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. Very active convective weather is expected to continue through at least Monday. Isolated severe storms and localized flash flooding will be possible during this time. Otherwise, a cooling trend is expected, with well-below normal high temperatures forecast Monday and Tuesday.
2. A return to seasonably hot conditions and typical coverage of heat-driven afternoon showers and storms is expected during the latter half of next week. ↑ Back to Top
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
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.
↑ Back to Top
FORECAST
(since this is a quick forecast intended to cover the whole county, bear in mind that higher elevations may experience cooler temperatures than this and the lower elevations may experience higher temperatures than those in the forecast)
.TODAY....Cloudy. Patchy fog in the morning. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then thunderstorms with showers likely in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. Southeast winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.
.TONIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms likely in the evening. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. East winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.
.TUESDAY...Partly sunny with a chance of showers. A chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. East winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s. East winds around 5 mph.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 80s. Chance of rain 40 percent.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. A chance of showers andthunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the lower 60s. Chance of rain 40 percent.
HAZARDOUS WEATHER
Increasing chance of storms today and this weekend.
POLLEN REPORT
Pollen levels are expected to be in the low range (0.5 out of 12) today with Grasses and Plantain being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be in the low range (0.5 out of 12.0).
↑ Back to Top
MACON CALENDAR
(send your event to editor@maconmedia.com)
Benefit for Randy Drinnon
July 25th at 5pm
Learn more on Facebook
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
7-18-26—Two Troubadours...George James and Gary Gibson.
7-25-2026---Bill Petersen will be singing the blues along with maybe some originals. Then, up from Florida, hear John Bois and the Emotional Support Band.
To find out more about the Greenway and our organization, our website is: littletennessee.org.
↑ Back to Top
WEATHER ALMANAC
Record Weather Events for this date in Macon County (1872-2025)
Highest Temperature 96°F in Franklin in 1954
Lowest Temperature 39°F in Highlands in 1918
Greatest Rainfall 2.08 inches in Highlands in 1898
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
↑ Back to Top
WNC News
Over $3M in FEMA funds missing: western NC town | WLOS-TV Asheville, NC
• Farm & Garden: Black soldier fly compost workshop, Black Jar Honey Contest and more [Mountain Xpress]
• High housing prices, low wages driving young people away from Asheville [Asheville Watchdog]
• WNC Senator who drafted NC's appraisal moratorium may be among those to benefit from it [Asheville Citizen-Times]
↑ Back to Top
NC News
Cyclospora cases increase in NC; here's how to protect yourself | WTVD-TV (Durham, NC)
• State Health Plan ditches Aetna, sends business back to Blue Cross [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]
• Shielded records & stripped money. How NC’s new budget alters college discipline [Raleigh News & Observer]
• Ohio takes best spot for business as North Carolina slips from No. 1 ranking [NC Newsline]
↑ Back to Top
National News
ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - July 12, 2026 | ABC News
Special Report: The political legacy of Senator Lindsey Graham | NBC News
Meet the Press Full Episode — July 12 | NBC News
• Graham death sends shockwaves through Senate [The Hill]
• Sen. Lindsey Graham likely died after aorta tear, medical examiner says [AP News]
• Sen. Mitch McConnell breaks silence, says fall led to hospitalization [Yahoo News]
↑ Back to Top
Flock Cameras and Constitutional Rights
We Hacked Flock Safety Cameras in under 30 Seconds. 🫥 | Benn Jordan
• How Benn Jordan Discovered Flock's Cameras Were Left Streaming to the Internet [404 Media]
• The Supreme Court Just Lit a Fuse Under Flock's License Plate Camera Empire [Yahoo 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
↑ Back to Top
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]
↑ Back to TopSupport Macon Media
• You can now support Macon Media with a $1.99 monthly Facebook subscription at Facebook Subscription
• Become a Patron: patreon.com/MaconMedia
• PayPal: paypal.me/MaconMedia
Published at 6:00am on Monday, July 13, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins
Posts
0 comments :
Post a Comment