meeting

5/12/2026 04:48:00 PM , , 0 comments



The Macon County Board of Commissioners will be meeting tonight at 6pm. Macon Media cannot be there tonight. You can watch the meeting live via a player embedded below and peruse the supporting document further down the page.

Board of Commissioners (05-12-2026) | Macon County





Public Agenda Agenda

1. Call to order and welcome by Chairman Young

2. Announcements

3. Moment of Silence

4. Pledge of Allegiance

5. Public Hearing(s) - None

6. Additions to agenda

7. Public Comment Period

8. Adjustments to and approval of the agenda

9. Reports/Presentations
a. Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget Presentation - County Manager Warren Cabe

10. Old Business
a. Approval of Updated Macon County Recreation Commission Bylaws - Parks and Recreation Director Seth Adams
b. Update on Quarter-Cent Sales Tax - Commissioner Shields

11. New Business
a. Discussion and Approval of Resolution Authorizing County Manager to Convey Property to Pine Grove School Community Club, Inc. - Mr. Cabe and Attorney Eric Ridenour
b. Discussion and Consideration of Macon Early College Repair Bid - Planning, Permitting, and Development Director, Joe Allen
c. Discussion and Consideration of Pickleball Court Bid – Mr. Allen

12. Consent Agenda
a. Minutes of the April 14, 2026, Regular Meeting
b. Budget amendments #312-316 and #318
c. FY 2025-2026 Distribution Request-Public School Building Capital Fund-North Carolina Education Lottery
d. Fireworks Permit - Town of Franklin
e. Fireworks Permit - Nantahala Fire and Rescue
f. Monthly Ad valorem Tax Collection Report April 2026

13. Appointments
a. Child Fatality Task Force – 2 seats
b. Recreation Commission - 7 Seats

14. Closed Session as allowed under NCGS 143-318.11

15. Adjourn/Recess



Agenda Packet | (Download 68-page PDF)



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 4.50pm on Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins

Read More

Monday, May 11, 2026

Weather Briefing for Monday, May 11, 2026

5/11/2026 04:47:00 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. A cold front crosses the area today, bringing scattered showers and a few embedded thunderstorms. Relatively little rain is expected with this system, and severe risk remains minimal.

2. Another weak cold front may bring a few more showers and thunderstorms to the western Carolinas Wednesday. Otherwise, dry weather is expected

WEATHER SPONSOR

This space available



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....Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers. Highs around 70. North winds around 5 mph.

..TONIGHT....Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s. North winds around 5 mph.

..TUESDAY....Sunny. Highs in the upper 60s. East winds around 5 mph, becoming south in the afternoon.

..TUESDAY NIGHT....Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s. South winds around 5 mph.

..WEDNESDAY....Partly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs around 70. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

..WEDNESDAY NIGHT....Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then clear after midnight. Lows in the upper 40s. Chance of rain 30 percent.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER



Hazardous weather is not expected today or tonight.





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




State and Local News


Resolution urges HCA Healthcare CEO to talk with Buncombe County community | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)



Neese's Sausage fully pauses operations | WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)



• Stein: Whatley’s ties to Trump ‘not a positive’ in North Carolina’s upcoming US Senate election [NC Newsline]

• Sen. Thom Tillis urges Campbell Law graduates to lead with integrity in divided legal climate [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• Where to visit the chickens of Oconaluftee in the Great Smoky Mountains [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• Legislature controls new building project oversight, not Stein’s Cabinet agency [Raleigh News & Observer]



Iran War News


"A Wall of Fire": Eyewitness View of an Attack in the Strait of Hormuz | Week 10 Recap | What's Going on With Shipping?



Iran sends its response to President Trump's latest proposal aimed at ending the war | BBC News



• Iran Update Special Report, May 010, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Fox News Liveblog [Fox News]

• Saudi oil giant Aramco sees 25% jump in Q1 profit after shifting exports from Strait of Hormuz [AP News]

• Iran replies to US proposal to end war, Trump finds response ‘unacceptable’ [Al Jazeera]

• Iran's response to US ceasefire proposal focuses on Hormuz, Lebanon ceasefire, state media says [Jerusalem Post]

• Iran war is crushing Asia’s farmers, threatening global food supply [Washington Post]

Iran’s two navies and the fate of its “Midget Submarines” | FRANCE 24 English





World News


Putin offers talks with Ukraine amid claims of ceasefire violations | TVP World



FULL VICTORY DAY 2026: Russia Holds Massive Military Parade In Moscow’s Red Square | DRM News



• Germany news: Defense minister Pistorius arrives in Kyiv [DW News]

• S. Korea, NATO officials discuss defense industry cooperation [Yonhap News Agency]

• French evacuee from hantavirus-hit ship tests positive, health minister says [France 24]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 10, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

Russian president Putin nominates a controversial ex-German chancellor as peace broker | DW News




National News


ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - May 10, 2026 | ABC News



Meet the Press Full Episode — May 10 | NBC News



• Want to track the apocalypse? One theory: Follow the billionaires’ jets [Washington Post]

• ‘Patient Zero’ Identified in Hantavirus Ship Outbreak: Leo Schilperoord [Newsweek]

• 5 GOP battles that will drive the summer in Congress [The Hill]

• 17 Americans from hantavirus-hit cruise flying to U.S., HHS says [UPI]

• Hegseth says Pentagon will review Mark Kelly's public statements about classified briefing amid ongoing feud [Fox News]


Financial News


Expect Deadly Food Scarcity And Price Hikes: ICC Secretary General Sounds Alarm On Fertilizer Crisis | Forbes Breaking News



New Clarity Act is Trojan Horse for Dollar as Global Reserve Currency | Heresy Financial



Iran War: Trump Rejects Iran Latest Offer & Trump-Xi Summit | Daybreak Europe 5/11/2026 | Bloomberg Television



• Oil Jumps as Hormuz Stays Shut After Trump Rebuffs Iran’s Offer [Yahoo Finance]

• Brent oil tops $105 after Trump dismisses Iran’s peace proposal response [CNBC]


Science and Technology


Tiny Rock In the Solar System Contains Atmosphere and Nobody Knows Why | Anton Petrov



• The unprecedented and deadly cruise ship hantavirus outbreak, explained [Ars Technica]

• El Salvador’s Bitcoin-Loving President Has Allegedly Frozen Assets of Local News Outlet [Gizmodo]

• NASA’s Psyche probe is about to slingshot around Mars at 12,000 mph [Science Daily]

• Beyond the Noise #106: Collateral damage [Microbe TV]

General Motors’ Robot Debacle | Asianometry




Crypto News


Labor Market Holds Steady | Benjamin Cowen



• SBF has joined Pam Bondi on team ‘Dow 50K’ [Protos]

• AWS Northern Virginia data center overheats, impacting Coinbase [Coin Telegraph]

• From $8 to $81,700: What Bitcoin Was Worth on Every Mother's Day Since 2011 [Bitcoin.com]
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Published at 6.00am on Monday, May 11, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins


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