Weather Briefing for Wednesday, September 30, 2020

OUTLOOK

Weak high pressure crosses the area today bringing seasonably cool conditions. Then a strong, but dry, cold front will cross our region on Thursday dropping temperatures to well below normal. Expect the coolest night to be Friday night, followed by a slight warming trend, as our weather stays somewhat cool into next week.


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Weather Sponsor



Adams Products, a Division of Oldcastle is underwriting the daily weather briefing & public safety updates for the month.

Open 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, M-F, located at 895 Hickory Knoll Road, Franklin, NC. Visit our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Adams.Oldcastle.Franklin.NC/

All your masonry needs are available. Our phone number is 828.524.8545, the public is welcome, we’ll help you with your next project.


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News Brief

County Commissioners Select New County Attorney

Afte a closed meeting lasting almost an hour and a half, the Macon County Board of Commissioners returned to open session and voted 3-2 (Higdon and Gillespie voting no) to instruct Derek Roland (the county manager) to enter into negotiations with Fred Jones to replace the retiring Chester Jones as new County Attorney after October 31st. Macon Media and The Franklin Press were the only media outlets present in the boadroom. Videos are posted below. A more complete article and edited video will be published later.


Part 1 (Before the closed session)



Part 2 (After the closed session)






September 28, 2020 Macon County Boad of Education Meeting




General forecast through Friday night


Today

Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, sunny, with highs in the 60s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight

Clear, with lows in the 40s. A few locations may dip into the upper 30s. Calm winds.

Thursday

Sunny, with highs ranging from the low-to-mid 60s in the higher elevations to the low-to-mid 70s in the lower elevations. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night

Clear, with lows in the mid-to-upper 30s in the higher elevations to the low-to-mid 40s in the lower elevations. Wind chill values will be below freezing in the higher elevations and in the upper 30s elsewhere. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Friday

Sunny, with highs ranging from the upper 50s in the higher elevations in the higher elevations to the mid-60s in the lower elevations. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Friday Night

Clear, with lows in the 30s. Some locations in the higher elevations may dip below freezing.



HAZARDS

Hazardous weather is not expected today. If you have outdoor plants that are sensitive to colder temperatures, you may want to consider covering them or moving them indoors Thursday and Friday night.

Air Quality

Air quality is in the upper range of green for most of the county, including the ridges and other higher elevations today.

Pollen

Pollen levels are expected to be in the low-medium range (4.7 out of 12) with ragweed, chenopods, and grasses being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be very low-medium due to rain (4.6 out of 12).



TROPICAL WEATHER
(The North Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1st to Nov 30th)

span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">

Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
200 AM EDT Wed Sep 30 2020

For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:

1. A tropical wave located over the central Caribbean Sea is expected to move westward to west-northwestward over the next few days and interact with a frontal system, producing a broad area of low pressure over the western Caribbean Sea by Thursday night or Friday. Environmental conditions are forecast to be conducive for some development thereafter, and a tropical depression could form over the weekend while the system moves slowly west-northwestward over the northwestern Caribbean Sea.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...10 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days...medium...60 percent.






CROWDFUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES


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Published at 5:10am Wednesday, September 30, 2020

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US and NC Flags to Return to Full Staff Display Today at Sunset

The United States and North Carolina flags at state facilities should return to full staff display at sunset today, September 29, 2020, after being lowered in honor of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who passed away Friday, September 18, 2020. She will be laid to rest today in a private ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Ginsburg was a feminist icon to many, dedicating her life to public service and advocacy for social justice and gender equality. She was the second woman appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States, where she served for more than 27 years.

As a show of respect, individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the duration of time indicated.

Please note, all North Carolina flag announcements are issued in accordance to regulations outlined in the US Flag Code.


Published at 11:00am on Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Read More

Weather Briefing for Tuesday, September 29, 2020 Includes Video of September 2020 School Board Meeting

OUTLOOK

Warm and fairly humid conditions will persist early this week, with rain chances increasing gradually until a cold front pushes through Tuesday. Dry and somewhat chilly weather is expected behind the front for the second half of the week. Expecting the coolest nights to be Friday night and Saturday night.


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DAY SPONSOR

Macon Media is being underwritten today by Franklin Health & Fitness, home of #ResultsForEveryone.

To see updates related to COVID-19, please click: franklinhealthandfitness.com

There are also On-Demand Fitness Videos located at https://franklinhealthandfitness.com/blog/




Weather Sponsor



Adams Products, a Division of Oldcastle is underwriting the daily weather briefing & public safety updates for the month.

Open 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, M-F, located at 895 Hickory Knoll Road, Franklin, NC. Visit our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Adams.Oldcastle.Franklin.NC/

All your masonry needs are available. Our phone number is 828.524.8545, the public is welcome, we’ll help you with your next project.


--- END SPONSOR SEGMENT---



News Brief

School Board Votes to Resume In-Person Instruction 4 Days a Week at 5 Schools

At the recommendation of Superintendent Dr. Chris Baldwin and on a motion made by Fred Goldsmith and seconded by Tommy Cabe, the Board approved by a 5-0 vote for South Macon Elementary School, East Franklin Elementary School, Cartoogechaye Elementary School and Iotla Valley Elementary School as well as Mountain View Intermediate 5th grade to begin Plan A on Monday, October 5, 2020. Students at these schools will attend school Monday through Thursday. Fridays will remain a remote learning day.

Franklin High School, Macon Middle School, Union Academy, Macon Early College and Mountain View Intermediate School 6th grade will remain in Plan B.

September 28, 2020 Macon County Boad of Education Meeting




General forecast through Thursday night


Today

Patchy fog until late in the morning. Occasional showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Highs ranging from the late 50s in the higher elevations to the low-to-mid 60s in the lower elevations. WInds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tonight

Scattered showers, mainly before 10pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with lows in the 40s. A few locations in the higher elevations may drop into the upper 30s. WInds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday

Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, sunny, with highs in the 60s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night

Clear, with lows in the 40s. Calm winds.

Thursday

Sunny, with highs ranging from the mid-60s in the higher elevations to the mid-70s in the lower elevations.

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, with lows ranging from the upper 30s in the higher elevations to the low-to-mid 40s in the lower elevations.



HAZARDS

A slow-moving cold front will continue to produce periods of heavy rain through this afternoon. Isolated nuisance flooding is possible, especially across the southern North Carolina mountains.

Air Quality

Air quality is in the upper range of green for most of the county, including the ridges and other higher elevations today.

Pollen

Pollen levels are expected to be very low today (0.6 out of 12) with ragweed, chenopods, and grasses being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be very low-medium due to rain (4.8 out of 12).



TROPICAL WEATHER
(The North Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1st to Nov 30th)

Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
200 AM EDT Tue Sep 29 2020

For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:

1. A broad area of low pressure is expected to form over the western Caribbean Sea in a few days. Environmental conditions are forecast to be conducive for some development thereafter, and a tropical depression could form late this week or this weekend while the system moves slowly west-northwestward over the northwestern Caribbean Sea.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...near 0 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days...medium...50 percent.






CROWDFUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES


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Published at 5:00am Monday, September 29, 2020

Read More

Weather Briefing for Monday, September 28, 2020

OUTLOOK

Warm and fairly humid conditions will persist early this week, with rain chances increasing gradually until a cold front pushes through Tuesday. Dry and somewhat chilly weather is expected behind the front for the second half of the week. Expecting the coolest nights to be Friday night and Saturday night.


---BEGIN SPONSOR SEGMENT---


DAY SPONSOR

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Their phone number is 371-4718.

They can handle all your tree removal needs in good or bad weather.



Weather Sponsor



Adams Products, a Division of Oldcastle is underwriting the daily weather briefing & public safety updates for the month.

Open 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, M-F, located at 895 Hickory Knoll Road, Franklin, NC. Visit our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Adams.Oldcastle.Franklin.NC/

All your masonry needs are available. Our phone number is 828.524.8545, the public is welcome, we’ll help you with your next project.


--- END SPONSOR SEGMENT---





General forecast through Sunday night


Today

Scattered showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with highs ranging from the mid-to-upper 60s in the higher elevations to the mid-70s in the lower elevations. WInds out of the south 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight

A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 9pm. Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with lows in the 50s. Light and variable winds. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tuesday

Patchy fog in the morning.Highs in the 60s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night

Showers likely, mainly before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the 40s. Light winds out of the northwest. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday

A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with highs in the 60s.

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 48.



HAZARDS

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

Air Quality

Air quality is in the upper range of green for most of the county, including the ridges and other higher elevations today.

Pollen

Pollen levels are expected to be low today (3.5 out of 12) with ragweed, chenopods, and grasses being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be very low due to rain (0.6 out of 12).



TROPICAL WEATHER
(The North Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1st to Nov 30th)

Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
200 AM EDT Mon Sep 28 2020

For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:

1. A broad area of low pressure could form over the western Caribbean Sea in a few days. Thereafter, some gradual development is possible late this week while the system moves slowly west-northwestward over the northwestern Caribbean.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...near 0 percent. * Formation chance through 5 days...low...20 percent.






CROWDFUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES


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 3:20am Monday, September 28, 2020

Read More

Rolling Trump Rally on Main Street in Franklin

There was another Rolling Trump Rally that passed through Franklin this morning just after 9am. VIdeo and photos are posted below.




Photo Slide Show [FLICKR ALBUM]






CROWDFUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES


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

Published at 11:40am on Saturday, September 26, 2020

Read More

COVID-19 Update for Friday, September 25 ,2020

Here is an update for this afternoon on how humanity is dealing with the COVID-19 Pandemic that is caused by SARS CoV-2. The story is told through links to news outlets, research papers, and videos. They are presented without comment.

Press Release from Macon County Schools
1:26pm, September 22nd

Franklin High School is excited to announce that beginning Monday, 9/28, we will welcome students to campus 2 days per week on the following rotation.
Monday/Wednesday - 9th Grade and 11th Grade
Tuesday/Thursday - 10th Grade and 12th Grade
Friday - Remote learning for all grades.
Please remember that on Fridays, extra help is available for students. Please email the teacher to make an appointment to come in.



COVID-19 Numbers from Macon County Public Health

Data from Macon County Public Health as of this afternoon and graph by Macon Media of data from May 30th to this afternoon [LINK]




614 Detected Cases (+3 one day)(+20 in one week)
22 Active Positive (-7 in one day)(-5 in one week)
585 Recovered (+10 in one day)(-5 in one week)
7 Deaths (unchanged)(unchanged in one week)

Testing Data for Macon County

5595 MCPH Tests (+29 in one day)(+217 in one week)
2115 Tests by Others (unchanged in one day)(+78 in one week)
7710 Total Tests (+29 in one day)(+295 in one week)
34 Tests Pending Results (-32 in one day)(-54 in one week)

Macon Media posted a COVID-19 update yesterday afternoon. [LINK]

Here are some numbers from the CDC, the NCDHHS, and the CoronaWiki.

The CDC website [LINK]





The NCDHHS website [LINK]





CoronaWiki [LINK]




North Carolina Coronavirus Map and Case Count [LINK]

What Is COVID-19? A Patients Guide [LINK]

Resources for Reliable Information about the Corona Virus (COVID-19) [LINK]




Videos

Dr John Campbell

UK and wider problem




Coronavirus Update With Michael T. Osterholm, PhD, MPH - September 23, 2020




Distributing the COVID Vaccine: The Greatest Logistics Challenge Ever




Coronavirus Pandemic Update 107: Monoclonal Antibodies for COVID 19 Treatment and Prevention?



Coronavirus Update With Anthony S. Fauci, MD - September 25, 2020


Coronavirus Pandemic Update 108: High Risk COVID 19 Behaviors; Cases Rise in Europe





DeSantis Lifts All Covid-19 Restrictions on Florida Restaurants





Herd Immunity Not a Realistic Answer to Covid-19: Johns Hopkins





Europe and Russian vaccine







Research Papers, Clinical Trials and News About Such



Belief in conspiracy theories is a barrier to controlling spread of COVID-19 [LINK]

COVID-vaccine results are on the way — and scientists’ concerns are growing [LINK]


Face masks could be giving people Covid-19 immunity, researchers suggest [LINK]


Risk assessment of COVID-19 airborne infection during hybrid learning [LINK]


Lessons learnt from easing COVID-19 restrictions: an analysis of countries and regions in Asia Pacific and Europe [LINK]


Ethnic differences in alpha‐1 antitrypsin deficiency allele frequencies may partially explain national differences in COVID‐19 fatality rates [LINK]


Hidden immune weakness found in 14% of gravely ill COVID-19 patients [LINK]


Statins reduce COVID-19 severity, likely by removing cholesterol that virus uses to infect [LINK]


Serum levels of Vitamin C and Vitamin D in a cohort of critically ill COVID-19 patients of a North American Community Hospital Intensive Care Unit in May 2020. A Pilot Study [LINK]br />

COVID-19 can affect the heart [LINK]


NeuroRx submits request for Emergency Use Authorization for RLF-100™ (aviptadil) in the treatment of patients with Critical COVID-19 and Respiratory Failure who have exhausted approved therapy (Press Release) [LINK]


COVID-19-associated hyperinflammation and escalation of patient care: a retrospective longitudinal cohort study [LINK]

Ultrapotent human antibodies protect against SARS-CoV-2 challenge via multiple mechanisms [LINK]

Evidence for and level of herd immunity against SARS-CoV-2 infection: the ten-community study [LINK]

Development and validation of a machine learning model for predicting illness trajectory and hospital resource utilization of COVID-19 hospitalized patients - a nationwide study [LINK]

Scientists Discover Genetic and Immunologic Underpinnings of Some Cases of Severe COVID-19 [LINK]

Human recombinant soluble ACE2 in severe COVID-19 [LINK]

Novavax Initiates Phase 3 Efficacy Trial of COVID-19 Vaccine in the United Kingdom [LINK]

Genetic mechanisms of critical illness in Covid-19 [LINK]

Implications of Oxidative Stress and Potential Role of Mitochondrial Dysfunction in COVID-19: Therapeutic Effects of Vitamin D [LINK]

The effect of whey protein on viral infection and replication of SARS-CoV-2 and pangolin coronavirus in vitro [LINK]

Characterization and Phase 1 Trial of a B Cell Activating Anti-CD73 Antibody for the Immunotherapy of COVID-19 [LINK]




COVID-19 in the USA




Key coronavirus forecast predicts over 410,000 total U.S. deaths by Jan. 1: 'The worst is yet to come' [LINK]

Catching flu and Covid-19 at same time almost doubles risk of death [LINK]

Publicly traded firms paid dividends, bought their own stock after receiving PPP loans to pay employees [LINK]

'I cry before work': US essential workers burned out amid pandemic [LINK]

2 indicted for handling of virus outbreak at Massachusetts veterans home where 76 died [LINK]

North Dakota Coronavirus Cases Soar As State Rescinds Quarantine Order and Students Fail to Get Tested [LINK]

Michigan ‘actively considering’ ordering K-12 schools to reveal COVID outbreaks [LINK]

The covid-19 pandemic is worse than official figures show [GOOGLE CACHE VERSION] [LINK]

US Parents Delaying Preschool and Kindergarten Amid Pandemic [LINK]

MLB promised free COVID-19 testing for essential workers. We're still waiting. [LINK]

We’re in trouble when the COVID-19 death of a Middleton school staffer is a ‘hiccup’ (Idaho) [LINK]

Virus’s unseen hot zone: The American farm [LINK]

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam and First Lady test positive for COVID-19 [LINK]

New study suggests in person classes led to extra 3,200 cases per day across United States [LINK]

First Covid vaccines will not be a silver bullet, scientists warn [LINK]

Cleveland Goes Full Week Without Single Day of More Than 20 New Covid Cases [LINK]

Blood pressure medications decrease death and severe disease in COVID-19 patients [LINK]

Avoid trick-or-treating due to coronavirus this Halloween, CDC says [LINK]

NYC Eyes New Shutdowns for 1st Time in Months as COVID Clusters Grow; Monday Deadline Set [LINK]

HHS wants to test 30% of U.S. wastewater for the coronavirus as an ‘early warning system’ [LINK]

U.S. coronavirus cases surpass 7 million as Midwest outbreak flares up [LINK]

Persistent hiccups an unusual COVID-19 symptom [LINK]

18 to 22-year-olds banned from gathering in Boulder, Colorado, after coronavirus surge [LINK]

Coronavirus: in the last 24 hours 1,912 new cases in Italy with 20 deaths and 954 recovered [LINK]

After months of planning and billions in spending, will colleges’ virus prevention efforts get trashed by a few student parties? [LINK]

CDC forecast now projects more than 20,000 more coronavirus deaths by Oct. 17 [LINK]

Losing Your Hair Can Be Another Consequence of the Pandemic [LINK]

U.S. adds 44,000 COVID-19 cases; new outlook sees 3,000 deaths a day by 2021 [LINK]




COVID-19 Around the World





UN Chief: COVID-19 pandemic is out of control [LINK]

Japanese firm launches world's first UV lamp that safely kills coronavirus [LINK]

France sees record new coronavirus infections, with more than 16,000 cases(the equivalent of 80,000 US cases) in just 24 hours [LINK]

Rail travel refused to 400 people without masks [LINK]

'Close to 100% accuracy': Helsinki airport uses sniffer dogs to detect Covid [LINK]


Coronavirus R number rises again in UK - to between 1.2 and 1.5 [LINK]

As pandemic winter looms, leaders in Europe and Canada issue stark warnings [LINK]

Sorry to burst your COVID-19 'social bubble' but even small gatherings are getting riskier (Canada) [LINK]

Rio's Carnival is delayed for the first time in a century because of COVID-19 pandemic [LINK]

China's mainland reports 2 domestic cases of coronavirus, the first in more than a month. They work at the Port of Qingdao and handled frozen seafood imported from abroad. Both are asymptomatic. [LINK]

Missing Chinese journalist 'under state supervision' [LINK]

Coronavirus live news: France sees record new cases; virus may be becoming more contagious [LINK]

Nearly 3,000 classes in Spain forced to quarantine since beginning of school year [LINK]

As Madrid is offered 7,500 military personnel to combat coronavirus spread, experts consider what has gone wrong in the region [LINK]

Coronavirus is out of control in Syria, no matter what the government says [LINK]

Poland mulls restrictions amid record daily rises in COVID-19 cases [LINK]

Poor should get Covid-19 vaccine first, Pope Francis says [LINK]

New Zealand enters recession amid record drop in GDP [LINK]



CROWDFUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES



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 6:00pm on Friday, September 25, 2020

Read More

Weather Briefing for Friday, September 25, 2020

OUTLOOK

Widespread rain is expected today as the remnants of tropical system Beta move across the area. A mainly dry weekend is expected before unsettled weather returns with a cold front next week.


---BEGIN SPONSOR SEGMENT---





Weather Sponsor



Adams Products, a Division of Oldcastle is underwriting the daily weather briefing & public safety updates for the month.

Open 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, M-F, located at 895 Hickory Knoll Road, Franklin, NC. Visit our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Adams.Oldcastle.Franklin.NC/

All your masonry needs are available. Our phone number is 828.524.8545, the public is welcome, we’ll help you with your next project.


--- END SPONSOR SEGMENT---



News Brief

See the COVID-19 Update from yesterday afternnon. [LINK]

Franklin High School to Begin In-Person Instruction Two Days a Week Beginning Sept 28th

Franklin High School is excited to announce that beginning Monday, 9/28, we will welcome students to campus 2 days per week on the following rotation.
Monday/Wednesday - 9th Grade and 11th Grade
Tuesday/Thursday - 10th Grade and 12th Grade
Friday - Remote learning for all grades.
Please remember that on Fridays, extra help is available for students. Please email the teacher to make an appointment to come in.



General forecast through Sunday night


Today

Patchy fog possible through late morning. Showers before 11am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 11am and 4pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Highs ranging from the lower 60s in the higher elevations to the lower 70s in the lower elevations. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then a slight chance of showers between 8pm and midnight. Patchy fog after 9pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with lows mostly in the 50s. Calm winds. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday

Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with highs ranging from the upper 60s in the higher elevations to the upper 70s in the lowerelevations. Calm winds.

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows in the 50s. Calm winds.

Sunday

A 20 percent chance of showers after 3pm. Partly sunny, with highs ranging from the upper 60s in the higher elevations to the upper 70s in the lower elevations.

Sunday Night

Mostly cloudy, with lows in the 50s.



HAZARDS

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

Air Quality

Air quality is in the tower range of green for most of the county and in the lower range of green on the ridges and other higher elevations today.

Pollen

Pollen levels are expected to be very low today (0.7 out of 12) with ragweed, chenopods, and grasses being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be in the low-medium range (4.3 out of 12).



TROPICAL WEATHER
(The North Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1st to Nov 30th)

Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
200 AM EDT Fri Sep 25 2020

For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:

The Weather Prediction Center is issuing advisories on Post-Tropical Cyclone Beta, centered inland over northern Alabama.

Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 5 days.






CROWDFUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES


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 5:10am Friday, September 25, 2020

Read More

COVID-19 Update for Thursday, September 24, 2020

Here is an update for this afternoon on how humanity is dealing with the COVID-19 Pandemic that is caused by SARS CoV-2. The story is told through links to news outlets, research papers, and videos. They are presented without comment.

Press Release from Macon County Schools
1:26pm, September 22nd

Franklin High School is excited to announce that beginning Monday, 9/28, we will welcome students to campus 2 days per week on the following rotation.
Monday/Wednesday - 9th Grade and 11th Grade
Tuesday/Thursday - 10th Grade and 12th Grade
Friday - Remote learning for all grades.
Please remember that on Fridays, extra help is available for students. Please email the teacher to make an appointment to come in.

DAY SPONSOR

Macon Media is being underwritten today by Franklin Health & Fitness, home of #ResultsForEveryone.

To see updates related to COVID-19, please click: franklinhealthandfitness.com

There are also On-Demand Fitness Videos located at https://franklinhealthandfitness.com/blog/


COVID-19 Numbers from Macon County Public Health

Data from Macon County Public Health as of this afternoon and graph by Macon Media of data from May 30th to this afternoon [LINK]




611 Detected Cases (+5 one day)(+28 in one week)
29 Active Positive (+5 in one day)(+8 in one week)
575 Recovered (unchanged in one day)(+20 in one week)
7 Deaths (unchanged)(unchanged in one week)

Testing Data for Macon County

5566 MCPH Tests (unchanged in one day)(+259 in one week)
2115 Tests by Others (+40 in one day)(+101 in one week)
7681 Total Tests (+40 in one day)(+360 in one week)
66 Tests Pending Results (unchanged)(+15 in one week)

North Carolina Coronavirus Map and Case Count [LINK]

What Is COVID-19? A Patients Guide [LINK]

Resources for Reliable Information about the Corona Virus (COVID-19) [LINK]




Videos

Dr John Campbell

Pandemic, next 6 months



Coronavirus Pandemic Update 108: High Risk COVID 19 Behaviors; Cases Rise in Europe



Coronavirus Briefing: NC Gov. Roy Cooper (09/22/20)





Niall Ferguson on What History Teaches Us About Covid-19








Research Papers, Clinical Trials and News About Such



Belief in conspiracy theories is a barrier to controlling spread of COVID-19 [LINK]

Could seasonal influenza vaccination influence COVID-19 risk? [LINK]

IATA Calls for Systematic COVID-19 Testing Before Flight Departures [LINK]

Virologist Drosten: "The pandemic will only really start now" [LINK]
Study of over 50,000 volunteers in China shows Coronavac safety (Press Release) [LINK]

Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial with N-acetylcysteine for treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by COVID-19 [LINK]

Red Blood Cell Distribution Width and Mortality Risk in Hospitalized Adults with SARS-CoV-2 Infection [LINK]

Dynamic Change of COVID-19 Seroprevalence among Asymptomatic Population in Tokyo during the Second Wave [LINK]

Upper respiratory viral load in asymptomatic individuals and mildly symptomatic patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection [LINK]

A cluster randomised trial of cloth masks compared with medical masks in healthcare workers [LINK]

Azithromycin in viral infections [LINK]

Data Suggest Young People Spread COVID-19 To Older Adults [LINK]

COVID-19: Patients' symptoms can linger for months without 'rhyme or reason' [LINK]




COVID-19 in the USA





Why our minds can't make sense of COVID-19's enormous death toll [LINK]
The coronavirus is surging again [LINK]

100 N.Y.C. School Buildings Have Already Reported a Positive Case [LINK]

‘You are not listening,’ Fauci tells Sen. Rand Paul during a Senate hearing on the coronavirus [LINK]

Missouri governor, opponent of mandatory masks, has COVID-19 [LINK]

Bill Gates: The Pandemic Has Erased Years of Progress [LINK]

Study confirms men have 62% increased risk of COVID associated death, possibly related to higher degree of inflammation [LINK]

WVU to resume in-person classes on September 28 (West Virginia) [LINK]

Young adults are now the largest group of Americans getting COVID-19, CDC says [LINK]

Massive genetic study shows coronavirus mutating and potentially evolving amid rapid U.S. spread [LINK]

Coronavirus transmission heightens concerns surrounding ventilation in schools [LINK]

Empty roads, trains, buses and airports: How COVID-19 and staying at home changed how Chicago gets around [LINK]
Mark Wahlberg donates 1.3 million face masks to U.S. schools [LINK]
Why our minds can't make sense of COVID-19's enormous death toll [LINK]


COVID-19 Around the World





How close is a coronavirus vaccine? [LINK]

Quarantine ordered for 2,500 students at elite Swiss school [LINK]

Coronavirus updates: Virus may have grown more contagious; Britain may intentionally infect volunteers; US nears 7M cases [LINK]

Signs COVID cases rising in Sweden again 'worrying' says PM Lofven [LINK]

Former 'world's heaviest man' defeats coronavirus - France 24 [LINK]

Poland reports new record daily increase in coronavirus cases [LINK]

Brazilian city ravaged by coronavirus reached herd immunity in just months, study finds [LINK]

'Work from home, don't hug your friends': Swedish PM Stefan Löfven's warning as coronavirus cases rise [LINK]

Israel tightens coronavirus lockdown as infections climb [LINK]

Coronavirus live news: infections surge in Poland after restrictions eased; record new cases in Iran [LINK]




CROWDFUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES



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 6:00pm on Thusday, September 24, 2020

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Weather Briefing for Thursday, September 24, 2020

OUTLOOK

Rain chances increase today into Friday as the remnants of tropical system Beta move across the area. A mainly dry weekend is expected before unsettled weather returns with a cold front next week.






DAY SPONSOR

Macon Media is being underwritten today by Franklin Health & Fitness, home of #ResultsForEveryone.

To see updates related to COVID-19, please click: franklinhealthandfitness.com

There are also On-Demand Fitness Videos located at https://franklinhealthandfitness.com/blog/



Weather Sponsor



Adams Products, a Division of Oldcastle is underwriting the daily weather briefing & public safety updates for the month.

Open 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, M-F, located at 895 Hickory Knoll Road, Franklin, NC. Visit our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Adams.Oldcastle.Franklin.NC/

All your masonry needs are available. Our phone number is 828.524.8545, the public is welcome, we’ll help you with your next project.


---END SPONSOR SEGMENT---



News Brief

See the COVID-19 UPdate from yesterday afternnon. [LINK]

Franklin High School to Begin In-Person Instruction Two Days a Week Beginning Sept 28th

Franklin High School is excited to announce that beginning Monday, 9/28, we will welcome students to campus 2 days per week on the following rotation.
Monday/Wednesday - 9th Grade and 11th Grade
Tuesday/Thursday - 10th Grade and 12th Grade
Friday - Remote learning for all grades.
Please remember that on Fridays, extra help is available for students. Please email the teacher to make an appointment to come in.



General forecast through Saturday night


Today

Patchy fog in the morning. Rain likely. Otherwise, cloudy, with highs in the 60s. Calm winds. Chance of precipitation is near 100%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Tonight

Showers. The rain could be heavy at times. Patchy fog before 2am. Lows in the 50s. Calm winds. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Friday

Showers before 11am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 11am and 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Highs ranging from the upper 60s in the higher elevations to the mid-70s in the lower elevations. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the 50s. Calm winds. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday

A 20 percent chance of showers before 2pm. Partly sunny, with highs in the 70s.

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows mostly in the 50s. Some locations in the lower elevations might stay above 60.



HAZARDS

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

Air Quality

Air quality is in the upper range of green for most of the county and in the mid-range of yellow on the ridges and other higher elevations today.

Pollen

Pollen levels are expected to be very low today (0.6 out of 12) with ragweed, chenopods, and grasses being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be about the same due to frequent rain showers (0.7 out of 12).



TROPICAL WEATHER
(The North Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1st to Nov 30th)

Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
200 AM EDT Thu Sep 24 2020

For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:

The National Hurricane Center has issued the final advisory on Post-Tropical Cyclone Teddy, located near southeastern Labrador, Canada. The Weather Prediction Center is issuing advisories on Post-Tropical Cyclone Beta, located inland near the Louisiana/ Mississippi border.

Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 5 days.






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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 5:00am Thursday, September 24, 2020

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COVID-19 Update for Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Here is an update for this afternoon on how humanity is dealing with the COVID-19 Pandemic that is caused by SARS CoV-2. The story is told through links to news outlets, research papers, and videos. They are presented without comment.

Press Release from Macon County Schools
1:26pm, September 22nd

Franklin High School is excited to announce that beginning Monday, 9/28, we will welcome students to campus 2 days per week on the following rotation.
Monday/Wednesday - 9th Grade and 11th Grade
Tuesday/Thursday - 10th Grade and 12th Grade
Friday - Remote learning for all grades.
Please remember that on Fridays, extra help is available for students. Please email the teacher to make an appointment to come in.



COVID-19 Numbers from Macon County Public Health

Data from Macon County Public Health as of this afternoon and graph by Macon Media of data from May 30th to this afternoon [LINK]




606 Detected Cases (+7 one day)(+23 in one week)
24 Active Positive (+4 in one day)(+3 in one week)
575 Recovered (+3 in one day)(+20 in one week)
7 Deaths (unchanged)(unchanged in one week)

Testing Data for Macon County

5566 MCPH Tests (+41 in one day)(+259 in one week)
2075 Tests by Others (unchanged in one day)(+61 in one week)
7614 Total Tests (+41 in one day)(+320 in one week)
66 Tests Pending Results (-119 in one day)(+15 in one week)

Macon Media posted a COVID-19 update yesterday afternoon. [LINK]

North Carolina Coronavirus Map and Case Count [LINK]

What Is COVID-19? A Patients Guide [LINK]

Resources for Reliable Information about the Corona Virus (COVID-19) [LINK]




Videos

Dr John Campbell

Global Update



Coronavirus Pandemic Update 107: Monoclonal Antibodies for COVID 19 Treatment and Prevention?



Coronavirus Briefing: NC Gov. Roy Cooper (09/22/20)
(repeating from yesterday since there was no briefing today)





COVID's Hidden Toll (full film) | FRONTLINE





Johnson & Johnson starts phase 3 coronavirus vaccine trial





Coronavirus: 6 months later





WATCH: Fauci and Redfield testify in Senate hearing on U.S. coronavirus response








Research Papers, Clinical Trials and News About Such



Silent' wave of neurological consequences may be on its way due to COVID-19 [LINK]

Belief in conspiracy theories is a barrier to controlling spread of COVID-19 [LINK]

Johnson & Johnson Initiates Pivotal Global Phase 3 Clinical Trial of Janssen’s COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate [LINK]


Low plasma 25(OH) vitamin D level is associated with increased risk of COVID‐19 infection: an Israeli population‐based study [LINK]


Parkinsonism as a Third Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic? [LINK]


SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in development [LINK]


Whole Genome Sequencing Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Reinfections Among Healthcare Workers in India with Increased Severity in the Second Episode [LINK]


Bristol scientists make 'game-changing' coronavirus breakthrough [LINK]


Induction of ketosis as a potential therapeutic option to limit hyperglycemia and prevent cytokine storm in COVID-19     [LINK]


Stillbirth rate rises dramatically during pandemic [LINK]

Dynamic Change of COVID-19 Seroprevalence among Asymptomatic Population in Tokyo during the Second Wave [LINK]


Polish company Biomed finished working on effective immunoglobulin made of plasma taken from convalescent Covid patients. Drug will be given to non-commercial clinical trials in Q4 2020. [LINK]


Anti-influenza drug Avigan® Tablet Meets Primary Endpoint in Phase III Clinical Trial in Japan for COVID-19 patients [LINK]


y correlated with the number of COVID-19 cases in Warsaw, Poland [LINK]


Sharing a household with children and risk of COVID-19: a study of over 300,000 adults living in healthcare worker households in Scotland [LINK]




COVID-19 in the USA




Key coronavirus forecast predicts over 410,000 total U.S. deaths by Jan. 1: 'The worst is yet to come' [LINK]

Catching flu and Covid-19 at same time almost doubles risk of death [LINK]

Halloween costume masks doesn't replace face masks, CDC warns [LINK]


West Virginia has stopped reporting school-related COVID-19 cases, despite governor’s transparency pledge[LINK]


Scientists Claim Young Americans More Likely Believe COVID-19 Misinformation [LINK]


Parents sending sick, symptomatic kids to school, health officer says (Wisconsin) [LINK]


Wisconsin breaks record for coronavirus hospitalizations [LINK]


11 Monongalia County bars file suit against local and state officials claiming violations of civil rights during COVID-19 pandemic (West Virginia) [LINK]


Fauci: Navajo Nation model for COVID-19 [LINK]


CDC director's office ordered softening of coronavirus safety protocols for meat plant [LINK]


The Death That Speaks to College Football’s Worst Virus Fear [LINK]


Flu vaccine critical to avoid stretching US healthcare amid Covid, scientists warn [LINK]


F.D.A. to Release Stricter Guidelines for Emergency Vaccine Authorization [LINK]


Only 39% Americans are willing to get the covid vaccine now and numbers falling.... [LINK]




COVID-19 Around the World





Long-term COVID-19 containment will be shaped by strength, duration of immunity - Outbreak News Today [LINK]


Enforcement of COVID regulations in London [LINK]


Second day of no locally-acquired coronavirus cases in NSW, Australia, Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirms [LINK]


Belgium, National Security Council: masks will no longer be mandatory outside, except for crowded places [LINK]


18 Filipinos test positive for coronavirus after returning from Taiwan [LINK]


Finland to deploy coronavirus-sniffing dogs at Helsinki Airport [LINK]


In the Epicenter of Mexico’s Epicenter, Feeling Like a ‘Trapped Animal’ [LINK]


Sweden's high coronavirus death toll could be linked to mild flu seasons, chief scientist says [LINK]


Pandemic slashes worldwide income from work by a tenth: ILO [LINK]


Man told snakeskin isn't a legitimate face covering - 'especially when still attached to the snake' | UK News [LINK]


Russia to register second Covid-19 vaccine by October 15 [LINK]


Israel sees record 6,923 new virus cases as 31 die in one day [LINK]




CROWDFUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES



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 6:00pm on Wednuesday, September 23, 2020

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