ANNOUNCEMENTS
• Town of Franklin Asks Residents to Observe Voluntary Water Restrictions [Macon Media]
• Nine N.C. counties in exceptional drought as statewide drought continues [Macon Media]
WEATHER OUTLOOK
1. Near-normal temperatures with relatively low humidity through Friday, and a near-zero chance of rain.
2. Another frontal system is expected to arrive from the west this weekend, possibly stalling across our area early next week, bringing back high rain chances but also below-normal temperatures.
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SPONSORSHIPS
WEATHER SPONSOR
This space available
This half price sale is for those who sign up during July and remains effect for the rest of the year. Current sponsors receive the half price discount automatically.
DAY SPONSOR
This space available
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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....Patchy fog this morning. Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. North winds around 5 mph.
.TONIGHT....Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 50s. North winds around 5 mph.
.FRIDAY....Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. South winds around 5 mph.
.FRIDAY NIGHT....Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s. Light and variable winds, becoming southeast around 5 mph after midnight.
.SATURDAY....Partly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 70s. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent. .
..SUNDAY....Showers. A chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. Chance of rain 90 percent.
.SUNDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Showers, mainly in the evening. Lows in the mid 60s. Chance of rain 90 percent.
HAZARDOUS WEATHER
Hazardous weather is not expected.
POLLEN REPORT
Pollen levels are expected to be in the medium range (5.2 out of 12) today with Grasses, Plantain, and Nettle being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be in the low-medium range (4.8 out of 3.0).
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MACON CALENDAR
(send your event to editor@maconmedia.com)
Friends of the Greenway would like to invite you to our Christmas in July sale, July 22-25, 9-2 each day. Do some Christmas shopping early with 20% off everything in the Gift Shop. On Saturday, July 25th, have a Christmas cookie and enjoy great music from 11-1. Greenway Visitor Center/FROG Quarters, 573 E Main St, Franklin.
The many ways you can connect to Mountain Findings to arrange donation pick-ups, drop-off location, shopping hours, volunteering, and to learn more on our community grants programs and graduating seniors scholarships.
Facebook: @MountainFindings
Phone: 828-526-9929
Email: MountainFindings1@gmail.com
Webpage: MountainFindings.org
Location: 452 Spruce St, Highlands, NC
LIVE SATURDAY MIDDAY MUSIC CALENDAR FOR JUNE/JULY 2026
11a to 1p at Friends of the Greenway, Inc.
573 E Main St, Franklin, NC 28734
contact: frog28734@gmail.com; 828-369-8488
654:25 AM 7/28/2026 To find out more about the Greenway and our organization, our website is: littletennessee.org.
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WEATHER ALMANAC
Record Weather Events for this date in Macon County (1872-2025)
Highest Temperature 94°F in Franklin in 1952
Lowest Temperature 44°F in Highlands in 1911
Greatest Rainfall 3.00 inches in Highlands in 1878
Record weather events for July in Macon County
Highest Temperature 101°F in Franklin on Jul 29, 1952
Lowest Temperature 34°F in Highlands on Jul 27, 1911
Greatest Rainfall 21.15 inches in Highlands on Jul 29, 1879
Greatest Snowfall no measurable snowfall has been recorded since records started being kept in 1873
Weather Extremes for North Carolina for the month of July
Highest Temperature 109°F Albemarle, Stanly County Jul 28, 1940
Lowest Temperature 32°F Celo, Yancey County Jul 10, 1961
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 21.15 in Highlands, Macon County Jul 29, 1879
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WNC News
• Was there a tornado in western NC? National Weather Service to determine [WLOS-TV Asheville, NC ]
• Public officials receive threats over Flock cameras [The Franklin Press]
• Cowee School Arts and Heritage Center names new leader [Macon Sense]
• Audit details $111 million Helene relief camp bill [Asheville Citizen-Times]
• Will a logging project save the Blue Ridge Parkway from fire — or imperil it [Smoky Mountain News]
• Judge rejects key HCA argument over its obligations for services at Mission Hospital [Asheville Watchdog ]
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NC News
Skyeton: Ukrainian drone company to bring jobs to Cumberland County | WTVD-TV (Durham, NC)
• NC teen, an American citizen, fighting Trump administration over arrest in Cary immigration raid [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]
• NC lawmakers already proposing changes in power, cuts and funding in new budget [Raleigh News & Observer]
• NC Senate approves judicial oversight measure despite warnings of politicization [NC Local]
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National News
Dr. Fauci pleads Fifth during Covid hearing: ABC World News Tonight with David Muir - July 29, 2026 | ABC News
NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas Full Episode - July 29 | NBC News
Former President Biden Audio Recordings with Memoir Ghostwriter | C-SPAN
Washington Today (7-29-26): Dr. Fauci takes 5th at COVID hearing; Fed holds interest rates steady | C-SPAN
• Fauci’s legal protection from pardon, Fifth Amendment is an open question [The Hill]
• Investigation revealed ‘devastating’ reports of sexual misconduct at school supported by Epstein [AP News]
• 5 takeaways on Fauci’s hostile Senate hearing, GOP contempt threats [Yahoo News]
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World News
Freedom of the Sea is Not Free: How War in Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, and Black Sea Overlap | What's Going on With Shipping?
FIFA, Gianni Infantino and the World Cup boycott threat explained | BBC News
• Liveblog: ‘Almost no flames left’ in wildfire near Madrid as southern Europe remains on high alert [France 24]
• Extreme heat returns to the Czech Republic, raising wildfire risk to highest level [TVP World]
• FIFA plan for Kushner-backed $20 billion operation to run World Cup meets fury from Europe’s UEFA [AP News]
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Iran War News
Report: Iran war depletes US supplies | DW News
• Iran Update Special Report, July 29, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]
• Iran war live: US attack kills Iranian couple, toddler on Qeshm Island [AL Jazeera]
• Live Updates: US completes night of strikes on southern Iran, Netanyahu says Trump is in full control of Iran war [Jerusalem Post]
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Russo-Ukraine War
NATO'S Accelerating Rearmament (2026) - Defence Spending, Russia & European Readiness | Perun
Russia sanctions bill passed by U.S. Senate? | World News Tonight | TVP World
• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 29, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]
• At least 14 killed as Russia strikes Ukraine a day after Zelenskyy warning [Al Jazeera]
• Ukraine says it hits 2 major Russian oil refineries hours after Zelenskyy’s meeting with Trump [AP News]
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Financial News
FOMC Press Conference, July 29, 2026 | Federal Reserve
Fed Holds Rates, Three Officials Dissent in Favor of Hike: Fed Special | Bloomberg Television
• A look at the federal funds rate over the past 50 years: How has it changed? [Yahoo Finance]
• Analysis: Fed Chairman Warsh’s credibility in question after leaving interest rates unchanged [CNBC]
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Science News
Massive Structure in the Milky Way Turned Out to Be Something Else | Anton Petrov
• Is NASA’s Swift Boost Mission spinning away? [Astronomy Magazine]
• Scientists Map Moon Regolith to Aid Lunar Bases [Universe Today]
• AI reveals explosive bursts in bird evolution [ScienceDaily]
• This Week's Sky at a Glance, July 24 – August 2 [Sky & Telescope Magazine]
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Technology News
Breakthroughs in Chinese AI models threaten U.S. lead in tech race | PBS NewsHour
• Musk went to “war,” sought jail time for X ad boycotts—but case ends with a whimper [Ars Technica]
• NASA Map Reveals Record Blob of Vacation-Wrecking Seaweed [Gizmodo]
• Copyright Scammers Weaponized Meta’s Rights Manager with Backdating Exploit [Torrent Freaks]
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Interesting Videos
Flock is Tracking People, Not Just Cars | 404 Media
Could We Detect Other Universes? | Q&A 443 | Fraser Cain
The First Exomoon/Exosatellite Discovered ... And its Weird | John Michael Godier
Will non-alcoholic wine save the winemakers? | DW Documentary
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CRYPTO & AI NEWS
The Fed Holds Rates Steady | Bond Market Revolts | Benjamin Cowen
• Flock Cameras Face Growing Backlash as Privacy Concerns Reach Capitol Hill [Decrypt]
• Telegram founder Pavel Durov internationally wanted, Russia’s FSB says [Coin Telegraph]
• $134M in Bitcoin Longs Vaporized as BTC Breaks Below $63K Ahead of Fed Showdown [Bitcoin.com]
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Flock Cameras and Constitutional Rights
We Hacked Flock Safety Cameras in under 30 Seconds. 🫥 | Benn Jordan
• Brickbat: Unlicensed Search [Reason Magazine]
• Police say Flock cameras help solve crimes, but critics call them an invasion of privacy [PBS News]
• Schmidt v. Norfolk [ACLU]
• Chatrie v. United States [SCOTUSblog]
• Under Surveillance: Constitutional Concerns Surrounding Flock Cameras [North Carolina Journal of Law & Technology]
• Research Report on Automatic License Plate Readers: Legal Status and Policy Recommendations for Law Enforcement Use [Brennan Cebnter for Justice]
This Flock Camera Leak is like Netflix For Stalkers | Benn Jordan and 404 Media
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Public Records Request for Macon County Flock Safety Cameras
As an independent citizen journalist covering local government in Macon County for over 16 years, I have submitted a public records request to the Macon County Sheriff’s Office for documents related to the Flock Safety automated license plate reader system. This request seeks contracts, board approvals, usage policies, camera locations, performance data, and related correspondence to promote full transparency and public accountability in how this surveillance technology is funded, deployed, and operated with taxpayer resources. By making these records available, we can separate facts from myths, address community concerns about privacy and effectiveness, and ensure informed civic dialogue about tools that impact public safety and individual rights in our rural mountain community.
| from: | Bobby Coggins robertcogginsjr@gmail.com | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| to: |
| ||
| cc: |
| ||
| date: | Jul 11, 2026, 2:13 AM | ||
| subject: | Public Records Request – Flock Safety Cameras / ALPR / License Plate Reader Contract & Related Documents – Macon County Sheriff’s Office | ||
| mailed-by: | gmail.com |
Sheriff’s Office Public Records Custodian,
Pursuant to the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. Chapter 132), I request the following records related to Flock Safety (or any automated license plate reader/ALPR system):
- All contracts, agreements, amendments, proposals, invoices, payment records, and correspondence between Macon County Sheriff’s Office (or County) and Flock Safety (or Flock Group, Inc.), including any subscription, installation, maintenance, or data access terms.
- Board of Commissioners agendas, minutes, resolutions, motions, or approvals authorizing the purchase, funding, or use of Flock cameras (including budget line items from FY 2023–2024 onward).
- Policies, procedures, manuals, training materials, or guidelines for use of the Flock system by Sheriff’s Office personnel (including access controls, data retention, audit logs, and privacy protections).
- Any usage statistics, reports, or summaries on camera performance, alerts generated, cases assisted, or data shared (redacted as necessary for law enforcement sensitivity).
- Location list or map of all deployed Flock cameras in Macon County.
- Any privacy impact assessments, legal opinions, or correspondence regarding compliance with NC law or data sharing.
Preferred format: Electronic copies (PDF/email) where possible. I am willing to pay reasonable costs; please notify me in advance if fees will exceed $50.
Please provide these records as soon as practicable. If any portion is denied, please provide a written explanation with the specific legal basis and contact information for appeal.
Thank you for your assistance. I can be reached at robertciogginsjr@gmail.com.
Sincerely, Bobby Coggins, Publisher Macon Media [robertciogginsjr@gmail.com]
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Published at 6:00am on Thursday, July 30, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins
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