Weekend Weather Briefing for Saturday, January 10, 2026

---

• Heavy rain today. High winds and scattered power outages are possible.

• [Public Safety Notifications]

• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]

 
• You can now support Macon Media with a $1.99 monthly Facebook subscription at [LINK]

---

GENERAL OUTLOOK

Temperatures will remain unseasonably warm today. Widespread rainfall ongoing will continue through today and into tonight, until a cold front pushes through the area and dries us out. Temperatures are expected to return to near- or even below-normal Sunday into early next week under building high pressure.

---

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....Showers with a chance of thunderstorms this morning, then showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. Patchy fog. Locally heavy rainfall possible this morning. Highs in the lower 60s. South winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain near 100 percent.

..TONIGHT....Mostly cloudy. A chance of rain showers in the evening. Patchy fog. Much cooler with lows in the upper 20s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph, increasing to 40 mph after midnight. Chance of rain 40 percent.

..SUNDAY....Sunny, blustery and much cooler with highs in the mid 30s. Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.

..SUNDAY NIGHT....Mostly clear. Cold with lows around 20. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

..MONDAY....Sunny. Highs in the mid 40s. Northwest winds around 5 mph.

..MONDAY NIGHT....Clear. Lows in the mid 20s.

---

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

Isolated thunderstorms today could produce damaging wind gusts. In addition, a brief, weak tornado cannot be completely ruled out, resulting in minor structural damage or downed tree limbs.

---

---

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

---

---

State and Local News

---

Thermo Fisher Scientific to lay off hundreds of workers, phase out Weaverville operations | WLOS-TV



• North Carolina confirms 5th measles case as South Carolina's outbreak surges [WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)]

• NC Bishop Barber condemns shooting by ICE agent, promotes Selma-like march for justice [NC Newsline]

• Trump threatens $50 million in funds for NC roads over immigrant concerns [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• Mysterious armed man began shooting at tourist in Great Smoky Mountains, park says [Raleigh News and Observer]

• Curious kids keep the Smokies’ volunteer letter writers busy [Asheville Citizen-Times]

---

Other News

---

Latest details after two shot by Border Patrol agents in Portland | Special Report | CBS News



• UPDATE: Federal agents shoot, injure 2 in East Portland [Portland Tribune]

Hundreds protesting outside downtown Minneapolis hotel where ICE agents are believed to be staying | KARE-TV (Minneapolis, MN)



• How journalists should cover ICE’s fatal shooting of a civilian in Minneapolis [Poynter]

• Political tribalism consumes debate over ICE shooting [Minneapolis Star-Tribune]

• Greenland’s party leaders firmly reject Trump’s push for US control of the island [AP News]

Trump: 'We are going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not' | NBC News



ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - January 9, 2026 | ABC News



Elections in the shadow of war: Contested regions of Myanmar are unsafe for voters | Al Jazeera



• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, January 9, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• Trump says US needs to 'own' Greenland to prevent Russia and China from taking it [BBC News]

• Trump posted some U.S. jobs data before its official release on Friday [Yahoo Finance]

• Trump calls for one-year cap on credit card interest rates at 10% [CNBC]

• World’s Richest Man Says Don’t Bother Saving for Retirement [Gizmodo]

• NASA will evacuate SpaceX Crew-11 astronauts from International Space Station on Jan. 14 [Space.com]

Betelgeuse Update! Evidence of a Wake Formed by Its Partner | Anton Petrov


Unemployment Rate Drops to 4.4% | Ben Cowen

---

---

---

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 8.00am on Saturday, January 10, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins

Read More

North Carolina House Unanimously Passes $464 Million Helene Relief Package

PRESS RELEASE (05-22-2025)

REPRESENTATIVE KARL GILLESPIE 

Raleigh, NC —Today, the North Carolina House of Representatives unanimously passed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 Part II, marking the fifth round of Helene relief funding. The legislation delivers over $464 million to bolster ongoing recovery efforts in Western North Carolina.

The funding package includes substantial investments in critical infrastructure restoration, public facility repairs, and direct relief for small businesses affected by the disaster. The legislation was developed in close collaboration with local governments, nonprofit organizations, and state agencies to ensure that resources are directed where they are most needed.

“We listened to a lot of folks in developing this bill,” stated Rep. Karl E. Gillespie. “We listened to the agencies, we listened to our local governments, the towns and counties and the non-profits. We listened to the folks on the ground. But most importantly, we listened to our constituents. This bill has over $464 million to help the citizens of Western North Carolina. To the people of Western North Carolina, your voice has been heard.”

With unanimous support, this latest round of recovery funding represents a continued and unified commitment by the General Assembly to support communities rebuilding from the storm’s devastation. This legislation is the culmination of several months of work by the NC House Western delegation. The NC House has previously allocated over $1.4 billion in relief before this bill, which would bring the total to $1.85 billion. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Read More

Macon County Board of Commissioners Budget Work Session (05-22-2025)

The Macon County Board of Commissioners will be meeting today, (Thursday, May 22, 2025) at 9am for a budget work session for the 2025-2026 Fiscal Budget for Macon County. Due to illness, Bobby cannot be at the meeting. A live stream from the county is embedded below so you can observe what takes place. A copy of the proposed budget is below the public agenda.

(video) Macon County Commissioners (05-22-2025)

 PUBLIC AGENDA

1. Reconvene and welcome by Chairman Young

2. Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget work session to include the following topics of discussion:

(a) Macon County Schools

(b) Southwestern Community College

(c) Solid Waste Capital Improvement Plan (C.I.P) – Mitch Brigulio,

Davenport & Company, LLC

(d) Fire Departments

• Otto Fire and Rescue

• Cullasaja Gorge Fire and Rescue

• Burningtown-Iotla Fire and Rescue

(e) Emergency Medical Services

3. Other items of discussion

4. Recess/Adjourn

---

Proposed FY2025-2026 BUDGET FOR MACON COUNTY 
(Download 100-page PDF)

---

Support Macon Media

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 7.25am on Thursday, May 22, 2025
Author: Bobby Coggins

Read More

Macon County Board of Commissioners May 2025 Regular Meeting

The Macon County Board of Commissioners will be meeting at 6pm in the commissioners boardroom on the third floor. Access after 5pm will be through the back entrance to the courthouse. If more people arrive than can be accommodated, the meeting may be moved upstairs to the big courtroom on the 4th floor, provided there is no trial underway.

Live Video
(the live video will be replaced a few days later will an edited version that contains graphics. The live video may be deleted).



MACON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS May 13, 2025
6 P.M. AGENDA

1. Call to order and welcome by Chairman Young

2. Announcements
• (A) A public hearing on the fiscal year 2025-26 budget will be held on June 10, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. during the regular meeting of the Macon County Board of Commissioners, in the Commissioners Board Room located at 5 West Main Street, Franklin, NC.

3. Moment of Silence

4. Pledge of Allegiance

5. Public Hearing(s) - None

6. Additions to agenda

7. Public Comment Period

8. Adjustments to and approval of the agenda

9. Reports/Presentations - None
• (A) Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget Presentation - County Manager Warren Cabe
• (B) Annual report for Macon County Sheriff's Department - Sheriff Brent Holbrooks
• (C) Update report for the Broadband Committee - Macon County Broadband Consultant Jeff Lee

10. Old Business
• (A) Update on Franklin High School Project - Carroll Daniel Construction Operations Manager Dave Gotwalt
• (B) Discussion regarding Panther Drive and Porter Street Intersection Redesign - Mr. Cabe

11. New Business
• (A) Discussion and approval of the updated resolution for the Macon County Fire and Rescue Commission - Fire and Rescue Commission Chairman Dustin Pendergrass
• (B) Discussion and consideration of funding for a Fire Safety Trailer for the Macon County Fire and Rescue Commission - Mr. Pendergrass
• (C) Discussion regarding Sheriff's Department Vehicle Request - Mr. Cabe and Sheriff Brent Holbrooks
• (D) Consideration and approval of Public Records Request Process - Human Resource and Safety Director Tammy Keezer
• (E) Update from Burningtown-Iotla Fire and Rescue - Chairman Mike Yacks

12. Consent Agenda - Attachment #12
All items below are considered routine and will be enacted by one motion. No separate discussion will be held except on request of a member of the Board of Commissioners.
• (A) Minutes of the April 8, 2025, Regular Meeting
• (B) Budget Amendments #285-287
• (C) Approval of Macon Aeromodelers Agreement
• (D) Ratify approval of fireworks permit for Parties by Design
• (E) Approval of fireworks permit for Nantahala Volunteer Fire and Rescue
• (F) Approval of fireworks permit for the Town of Franklin
• (G) Approval of fireworks permit for Cool Receptions
• (H) Tax releases for the month of April 2025 in the amount of $2,101.51
• (I) Monthly ad valorem tax collection report - no action necessary

13. Appointments - None

14. Closed session as allowed under NCGS 143-318.11

15. Recess until May 22, 2025, for a budget work session.

Agenda Packet
[Download 60-page PDF]





If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.



Become a Patron!


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


Published at 4.00pm on Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Author: Bobby Coggins

Read More