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Coverage of the meetings of the Macon County Board of County Commissioners.

Franklin Town Board of Aldermen

Coverage of the meetings of the Franklin Town Board of Aldermen.

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Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Weather Briefing for Wednesday, April 29, 2026

4/29/2026 05:13:00 AM , 0 comments






• Town of Franklin Asks Residents to Observe Voluntary Water Restrictions [Macon Media]

• [Public Safety Notifications]

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




NWS GENERAL OUTLOOK

1. Another round of beneficial rain this morning. A cold front brings scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening, a few of which could become strong to severe. Confidence on the severe threat remains low. Yet another round of early morning showers are possible late tonight.

2. The next active system arrives late Friday into Saturday, bringing another round of much-needed rainfall to the western Carolinas.

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....Cloudy this morning, then becoming partly sunny. Patchy fog this morning. A chance of thunderstorms. Showers, mainly this morning. Highs around 70. West winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..TONIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

..THURSDAY....Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the morning.

..THURSDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 40s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.

..FRIDAY....Mostly cloudy. Highs in the lower 60s. Northeast winds around 5 mph, becoming southwest in the afternoon.

..FRIDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the evening, then showers likely after midnight. Lows in the mid 40s. Chance of rain 70 percent.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER



A statewide burn ban issued by the North Carolina Forest Service is currently in place. Open burning of any kind is illegal.

Isolated strong to severe storms will be possible this afternoon and evening. The main concern will be damaging winds and hail.





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




State and Local News


Leaders urge water conservation amid drought in western North Carolina | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)



• North Carolina General Assembly gives final approval to $319M in Medicaid funding [NC Local]

• Protesters flood legislature, succeed in defeating land-grab bill over water access [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• NC 'law-and-order' US Senate nominee Whatley faced arrest in 2015 [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• NC lawmakers scrap controversial land acquisition plan after local outcry [Raleigh News & Observer]


King Charles III State Visit


King Charles III Addresses Joint Meeting of U.S. Congress | C-SPAN



Trump welcomes King Charles III to the White House for events | Associated Press



Trump hosts King Charles III for White House state dinner | Associated Press



• Here’s what’s on the White House’s state dinner menu for King Charles [The Hill]

• Liveblog: King Charles III meets Trump in Oval Office, delivers historic address to Congress in state visit [MS NOW]

Epstein survivor says she is 'disappointed' King Charles did not mention victims in speech | NBC News



• Trump saw 2 kings, Charles saw something much different [Politico Magazine]

• Who is Cole Allen? California man named as suspect in White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting [CBS News]

• 'Our collective strength' -- 4 takeaways from King Charles III's address to Congress [ABC News]

• Five takeaways from the King's historic address to Congress [BBC News]


Iran War News


The Strait of Hormuz Crisis: Week 8 Recap: Competing Blockades and Piracy Surge | What's Going on With Shipping?



Trump lashes out at German Chancellor after Merz' Iran comment | DW News



• Iran Update Special Report, April 28, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• AP News Liveblog [AP News]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Fox News Liveblog [Fox News]

• Tired and worried, seafarers have been stranded in the Persian Gulf for weeks [AP News]

• Is India’s Chabahar dream in Iran dead? [Al Jazeera]

• Trump tells aides to prepare for extended blockade of Iran, WSJ reports [Jerusalem Post]

• Faisal Islam: Why the UAE's exit from Opec is a big deal [BBC News]

Finally free: Minsk regime swaps out Polish-Belarusian journalist | World News Tonight | TVP World





World News


King Charles urges Trump and Congress not to abandon Nato and Ukraine | BBC News



• The international rules-based order is under stress [DW News]

• Appeals court increases ex-President Yoon's sentence to 7 yrs in obstruction of justice case [Yonhap News Agency]

• France urges citizens to leave 'extremely volatile' Mali 'as soon as possible' [France 24]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 28, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

Putin desperate for troops, targets 18,500 foreigners | Morning Report | TVP World




National News


ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - April 28, 2026 | ABC News



Trump's DOJ indicts ex-FBI Director Comey a 2nd time | CNN



• Ex-FBI Director Comey indicted again, in a probe over an online post officials call a Trump threat [AP News]

• 3 days after correspondents’ dinner, FBI still unsure who shot officer outside ballroom [Forbes]

• Trump allies fume over Obama’s post on shooting suspect’s motives [The Hill]

• Exclusive: Trump approval sinks to new low as war with Iran drives cost-of-living concerns [Reuters]

• James Comey indicted again as DOJ probe deepens into ex-FBI chief [Fox News]


Financial News


UAE Exits OPEC, OPEC+; Hormuz Blockade Continues | Horizons Middle East & Africa 4/29/2026 | Bloomberg Television



• Trump's $1.5 Trillion Defense Plan Draws Rare Republican Pushback [Yahoo Finance]

• Here’s everything to expect when the Fed issues its latest interest rate decision Wednesday [CNBC]


Science and Technology


The Level1 Links with Friends Show April 29 2026: Sticker Shocked



• FCC orders review of ABC licenses after Kimmel joke offends Trump and first lady [Ars Technica]

• ‘Never Talk About Goblins’: OpenAI’s Instructions to Codex Have a Weirdly Emphatic No-Creatures Policy [Gizmodo]

• A one-in-a-million supernova seen five times could reveal the Universe’s true speed [Science Daily]

• Beyond the Noise #104: How to be an effective anti-vaccine activist [Microbe TV]

Is There Something Smaller Than Quarks? Experimental Test | Anon Petrov




Crypto News


FOMC: The End of an Era | Benjamin Cowen



• CFTC Backs Prediction Markets in Yet Another Lawsuit Against a State [Decrypt]

• Aptos says its new privacy coin seeks to fix one of crypto’s biggest trade-offs [Coin Telegraph]

• Ethereum ICO Participant Moves $22.88 Million in ETH After 11 Years of Dormancy [Bitcoin.com]
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 6.00am on Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins


Read More

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Weather Briefing for Tuesday, April 28, 2026

4/28/2026 04:36:00 AM , 0 comments






• Town of Franklin Asks Residents to Observe Voluntary Water Restrictions [Macon Media]

• [Public Safety Notifications]

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




NWS GENERAL OUTLOOK

1. Showers and a few storms this morning. Drying this afternoon. Convection returns ahead of a cold front on Wednesday.

2. After a few quiet days late this week, the next active system will arrive Friday night into Saturday. Though it doesn`t look like a great setup for severe weather, it should provide a much-needed round of rainfall for most of the forecast area.

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....Mostly cloudy. Showers likely with a slight chance of thunderstorms this morning. Patchy fog this morning. Highs in the upper 60s. Southwest winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

..TONIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms after midnight. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the mid 50s. Southwest winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..WEDNESDAY....Patchy fog in the morning. Showers in the morning, then showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 70s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..WEDNESDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the upper 40s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

..THURSDAY....Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the morning.

..THURSDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 40s.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER



A statewide burn ban issued by the North Carolina Forest Service is currently in place. Open burning of any kind is illegal.

Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected through Thursday. The potential for widespread severe weather is low at this time, but isolated storms may produce gusty winds, small hail, frequent lightning, and heavy rain.





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




State and Local News


New studio 'Table & Mic' aims to amplify Appalachian voices | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)



• Some NC candidates reject parties. Here’s how they get on your ballot. [NC Local]

• NC lawmakers leave Democratic Party following primary election losses [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• SC measles outbreak, worst in US in 25 years, ends. Here are the stats [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• NC is now one of the 6 worst states for teacher pay, data shows. Where it ranks [Raleigh News & Observer]


April 25th Presidential Assassination Attempt


Torrance man charged with attempted assassination | KTLA-TV (Los Angeles, CA)



Ex-agent weighs in on Secret Service security concerns | PBS NewsHour



Why the planned White House ballroom couldn't host correspondents' dinner | CBS News



• Trump assassination attempt sparks new wave of unfounded conspiracy theories [The Hill]

• Trump reacts to White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting suspect's "manifesto," and more highlights from his "60 Minutes" interview [CBS News]

Mentalist Oz Pearlman describes moments during White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting | NBC News



• In the wake of Saturday’s shooting, the White House blames the left — and the media [Politico Magazine]

• Who is Cole Allen? California man named as suspect in White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting [Fox News]

• Man charged with attempted assassination of Trump in White House correspondents’ dinner shooting [AP News]

• Suspect charged with attempted assassination of Trump at Washington dinner [BBC News]


Iran War News


The Strait of Hormuz Crisis: Week 8 Recap: Competing Blockades and Piracy Surge | What's Going on With Shipping?



German chancellor says Iran is humiliating America | DW News



• Iran Update Special Report, April 27, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• AP News Liveblog [AP News]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• BBC Liveblog [BBC News]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Fox News Liveblog [Fox News]

• Iran’s economy has been battered. Its leaders still think Trump will blink first [AP News]

• Iran offers Hormuz deal without nuclear talks, as it seeks broader buy-in [Al Jazeera]

• Iran clashes with US, UAE, over position in UN nuclear non-proliferation conference [Jerusalem Post]

• 82nd Airborne soldiers train on drone-countering maneuvers used in Ukraine [CBS News]

Trump’s objective to change the Iran regime has failed | John Bolton | DW News





World News


The King arrives in the US, what will it mean for the special relationship? | BBC Newscast | BBC News



• (video) Charles meets Trump: Can the king save the US-UK relationship? [DW News]

• Appeals court increases sentence for ex-first lady to 4 years for corruption [Yonhap News Agency]

• Insurgent alliance strikes at heart of Mali’s junta, exposing limits of Russian protection [France 24]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 27, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

Estonia prepares for possible attack from Russia | News in Depth | TVP World




National News


ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - April 27, 2026 | ABC News



Jimmy Kimmel on Melania & Donald Trump Demanding His Firing & The White House Correspondents’ Dinner | ABC News



• Trumps call for ABC to fire Jimmy Kimmel — again — after morbid joke about first lady [AP News]

• Trump Fired The Entire National Science Board. Here's Why That Matters [Forbes]

• Virginia court rules in favor of Democrats in redistricting case [The Hill]

• Kimmel says his joke was misconstrued, Trump says ABC should fire late-night host [Reuters]

• Jimmy Kimmel remains defiant, insists 'expectant widow' jab against Trumps was about age difference [Fox News]


Financial News


China Forces Meta to Unwind AI Deal as BOJ Turns More Hawkish | Insight with Haslinda Amin 4/28/2026 | Bloomberg Television



• Gold Retreats as Traders Weigh Diplomatic Push to End Iran War [Yahoo Finance]

• BP profits more than double, beating expectations as Iran war boosts oil prices [CNBC]


Science and Technology


The Mystery of Dark Fluid and Dark Radiation | John Michael Godier



• Put it in pencil: NASA’s Artemis III mission will launch no earlier than late 2027 [Ars Technica]

• Nvidia’s Ultimate Laptop CPU Could Break Everything We Know About PC Gaming [Gizmodo]

• This massive 3D map of 47 million galaxies could unlock dark energy [Science Daily]

• TWiV 1317: Dead shrimp walking [Microbe TV]

The Level1 Links with Friends Show April 28 2026: Oshkosh Flock Kibosh




Crypto News


Bitcoin: Battle at the Bear Market Resistance Band | Benjamin Cowen



• Crypto Exchange Gemini Launches Agentic Trading Feature for AI Agents [Decrypt]

• Trump changes tune on prediction markets days after saying he disliked them [Coin Telegraph]

• Aave Releases Technical Plan to Restore rsETH Backing as Defi United’s Coalition Expands [Bitcoin.com]
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 6.00am on Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins


Read More

Monday, April 27, 2026

Weather Briefing for Monday, April 27, 2026

4/27/2026 05:25:00 AM , 0 comments






• Town of Franklin Asks Residents to Observe Voluntary Water Restrictions [Macon Media]

• [Public Safety Notifications]

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




NWS GENERAL OUTLOOK

1. Quiet conditions continue for most of Monday before a decaying convective line crosses the area Tuesday morning.

2. Two frontal systems bring rain chances Wednesday and again early in the weekend.

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....Sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. Southeast winds around 5 mph.

..TONIGHT....Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

..TUESDAY....Showers likely, mainly in the morning. Highs in the upper 60s. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

..TUESDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the evening, then showers with a chance of thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the mid 50s. Southwest winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 80 percent.

..WEDNESDAY....A chance of thunderstorms. Showers. Highs in the upper 60s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain near 100 percent.

..WEDNESDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the upper 40s. Chance of rain 70 percent.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER



A statewide burn ban issued by the North Carolina Forest Service is currently in place. Open burning of any kind is illegal.

Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected Monday through Thursday. The potential for widespread severe weather is low at this time, but isolated storms may produce gusty winds, small hail, frequent lightning, and heavy rain.





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




State and Local News


Senator calls for hospital impact report at HCA stockholder meeting; proposal fails | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)



• Some NC candidates reject parties. Here’s how they get on your ballot. [NC Local]

• Water wars: Booming population, drought driving tension in NC statehouse and beyond [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• Asheville Tourists' celebrate opening day at renamed McCormick Field [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• NC lawmakers used campaign money on travel, food and rent. See top spenders [Raleigh News & Observer]




April 25th Presidential Assassination Attempt


Secret Service react to Shooter at White House Correspondents' Dinner | PBS NewsHour


Security Footage of Secret Service Checkpoint | C-SPAN



White House Correspondents' Association Dinner (Full Video) | PBS NewsHour



D.C. officials share updates on the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting | PBS NewsHour



• WHCA dinner shaken by shooting; Trump evacuated, gunman faces charges [The Hill]

Trump holds press conference after shooting at White House Correspondents' Dinner | PBS NewsHour



Suspect identified in White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting incident | ABC News



• Inside the Ballroom: Chaos and Confusion [Politico Magazine]

• Who is Cole Allen? California man named as suspect in White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting [Fox News]

• Shots fired as gunman charges toward ballroom at White House correspondents’ dinner. Trump unharmed [AP News]

• How gunfire sparked chaos at Trump press dinner [BBC News]


Iran War News


Is the US Blockade Against Iran Really Working? | Sealift & the US Merchant Marine | What's Going on With Shipping?



Trump cancels US delegation trip to Pakistan for Iran peace talks | DW News



• Iran Update Special Report, April 25, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• AP News Liveblog [AP News]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• BBC Liveblog [BBC News]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Fox News Liveblog [Fox News]

• Talks in Pakistan on hold as Iran’s top diplomat leaves Islamabad and Trump’s envoys are a no-show [AP News]

• Iran war: What’s happening on day 58 as Tehran-Washington talks stall? [Al Jazeera]

• US cancels envoy travel, shifts from talks to pressure as Iran’s divisions deepen - analysis [Jerusalem Post]

• In 8 weeks, the Iran war has dented the U.S. economy. The damage could linger, economists say [CBS News]

Trump cancels US delegation trip to Pakistan for Iran peace talks | DW News





World News


Ukraine accuses Russia of 'nuclear terrorism' on 40th anniversary of Chernobyl | BBC News



• Colombia highway bomb attack kills 14 [DW News]

• (Yonhap Interview) UNC deputy chief cautions against changes to 'proven framework' over DMZ control [Yonhap News Agency]

• World leaders react to Washington gala shooting [France 24]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 25, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

Peace talks: Will Putin agree to meet Zelenskyy? | World News Tonight | TVP World




National News


ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - April 25, 2026 | ABC News



• A sudden shift: ICE arrests drop nearly 12% after Minneapolis killings and immigration shake-up [AP News]

• Mexico says 2 US federal agents who died were not authorized to participate in any local operation [Politico]

• Trump looks to dazzle royals while UK’s ‘special relationship’ in peril [The Hill]

• Democrats divided on whether removing Trump is a useful midterm message [Reuters]

• Michelle Obama agrees with Angel Reese’s decision to accept a fine to avoid reporters [Fox News]


Financial News


Bloomberg This Weekend | Mix Messages on Iran Talks, DOJ ends Powell probe, Trump's "Triumphal Arch" | Bloomberg Television



• Why the Iran war might not raise your grocery bill until next year [Yahoo Finance]

• Politics U.S. imposes sanctions on Chinese ‘teapot’ refinery for buying Iranian oil [CNBC]


Science and Technology


Experimental Evidence That Universe Could Just Vanish One Day | Anton Petrov



• Palantir employees are talking about company’s “descent into fascism” [Ars Technica]

• Largest 3D Map of the Universe Is Adding Serious Fuel to the Cosmology Crisis [Gizmodo]

• DNA research just rewrote the origin of human species [Science Daily]

• TWiV 1317: Dead shrimp walking [Microbe TV]

The AI Question that No AI Person Asks | vlogbrothers




Crypto News


Bitcoin: Heikin-Ashi Candles | Benjamin Cowen



• Elon Musk’s Grok Most Likely Among Top AI Models to Reinforce Delusions: Study [Decrypt]

• Trump’s official memecoin extends slide as he hosts exclusive investor gala [Coin Telegraph]

• ‘The Whole World Is a Casino’ – Bitcoin Rallies Again, and so Does Belief – Week in Review [Bitcoin.com]
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 6.00am on Monday, April 27, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins


Read More

Sunday, April 26, 2026

Weather Briefing for Sunday, April 26, 2026

4/26/2026 07:20:00 AM , 0 comments






• Town of Franklin Asks Residents to Observe Voluntary Water Restrictions [Macon Media]

• [Public Safety Notifications]

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




NWS GENERAL OUTLOOK

1. A dry air mass settles into the western Carolinas for Sunday behind a weakening cold front. Seasonable temperatures and dry conditions will continue.

2. A series of storm systems will bring several rounds of rain chances through the week. Confidence in timing and any severe potential remains low at this time.

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....Patchy fog this morning. Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. Northeast winds around 5 mph.

..TONIGHT....Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s. Southeast winds around 5 mph.

..MONDAY....Sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. Southeast winds around 5 mph.

..MONDAY NIGHT....Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s. Southeast winds around 5 mph.

..TUESDAY....Showers. Highs in the mid 60s. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..TUESDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the evening, then showers after midnight. Lows in the mid 50s. Chance of rain 80 percent.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER



A statewide burn ban issued by the North Carolina Forest Service is currently in place. Open burning of any kind is illegal.

Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected Monday through Thursday. The potential for widespread severe weather is low at this time, but isolated storms may produce gusty winds, small hail, frequent lightning, and heavy rain.





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




State and Local News


False school threats strain safety resources and can bring serious charges, police warn | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)



• Law-and-order Senate nominee Michael Whatley faced arrest for skipping court in 2015 NC traffic case [NC Newsline]

• How they voted: NC congressional votes for the week ending April 24 [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• Ingles board fight: Proxy advisors back Sackler-linked firm for board [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• NC Rep. Carla Cunningham switches party affiliation after losing March primary [Raleigh News & Observer]


April 25th Presidential Assassination Attempt


Secret Service react to Shooter at White House Correspondents' Dinner | PBS NewsHour


Security Footage of Secret Service Checkpoint | C-SPAN



White House Correspondents' Association Dinner (Full Video) | PBS NewsHour



D.C. officials share updates on the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting | PBS NewsHour



• WHCA dinner shaken by shooting; Trump evacuated, gunman faces charges [The Hill]

Trump holds press conference after shooting at White House Correspondents' Dinner | PBS NewsHour



Suspect identified in White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting incident | ABC News



• Inside the Ballroom: Chaos and Confusion [Politico Magazine]

• Who is Cole Allen? California man named as suspect in White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting [Fox News]

• Shots fired as gunman charges toward ballroom at White House correspondents’ dinner. Trump unharmed [AP News]

• How gunfire sparked chaos at Trump press dinner [BBC News]


Iran War News


Is the US Blockade Against Iran Really Working? | Sealift & the US Merchant Marine | What's Going on With Shipping?



Trump cancels US delegation trip to Pakistan for Iran peace talks | DW News



• Iran Update Special Report, April 25, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• AP News Liveblog [AP News]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• BBC Liveblog [BBC News]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Fox News Liveblog [Fox News]

• Talks in Pakistan on hold as Iran’s top diplomat leaves Islamabad and Trump’s envoys are a no-show [AP News]

• Iran war: What’s happening on day 58 as Tehran-Washington talks stall? [Al Jazeera]

• US cancels envoy travel, shifts from talks to pressure as Iran’s divisions deepen - analysis [Jerusalem Post]

• In 8 weeks, the Iran war has dented the U.S. economy. The damage could linger, economists say [CBS News]

Trump cancels US delegation trip to Pakistan for Iran peace talks | DW News





World News


Ukraine accuses Russia of 'nuclear terrorism' on 40th anniversary of Chernobyl | BBC News



• Colombia highway bomb attack kills 14 [DW News]

• (Yonhap Interview) UNC deputy chief cautions against changes to 'proven framework' over DMZ control [Yonhap News Agency]

• World leaders react to Washington gala shooting [France 24]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 25, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

Peace talks: Will Putin agree to meet Zelenskyy? | World News Tonight | TVP World




National News


ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - April 25, 2026 | ABC News



• A sudden shift: ICE arrests drop nearly 12% after Minneapolis killings and immigration shake-up [AP News]

• Mexico says 2 US federal agents who died were not authorized to participate in any local operation [Politico]

• Trump looks to dazzle royals while UK’s ‘special relationship’ in peril [The Hill]

• Democrats divided on whether removing Trump is a useful midterm message [Reuters]

• Michelle Obama agrees with Angel Reese’s decision to accept a fine to avoid reporters [Fox News]


Financial News


Bloomberg This Weekend | Mix Messages on Iran Talks, DOJ ends Powell probe, Trump's "Triumphal Arch" | Bloomberg Television



• Why the Iran war might not raise your grocery bill until next year [Yahoo Finance]

• Politics U.S. imposes sanctions on Chinese ‘teapot’ refinery for buying Iranian oil [CNBC]


Science and Technology


Experimental Evidence That Universe Could Just Vanish One Day | Anton Petrov



• Palantir employees are talking about company’s “descent into fascism” [Ars Technica]

• Largest 3D Map of the Universe Is Adding Serious Fuel to the Cosmology Crisis [Gizmodo]

• DNA research just rewrote the origin of human species [Science Daily]

• TWiV 1317: Dead shrimp walking [Microbe TV]

The AI Question that No AI Person Asks | vlogbrothers




Crypto News


Bitcoin: Heikin-Ashi Candles | Benjamin Cowen



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Published at 6.00am on Sunday, April 26, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins


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