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Thursday, May 21, 2026

News and Weather Briefing for Thursday. May 21, 2026

5/21/2026 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 will drop down from the northwest late today and tonight, ushering in a change in our weather for the Memorial Day weekend. The new pattern will support a period of cooler and more unsettled weather that could ultimately put a dent in our drought as it persists into the middle of next week. At this time, the risk of severe thunderstorms and flooding rain appears 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....Mostly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. A chance of showers this morning, then showers this afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. Light and variable winds. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..TONIGHT....Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then showers likely after midnight. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows around 60. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

..FRIDAY....Patchy fog in the morning. Showers. A chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs around 70. Southeast winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..FRIDAY NIGHT....A chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Showers. Lows around 60. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain near 100 percent.

..SATURDAY....Showers in the morning, then showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 70s. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain near 100 percent.

..SATURDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then a chance of showers after midnight. Lows around 60. Chance of rain 70 percent.

..SUNDAY....Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..SUNDAY NIGHT....A chance of thunderstorms. Showers. Lows in the lower 60s. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..MEMORIAL DAY....Showers likely in the morning, then showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..MONDAY NIGHT....Showers with a chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 60s. Chance of rain 90 percent.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER



Scattered thunderstorms are expected today through Saturday, especially during the afternoon and evening hours, which will bring the risk for locally heavy rainfall and frequent lightning. Widespread severe weather is not expected at this time.





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 ]

Crowd control incident involving peperballs | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)



NC lawmakers pass amendments to add property and income tax limits to ballot | WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)



• NC Senate moves constitutional amendment on local property tax increases to the November ballot [NC Newsline]

• North Carolina House Republicans override Stein veto on education tax-break bill [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• Blue Ridge Parkway opens for season with ongoing repairs [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• Walls that will hold up I-40 through Pigeon River Gorge begin to take shape [Raleigh News & Observer]



Iran War News


The Hormuz Effect: Why Supertanker Volumes Dropped 36% & Stocks are Sliding | What's Going on With Shipping?



Iran 'not a forever war', says US Vice President JD Vance | BBC News



• Iran Update Special Report, May 20, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• France24 Liveblog [DW News]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• In Iran’s capital, weapons demonstrations send a signal at home and abroad as threat of war remains [AP News]

• Iran war day 83: Tehran ‘reviewing’ latest US response to end conflict [Al Jazeera]

• Israel's defense industry races to develop defenses against Hezbollah's deadly fiber-optic drones [Jerusalem Post]

• Middle East: Iran says any new attack will widen war [DW News]



World News


Drone breaches Lithuanian airspace | World News Tonight | TVP World



Putin and Trump are queuing up to meet Xi Jinping. This Is Why. | Sky News



• Trump administration indicts Cuba’s Raul Castro over 1996 plane shootdown [Al Jazeera]

• Ex-spy chief Cho Tae-yong sentenced to 1 1/2 yrs in prison for perjury in martial law trial [Yonhap News Agency]

• Germany's Merz pitches 'associate' EU membership for Ukraine [DW News]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 20, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

What to know about Ebola as Congo reports more than 130 dead | Associated Press




National News


ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - May 20, 2026 | ABC News



Top Story with Tom Llamas - May 20, 2026 | NBC News



• Republicans expected to abandon $1B security proposal for White House and Trump’s ballroom [AP News]

• How AIPAC channels millions through shell PACs ahead of US midterms [Associated Press]

• Tensions between the U.S. and Cuba: What we know about announcements expected May 20 [Al Jazeera]

• 5 things to know about the Raúl Castro indictment and the Cuba crisis [The Hill]

• House passes bipartisan housing affordability bill [UPI]

• Former DOJ prosecutor charged with stealing confidential Jack Smith investigation documents about Trump [Fox News]


Financial News


Bitcoin Has A 120-Day Fed Countdown - Trump Just Signed The Order | Mike Alfred | The Wolf Of All Streets



Asia Tech Stocks Rally As Investors Return To AI Trade | The China Show 5/21/2026 | Bloomberg Television



• SpaceX files IPO prospectus, offering a peek into its finances [Yahoo Finance]

• Treasury yields resume climb as traders monitor inflation risks [CNBC]


Science and Technology


There Are ‘Ghost’ Humans in Our Genome - We Just Found Out Who They Were | 7 Days of Science



• Hollywood Secures Broad “Omnibus” Pirate Site Blocking Order in UK High Court [Torrent Freak]

• Trump admin didn’t want Ebola-exposed Americans, sent them to Berlin, Prague [Ars Technica]

• The Scandal Over a Supposedly AI-Written, Award-Winning Short Story Is Troubling. Or Just Mean? [Gizmodo]

• Jupiter’s lightning may be 100x more powerful than Earth’s [Science Daily]

• Beyond the Noise #107: The subtle horror of package inserts [Microbe TV]

New Era for Astronomy: Direct Observation of Exoplanetary Surface | Anton Petrov




Crypto News


Ethereum: Rejected off the Bear Market Resistance Band | Benjamin Cowen



• Elon Musk's SpaceX IPO Filing Reveals $1.45 Billion Bitcoin Position [Decrypt]

• Tax evaders are trying ‘novel digital assets’ to dodge authorities: Chainalysis [Coin Telegraph]

• Soluna Buys out Dorothy 1B as Bitcoin-to-AI Campus Conversion Advances [Bitcoin.com]

Bitcoin vs the Surveillance State | Bitcoin Magazine Podcast Ep 9 | 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 21, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins


Read More

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

News and Weather Briefing for Wednesday, May 20, 2026

5/20/2026 05:59:00 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 approach the area today and then stall nearby through the weekend, resulting in cooler and wetter weather through Memorial Day weekend. The threat for severe thunderstorms and excessive rain appears to be 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....Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon. Highs in the lower 80s. Southwest winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.

..TONIGHT....Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. Southwest winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

..THURSDAY....Mostly cloudy. Patchy fog in the morning. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 70s. Light and variable winds, becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..THURSDAY NIGHT....Showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then showers likely after midnight. Lows around 60. Southeast winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..FRIDAY....Showers likely in the morning, then showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 70s. Southeast winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..FRIDAY NIGHT....Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then showers after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. Chance of rain near 100 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


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

What you should expect this hurricane season in 2026 | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)



NC House delays vote on amendments targeting income, property taxes | WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)



• NC House advances property tax loophole and UNC system construction bills [NC Newsline]

• NC data-center proposal seeks to keep rising utility costs away from customers [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• Pete Buttigieg packs barn for rural Democrat in competitive NC congressional district [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• NC Republicans advance new constitutional amendments to strip governor’s power [Raleigh News & Observer]



Iran War News


The Hormuz Effect: Why Supertanker Volumes Dropped 36% & Stocks are Sliding | What's Going on With Shipping?



Iran 'not a forever war', says US Vice President JD Vance | BBC News



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

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• France24 Liveblog [DW News]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Senate advances bill aimed at ending Iran war as Cassidy, after primary loss, flips to support [AP News]

• Iran war day 82: Tehran warns of ‘new fronts’ as Trump sets deadline [Al Jazeera]

• Israel, US early war goals sought to reinstate Iran's Ahmadinejad as leader, NYT report says [Jerusalem Post]

• US Senate advances measure to limit Trump's Iran war powers [DW News]



World News


U.S. to pull more troops from Europe | World News Tonight | TVP World



Is Russia ready to attack a NATO member? | DW News



• China’s Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin hold talks in Beijing [Al Jazeera]

• N. Korea's Kim chairs army commanders' meeting, orders southern border defense buildup [Yonhap News Agency]

• Xi welcomes Putin in Beijing, hails China’s ‘unyielding’ ties with Russia [France 24]

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

Xi Jinping hosts a welcome ceremony for Putin in China (full) | Associated Press




National News


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



NBC Nightly News Full Episode - May 19, 2026 | NBC News



Who Are The Alleged San Diego Mosque Shooters Cain Clark and Caleb Velasquez? | New York Post



• Donald Trump Solidifies Grip on GOP With Thomas Massie Kentucky Ouster [Newsweek]

• Takeaways from Tuesday’s primaries: Massie’s loss leaves no doubt about Trump’s power over the GOP [Associated Press]

• Tensions between the U.S. and Cuba: What we know about announcements expected May 20 [NBC News]

• Trump’s midterm retribution crusade crescendos with Massie primary defeat: Key takeways [The Hill]

• CDC says American infected with Ebola was sent to Germany for care [UPI]

• 2026 primary election live updates: Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Idaho and Oregon [Fox News]


Financial News


Bitcoin Bleeds $1B As 30Y Yield Hits 5.14% (Highest Since GFC) | The Wolf Of All Streets



Global Bond Selloff Threatens Turmoil in Asia | Insight with Haslinda Aminn 05/20/2026 | Bloomberg Television



• The AI bots are coming and the young are booing, not applauding [Yahoo Finance]

• U.S. Treasurys are now firmly in the ‘danger zone,’ strategists say [CNBC]


Science and Technology


The Level1 Links with Friends Show May 20 2026: Motherboard Meltdown



• Sky Sends Cease-and-Desist Letters to 200 Irish IPTV Subscribers Exposed via Revolut [Torrent Freak]

• FBI seeks US-wide access to license plate cameras, wants “data in near real time” [Ars Technica]

• Google Search Is Dead. Welcome to the Era of the ‘Intelligent Search Box’ [Gizmodo]

• Lost for 150,000 years: Rainforest discovery upends human history [Science Daily]

• TWiV 1323: One influenza infection, two patients [Microbe TV]

Let's Talk About the New UFO Files Released by The Government | Anton Petrov




Crypto News


Bitcoin: An Unfortunate Pattern | Benjamin Cowen



• Minnesota Bans Prediction Markets—And Is Sued By the Trump Admin Hours Later [Decrypt]

• Trump-backed Truth Social pulls bids for crypto ETFs [Coin Telegraph]

• Lummis Warns US Must Pass CLARITY Act Immediately or Cede Digital Asset Leadership to China and Europe [Bitcoin.com]

Verifiable Smart Contracts with Simplicity | 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 20, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins


Read More

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

News and Weather Briefing for Tuesday, May 19, 2026

5/19/2026 04:46:00 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 summer-like pattern will continue through Wednesday, with above normal temperatures and increasing humidity. Chances for mountain diurnal convection increase Wednesday afternoon as a front approaches.

2. A cold front will bring better rain chances Thursday into the weekend, but any drought relief will be limited.

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. South winds around 5 mph.

..TONIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s. South winds around 5 mph.

..WEDNESDAY....Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 80s. West winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

..WEDNESDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then partly cloudy after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. North winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

..THURSDAY....Partly sunny. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs around 80. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..THURSDAY NIGHT....Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then showers likely after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. Chance of rain 90 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


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

Asheville prison to close | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)



North Carolina high school runner's raised hand costs team state track and field title | WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)



• NC Senate committee advances amendment on income tax cap for 2026 ballot [NC Newsline]

• Tax cap constitutional amendment, plus measures on farms and unions, pass first hurdle in NC [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• More floods or fewer hurricanes? What El Niño could mean for Carolinas [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• Senate confirms NC’s Dan Bishop, Ellis Boyle for US attorney positions [Raleigh News & Observer]



Iran War News


Hormuz is all Blocked Up with Ships - Week 11 | Iran and US Blockade Update | What's Going on With Shipping?



Will the US ever admit who bombed the schools in Iran? | Sky News



• Iran Update Special Report, May 18, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• France24 Liveblog [DW News]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Trump says he’s called off Iran strike planned for Tuesday at request of Gulf allies [AP News]

• Iran war day 81: Trump delays attack; Tehran says won’t ‘surrender’ [Al Jazeera]

• Trump says ‘very good chance’ of Iran deal after postponing planned US strike [Jerusalem Post]

• Middle East: Trump warns Iran 'time is ticking' on deal [DW News]

Iran war: US in 'serious negotiations' as Trump calls off attack | LiveNOW from FOX





World News


Zelenskyy’s former aide Yermak out on a $3-million bail | TVP World



How worried should we be about the Ebola "emergency"? | Global News Podcast | BBC News



Germany's multi-billion-euro plan for shelters, hospital beds and emergency vehicles | DW News



• WHO declares Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, Uganda a global health emergency [Al Jazeera]

• Lee says Japan an important partner in overcoming global rainstorm together [Yonhap News Agency]

• Russia to conduct three-day nuclear drills on May 19-21 [France 24]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 18, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

Ukraine launches deadly attack on Moscow as war drags on | ABC News




National News


ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - May 18, 2026 | ABC News



NBC Nightly News Full Episode - May 18, 2026 | NBC News



5 dead in San Diego mosque shooting: The 'strange' details | CNN



• The anti-war crack in MAGA's youth base [Politico]

• Cassidy Loses His Primary in Louisiana, as Trump Vanquishes Another G.O.P. Foe [New York Times]

• Trump administration to create $1.776B 'Truth and Justice Commission' to compensate allies [ABC News]

• TrumpRx Adds Hundreds of Generic Drugs: What It Means for Prices [CBS News]

• Trump-backed prayer rally roils debate on church and state [The Hill]

• MTA, LIRR unions reach tentative deal, ending 3-day strike [UPI]

• Active shooter threat at San Diego Islamic Center neutralized after massive police response [Fox News]


Financial News


Bitcoin’s Strategic Reserve Just Got Real — White House Exclusive | The Wolf Of All Streets



Trump Holds Off on New Iran Strikes After Gulf Appeal | Horizons Middle East & Africa 5/19/2026 | Bloomberg Television



• SpaceX IPO Adds Second Musk Stock. It’s a Problem for Tesla [Yahoo Finance]

• U.S. Treasury sell-off eases, traders eye highest 30-year yield since 1999 [CNBC]


Science and Technology


The Level1 Links with Friends Show May 19 2026: 10 Gooning Street



• Jury throws out Musk case against OpenAI [DW News]

• ACE Subpoena Targets French Private Tracker, Chinese Pirate Forum, and Vietnamese APIs [Torrent Freak]

• One Mars spacecraft, two senators, and a cloud of questions [Ars Technica]

• ‘The Worst Leak That I’ve Witnessed’: U.S. Cybersecurity Agency Leaves Its Digital Keys Out in Public on GitHub [Gizmodo]

• Antarctic glacier collapses at record speed as Hektoria retreats 15 miles in just 15 months [Science Daily]

• TWiV 1323: One influenza infection, two patients [Microbe TV]

Galactic Butterfly Effect! Even a Single Star Can Dramatically Change a Galaxy | Anton Petrov




Crypto News


Bitcoin Rejected off the 200D | Benjamin Cowen



• Swan Bitcoin Hit With Nearly $1 Billion Lawsuit Over Prime Trust Collapse [Decrypt]

• Echo Protocol's eBTC exploited for $77M in admin key compromise [Coin Telegraph]

• Capital B Buys 192 BTC After $20M Raise as Treasury Strategy Accelerates [Bitcoin.com]

Upgrading Wallets for Users from Now to 2140 | 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 6.00am on Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins


Read More

Sunday, May 17, 2026

News and Weather Briefing for Sunday, May 17, 2026

5/17/2026 04:53:00 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 summer-like pattern will be in place through mid-week, with above normal temperatures, increasing humidity, and spotty diurnal convection expected. An isolated severe thunderstorm will be possible in the afternoon and evening each day.

2. A cold front will bring better rain chances mid to late week, but rainfall amounts are expected to remain light any drought relief will be limited.

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 this morning, then clearing. Highs in the lower 80s. South winds around 5 mph.

..TONIGHT....Partly cloudy. Lows around 60. South winds around 5 mph.

..MONDAY....Patchy fog in the morning. Mostly sunny. Highs around 80. South winds 5 to 10 mph.

..MONDAY NIGHT....Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 50s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

..TUESDAY....Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. South winds around 5 mph.

..TUESDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s.

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 ]

Affordable housing projects move forward across western North Carolina | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)



Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina holds celebration of federal recognition | WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)



• State employee group says auditor’s report shows ‘pay crisis’ in NC government [NC Newsline]

• How they voted: NC congressional votes for the week ending May 14 [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• More floods or fewer hurricanes? What El Niño could mean for Carolinas [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• Is a super El Niño hitting NC getting more likely? What that means for weather [Raleigh News & Observer]



Iran War News


The Dali Settlement in Baltimore, The "Golden Fleet," and a 1,500ft Tsunami: Top 5 Maritime Stories | What's Going on With Shipping?



Donald Trump says Xi Jinping wants Strait of Hormuz opened | BBC News



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

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• France24 Liveblog [DW News]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• BRICS ministers fail to issue a joint statement over differences on conflict in the Middle East [AP News]

• Iran war: Iran warns of readiness for war and economic costs as US talks falter [Al Jazeera]

• Iran allegedly behind Canada attacks on US consulate, synagogue [Jerusalem Post]

• Leader of Hamas's armed wing killed in strike on Gaza, says Israel [DW News]

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





World News


London protests expose deep divisions across the U.K. | World News Tonight | TVP World



Professor Jiang: World War 3 Has Already Begun, Let Me Explain! | The Diary Of A CEO and Predictive History



Trump warns Taiwan not to declare independence | DW News



• WHO declares Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, Uganda a global health emergency [Al Jazeera]

• Trump says he discussed N. Korea with Xi during summit in Beijing [Yonhap News Agency]

• Ukraine launches more than 500 drones at Russia in deadly overnight attack, authorities say [France 24]

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

Taiwan ramps up drone production amid threat of potential China invasion | NBC News




National News


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



NBC Nightly News Full Episode - May 15, 2026 | NBC News



Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, May 15, 2026



• China vs. God: Ezra Jin and Beijing’s War on Christianity [The Free Press]

• Cassidy Loses His Primary in Louisiana, as Trump Vanquishes Another G.O.P. Foe [New York Times]

• Trump administration to create $1.776B 'Truth and Justice Commission' to compensate allies [ABC News]

• Colorado River crisis could force drastic water measures across the West, experts say [CBS News]

• Massie primary tests Trump’s grip on GOP [The Hill]

• House panel demands reasons U.S. troop deployment to Poland canceled [UPI]

• Trump scores major Republican primary victory as Cassidy ousted in Louisiana [Fox News]


Financial News


The CLARITY Act advances in the Senate. What's next? | Yahoo Finance and The Wolf Of All Streets



Bloomberg This Weekend | Trump Returns from China, Xi to Meet with Putin, LIRR Goes on Strike | Bloomberg Television



• History's weirdest bubbles have a message for the AI trade: Chart of the Day [Yahoo Finance]

• Kevin Warsh comes into the Fed facing a big ‘family fight’ over cutting interest rates [CNBC]


Science and Technology


Will NASA's Nuclear Powered Spacecraft Revolutionize Space Exploration? | Scott Manley



• The Digital Babel: How Oligarchs Broke the Public Square and Destroyed Shared Reality [The Intellectualist]

• Universal Wins Indian Court Order Against IMDb-Themed Pirate Streaming Sites [Torrent Freak]

• The US is betting on AI to catch insider trading in prediction markets [Ars Technica]

• Elon Musk Explains Why the SpaceX Board Must Be Powerless to Fire Him [Gizmodo]

• Stunning 150-million-year-old stegosaur skull rewrites dinosaur evolution [Science Daily]

• TWiV 1322: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin – Hantavirus special [Microbe TV]

Mystery of SgrA* Strange G-Objects Finally Solved | Anton Petrov




Crypto News


Powell Steps Down as Chair of the Federal Reserve | Benjamin Cowen



• Justin Sun-Led Liberland Micronation Awards Ethereum Founder Vitalik Buterin Its Top Honor [Decrypt]

• When prediction markets go wrong: Who decides what counts as the truth? [Coin Telegraph]

• Latam Insights: Coinbase Co-Founder Eyes Venezuela as Grupo Salinas Embraces Stablecoins [Bitcoin.com]

The Banks Lose The Yield Fight: Inside The CLARITY Act Stablecoin Battle | BPH EP 37 | Bitcoin Magazine


Support Macon Media


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Published at 9.00am on Sunday, May 17, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins


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