NC Senate District 50 Debates at WCU and SCC

WLOS-TV, Western Carolina University’s Public Policy Institute and Department of Political Science and Public Affairs hosted a debate between NC Senator Jim Davis and Jane Hipps in the contest for the 50th District NC Senate. The seat is currently held by Jim Davis.

A full video of that debate is posted below for those of you who could not attend.

WCU Debate taken by Macon Media.



Macon Media was unable to cover the debate between the same two candidates a couple of weeks ago because there was a meeting of the Macon County Commissioners at the same time. The Canary Coalition had a camera at that debate and it is posted here, too.

SCC Debate Video taken by the Canary Coalition




CROWD FUNDING 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.

If you have a business or event you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or underwriting coverage, send an email to editor@MaconMedia.com for more information. Serious inquiries only.

Thank You to the people who have been sending in donations and those businesses who are underwriting coverage of news and events. You have kept Macon Media online.


You can find out more information on how to do that and some of what I plan to accomplish if I reach certain levels of funding at >> https://www.patreon.com/MaconMedia

Read More

WCU Debate Series: Senator Jim Davis faces Jane Hipps

The third debate in the series of debates sponsored by the Public Policy Institute and the Department of Political Science and Public Affairs at Western Carolina University wrapped up last night with incumbent NC Senator Jim Davis facing Jane Hipps in the new College of Health and Human Sevices Building on Little Savannah Road in Cullowhee, NC. The event was moderated by WLOS-TV Anchor Frank Fraboni. Both candidates were impassioned and forceful in making their points. Candidates were interrupted at times by members of the audience who disagreed with what was being said in the debate.

The candidates will face off again at the Burrell Building at Southwestern Community College on October 30th at 7pm.

Video of the full debate is posted below below for those of you who could not attend.

Read More

Congressman Mark Meadows and Tom Hill Debate at WCU

Western Carolina University’s Public Policy Institute and Department of Political Science and Public Affairs sponsored a debate on the WCU campus between Congressman Mark Meadows and challenger Tom Hill last night and Macon Media was there to record it.

I've posted the full video and then broken it up into bite-sized portions and have posted them below so those of you who were unable to attend or watch online can see first hand what happened and make your own judgement about the proceedings.

I would like to acknowledge the public service of Western Carolina University, the Public Policy Institute and the Department of Political Science and Public Affairs, in particular Dr Chris Cooper and Dr Todd Collins for thier work in putting the debate together and Frank Fraboni of WLOS-TV for moderating the debate.

This one of three in a series of debates to be held on the WCU Campus this election season. Find out more about the series on the WCU website.

---

Question #1

If elected, what will be the first piece of legislation you will introduce and how will it affect the citizens of the 11th district?

---

Question #2

Is income inequality a problem, and what role, if any, should the US Congress play in alleviating the problem?

---

Question #3

Would you vote to raise the debt ceiling? Why or why not?

---

Question #4

How will you balance the claim of being fiscally responsible with bringing federal dollars to the district?

---

Question #5

Directed at Congressman Mark Meadows:

What was your role in the government shutdown?
If you had it to do all over again, is there anything you would change about that action?

---

Question #6

Directed at Tom Hill:

Why should the voters elect someone with your lack of experience in elected office and your relatively advanced age?

---

Question #7

What role, if any, should the US Congress have in stopping internetional terrorist organizations, such as ISIS?

---

Question #8

Is the Ukrainian situation a threat to the USA, if so, how should we respond?

---

Question #9

What should the role, if anything, of the US Congress in preventing tragedies and ensuing riots in situations like what recently happened in Ferguson, Missouri?

---

Question #10


Please clarify your position on the Affordable Care Act.

---

Question #11

What is your stance on fracking and what should the role of the US Congress be in the debate over fracking?

---

Question #12

Closing statements by the candidates

Read More

Mark Meadows and Hayden Rogers Debate at WCU

Last night, I covered the NC11 debate at Western Carolina University that took place between Mark Meadows and Hayden Rogers, both vying for the seat of the retiring Congressman Heath Shuler.

Russ Bowen, of WLOS-TV, moderated the debate that was sponsored by the Political Science and Public Affairs Department and the Public Policy Institute at Western Carolina University.

In case you were unable to attend or watch the debate online at WLOS, here is my recording of it that I  took:


It was a spirited debate and I think it contrasted the two candidates for congress very well. In two weeks, one of these men will be the Congressman-elect for our district.

Read More

Appalachian State University to conduct emergency exercise May 19

PRESS RELEASE

BOONE—A full-scale emergency exercise will be conducted May 19 at Appalachian State University. The exercise will run from approximately 7:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the west side of campus in and around the stadium parking lot. One or more buildings on the main campus also might be included in the exercise.

Traffic along Stadium Drive may be limited at times during the exercise.

More than 100 participants, including local and state law enforcement personnel from six agencies, will participate. Other participants will include Watauga Emergency Medical Services and Boone Fire Department.

The university’s emergency Web site (www.emergency.appstate.edu) will include information about the exercise and a link to a mock up of the site that will include information from the exercise to aid in future training scenarios.

The drill is designed to test emergency response and communication capabilities during an emergency. Officials with EnviroSafe are directing the drill in consultation with officials from Appalachian and the University of North Carolina General Administration.

Area residents and motorists should not be alarmed by increased traffic from law enforcement and emergency response vehicles along Rivers Street and Stadium Drive during the day of the drill.

Law enforcement officers participating in the drill will not carry armed weapons. Participants and observers will be identified by specially colored vests and identification badges. Simulated explosions might be heard during the exercise.

This is the second full-scale emergency exercise conducted at Appalachian. The first, in 2009, simulated an active shooter/hostage situation.

The May 19 drill follows a directive from UNC system President Erskine Bowles that all UNC institutions conduct an emergency exercise this school year.

###

I participated in a similar drill last year on the campus of WCU, playing the part of a reporter. Here are some videos I made in March 2009 during the exercise:









Part One











Part Two


You can read my thoughts about the drill at WCU at Video and Thoughts About the WCU Disaster Drill. 


The WCU Reporter has a good article that was published before the event. 


Here is WCU's Emergency Page.

Read More

WCU Cherry Blossoms

I shot this video last year of the Cherry Blossoms on the campus of Western Carolina University. Unfortunately, I was busy this year and didn't have the time to stop and check them out. Maybe next year I'll make time for it...

Read More

WCU YAL Republican Congressional Forum Remixed Video

I didn't like that this forum was only available on You Tube in short segments, but was not able to get around to correcting that until this past weekend.

It took me about an hour to insert all the graphics and my laptop 17 1/2 hours to render the 1 1/2 hour long video and 2 hours to upload it to Blip-TV. I've learned my lesson. No more recording events in HD if I plan on releasing it in segments longer than 10 minutes.

So, here are the four candidates who showed up at that forum:

Read More

An Evening Drive

.

Read More

WCU Young Americans for Liberty Congressional Forum Introductions

Here are the first 5 videos of the Congressional Forum held by the WCU Young Americans for Liberty on Monday night dealing with the introduction of the group, the format and the candidates.

.

Read More

Watch NC 11 Congressional Debate Live; Hosted by WCU Young Americans for Liberty

The player will start playing the event when I start webcasting live, which should be just before 7pm tonight. If you are a webmaster or blogger, feel free to grab the embed code and post it on your own webpage and help spread the word about the candidates, and where they stand on the issues!!! After the event is over, I will replace the live player with the archived recording of the event.

Young Americans for Liberty is a Constitutionally-focused student organization that promotes fiscal responsibility, unabashed individual liberties, and equal legal protection for all.

The goal of this debate is to not only inform students of the candidates and issues surrounding the 2010 election but to seek out candidates who most-closely align with YAL principles.

Visit their facebook page for more information.

Video clips at Ustream


And here is the social stream that will allow you the ability to discuss the event with others on Twitter...




I am looking forward to seeing how the Republican field stacks up tonight.

Read More

Congressman Shuler at WCU Full Event

Congressman Heath Shuler spoke to Students, Faculty and Staff at Western Carolina University yesterday and I broadcast it live in the Internet. I also recorded it, and here is a YouTube playlist of the event.








I've noticed that Congressman Shuler has been making the rounds, giving interviews to friendly media-types and showing up at events which promise to be overwhelmingly attended by members of his own party...or giving private audiences to groups that have to send representatives to discuss issues with him...and forbidding them to record the event for sharing with the voters. This is an elitist Power-Brokering Maneuver that manages to put one more layer between him and the voters, and gives special access to the Congressman that others do not have.


He has managed to insulate himself quite well from Republicans and conservatives. It is too bad that some right-leaning groups have given him a free pass on that...allowing him to claim that he has met with everyone.

Read More

Watch Congressman Shuler Address WCU Students Live at 2pm Today

Congressman Heath Shuler will be addressing students and faculty at Western Carolina University this afternoon at 2pm. I'll have a live-stream of it here, and will be tweeting on it using the #nc11news hastag on twitter.

Read More

Mountain Heritage Day Events Moved to Higher, Drier Ground Map of Venue

The Mountain Heritage Day at Western Carolina University has been moved to a drier location on campus from the now soggy field.


Details can be found on the WCU website.


For a limited time, you can download a PDF version and print out your own map.

Read More

Catamount and Flowers

I took this photo on October 1, 2008 at Western Carolina University.

Read More

Flurries at WCU

And this time it is not a prank!

Check out the video below...



**8.44am** It will take a little bit to process for the full HD video to become available..

**9.02am** View larger size video.

Read More

Freak Snow at WCU: Break Out the 4 x 4's!

It is really getting deep here in Cullowhee, NC...looks like I may have to spend the night here.

Here is another video showing how deep the snow has gotten in the past couple of hours:



Previous coverage of this story:

Freak Snowstorm Update: The Snowball Fights Erupt

Freak Spring Snow in Jackson County

Read More

Freak Snowstorm Update: The Snowball Fights Erupt

The students are freaking out, and making the best of a bad situation and having snowball fights...here is a brief video of one:

The video is still processing as I post, but I thought speed was of the essence here...here is my previous coverage of this breaking event.

Read More

Freak Spring Snow in Jackson County

It is snowing on the campus of Western Carolina University, and it is in the middle 40's.

I shot a quick video, and will be out taking some more this morning as it is not showing any signs of slowing down:

Read More

(VIDEO) Budget Reductions at Western Carolina University

I have the video of WCU Chancellor Bardo discussing the nature of the budget cuts at the University here, and on Conservative Thunder. Unexpected problems at both Youtube and Blip.tv were responsible for the delay in getting the video out the past day or so.

View on ExposureRoom

Read More

The Destruction of Leatherwood Dormitory in HD

Here is the edited video showing a bit more of the destruction of Leatherwood Dormitory at Western Carolina University. Click here for the option of viewing a larger version.




I apologize for the delay in getting this completed video up. I have had terrible transcoding troubles at both blip.tv and youtube. The Bardo speech has been rejected three times for transcoding at blip.tv and I am in the process of chopping it into smaller segments for youtube. The videos take about an hour for every ten minutes to process, and about the same of more at youtube...so it will be slow going.

Read More