Thunder Pig

News and Weather Briefing for Thursday, June 11, 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Coggins) — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 09:14:22 +0000

• 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. Mainly diurnal convection into the weekend.

2. Hot and humid conditions develop today and continue into the weekend.

WEATHER SPONSOR

This space available

DAY SPONSOR

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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 sunny. Patchy fog this morning. A chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon. Highs in the lower 80s. West winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

..TONIGHT....Mostly clear. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the mid 60s. West winds around 5 mph.

..FRIDAY....Mostly sunny. Patchy fog in the morning. Highs in the mid 80s. Northwest winds around 5 mph.

..FRIDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. A chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the mid 60s. Northwest winds around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.

..SATURDAY....Mostly sunny. A chance of showers in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 80s. Northwest winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

..SATURDAY NIGHT....A chance of showers in the evening. Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 60s. Chance of rain 40 percent.

..SUNDAY....Partly sunny. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 80s. Chance of rain 70 percent.

..SUNDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then a chance of showers after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. Chance of rain 70 percent.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

Hot and humid conditions are expected again today with heat indexes in the low 90s for valley locations.

Storms are likely on Friday ahead of an approaching front. Some of these storms could be strong to severe with damaging winds as the main threats. Isolated flooding is also possible for places that see repeated rainfall.

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

State and Local News

• Future of the Macon County Library and the Fontana Regional Library Discussed by Commissioners and the Public [ Macon Media ]

(video) Family urges teens to drive safely after crash | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)

• Texts show local GOP leader accusing state officials of ‘trying to strong arm’ polling location vote [NC Local]

• NC lawmaker reverses course, jumps back into competitive 2026 race [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• Amid solid job numbers, a NC economist sees troubling headwinds [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• NC Gov. Josh Stein asks Congress for $10 billion for Helene relief [Raleigh News & Observer]

Iran War News

Why a Middle East Peace Deal Won't Fix the Global Energy Crisis - Schwab Network Interview June 9 | What's Going on With Shipping?

• Iran Update Special Report, June 10, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• AP News Liveblog [AP News]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• France24 Liveblog [France 24]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Fox News Liveblog [Fox News]

• The Latest: Iran and US exchange fire for second day as hostiles escalate in Mideast region [AP News]

• Iran war day 104: Iran attacks US bases, closes strait after Trump strikes [Al Jazeera]

• IRGC general threatens to 'turn entire region into hell' if Strait of Hormuz destabilized [Jerusalem Post]

• US and Iran swap strikes as ceasefire hangs by a thread [DW News]

• Trump blasts Iran, hints at strikes after advanced sea drone rescues US pilots [Fox News]

World News

Ukraine forces Russians out of strategic peninsula | World News Tonight | TVP World

Can Nato survive without the US? | The Security Brief | BBC News

The Situation in Crimea is Spiraling Out of Control | Paul Warburg

Belfast: Judge warns rioters will face prison if brought before the courts | Sky News

• Thousands rally in Albania in largest protest yet against Kushner resort [Al Jazeera]

• Lee says depending on U.S. for defense no longer valid, will boost economic ties [Yonhap News Agency]

• Only 1 in 10 Europeans see US as an ally — study [DW News]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 10, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• Fully autonomous drones have killed human soldiers for the first time [New Scientist]

National News

ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - June 10, 2026 | ABC News

NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - June 10 | U.S. strikes on Iran, Bill Gates grilled, NBA security | NBC News

• A burning cross in a Chicago park shocks residents and has police searching for who did it [AP News]

• NASA Chief Defends Selection of All-Male Crew for Artemis III Mission [Ground News]

• Inflation hits back hard at Trump, who spins heads with comments [The Hill]

• Inside the White House Freakout Over the Epstein Files [New York Times]

• OB-GYN group breaks with CDC, issues maternal vaccine schedule [UPI]

• Fact check: Trump told NBC that he never promised not to start a new war. He did, repeatedly [CNN]

• Karmelo Anthony isolated in jail as track meet killer appeals conviction, preps for prison stint [Fox News]

Financial News

Tech Rout Pushes China Stocks to Brink of Bear Market | 6/11/2026 | Bloomberg Television

• Anthropic CEO says an 'intrinsic' feature of AI may be fewer jobs. His answer? Redistribute the upside. [Yahoo Finance]

• Consumer prices rose 4.2% annually in May, highest in three years [CNBC]

Science and Technology

The Top Land Predator of the Devonian Was a Giant Scorpion | 7 Days of Science

• Z-Library Lets People Run White-Label, Login-Only Pirate Mirrors [Torrent Freak]

• Diabetes org apologizes for ejecting scientists over criticism of Trump [Ars Technica]

• Two Years Later, We’re Finally Learning How a Transformers-Inspired Rover Fared on the Moon [Gizmodo]

• Scientists propose a radical new theory for how life began on Earth [Science Daily]

• Office Hours with Earth's Virology Professor Livestream 6/10/26 8 pm ET [Microbe TV]

Study Solves the Mystery of Why Humans Are Mostly Right Handed | Anton Petrov

AI and Crypto News

Bitcoin: The Cost Basis of the Network | Benjamin Cowen

• Bitcoin Is Getting Closer to the Bottom, But Demand Is Falling: CryptoQuant [Decrypt]

• Bitcoin price may slide toward $30K as institutions dump 450% of daily BTC supply [Coin Telegraph]

• Dragonfly’s Rob Hadick Says Stablecoins Could Grow 10x as Payments Adoption Expands [Bitcoin.com]

"The Fiat System Has Terminal Cancer" - Digital Credit is the Answer | BMP w/ Matt Cole Ep 12 | Bitcoin Magazine

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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.

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Published at 9.00am on Thursday, June 11, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins

Future of the Macon County Library and the Fontana Regional Library Discussed by Commissioners and the Public

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Coggins) — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 21:00:00 +0000

Here is a compilation of the clips where Commissioners and members of the public discussed the Macon County Library and the Fontana Regional Library.

Executive Summary

During the June 9, 2026, Macon County Commissioners meeting, the board discussed the Fontana Regional Library (FRL) funding request and the future of Macon County's library system after Jackson County announced its withdrawal effective July 1, 2026. Public interest was so high that the commissioners had to make use of an overflow room in the Magistrate Courtroom because not everyone could fit in the Commissioners' Boardroom.

Library Discussion Clips

Key Financial Points:

• FRL requested $1,628,276 from Macon County.
• County Manager budgeted $1,249,601 (slightly above last year’s level), anticipating ~$525,000 in excess fund balance returned to Macon County.
• The difference is ~$379,000 more to stay in FRL.
• Jackson County’s exit leaves Macon and Swain (Swain ~6% contribution). Staying in a diminished FRL would require Macon to shoulder a much larger share.

Public comment was lengthy and passionate, reflecting deep divisions between the commissioners and the public commenters over library governance, collection policies, First Amendment concerns, parental rights, board behavior, and the value of regional vs. local control.

After public comment, the board resumed discussion. Several commissioners expressed fiscal concerns about continuing in a diminished FRL (Macon potentially shouldering most of the burden) and favored local control. They also discussed restructuring the Macon County Library advisory board for better geographic representation.

Key Votes:

4-1 motion passed (Commissioner Shields opposed) to give notice of intent to withdraw from the Fontana Regional Library System (effective July 2027, providing a full year to plan and decide).

The board tabled the reappointment of the three expiring Macon County Library Board members to allow time for further planning and potential restructuring of the advisory board.

Overall, the meeting highlighted tensions between fiscal responsibility, local control, continued library services, and community divisions over governance and content policies. The board emphasized ensuring no interruption in services while prioritizing taxpayer interests.

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If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contributing 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 5.00pm on Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins

Angel Medical Center Column for June 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Coggins) — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 16:12:52 +0000

Stay Safe This Summer with Some Simple Strategies

June is one of my favorite months of the year. The temperatures are climbing, and it’s finally getting warm enough to take a dip in a pool or one of our beautiful mountain creeks. One of the most special parts of living in Macon County is that there is water everywhere that we can enjoy and cool off in. Enjoying beautiful waterfalls and river pools or floating along the river in a tube, kayak, or other vessel of choice allows us to really relax. Getting outside, enjoying nature, and fitting in some physical activity are all good for our physical and mental health.

But as good as the water, sun, and outdoors are for our bodies and souls, they also present risks that we should pay attention to. I don’t want to echo the pleas of everyone’s mothers from when they were growing up, but we have to admit, many of their warnings were smart ones. A few of these are, always remember to apply your sunscreen (with at least an SPF of 30), be aware of the critters and insects you might come into contact with, and remember to wear a life jacket if you’re on a kayak, canoe, or boat — but I’ll retire the “Don’t swim for 30 minutes after you eat” advice.

Though summer unfortunately presents a multitude of ways to get hurt, most stem from not being cautious about what you’re doing, respecting the rules around the activity you’re engaged in, and being mindful of potential dangers. Another root cause of summer mishaps and accidents is partaking in too much alcohol consumption or other substances, which inhibit your ability to think clearly and exercise good judgement. Sometimes this combination of factors causes a person to become overconfident and believe they can do something or handle themselves well when they’re really not up to it. This is a recipe for a visit to the Emergency Department.

There are also additional sun safety steps we can take to protect ourselves from harmful UV rays such as staying well-hydrated, and wearing a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face and scalp and sunglasses to shield your eyes from harm. And remember, even if it’s cloudy, those UV rays still get through. I should add too, that infants and the elderly are more vulnerable to the sun than children and adults, and they’re at risk even when they don’t exert themselves.

Hydration is huge too, for our children who are involved in summer sports practices and games, and adults as well. The combination of being active in the heat and sun and not drinking enough water sets us up for three conditions: dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. With heat exhaustion, you sweat profusely and can become dizzy. Rest and rehydrating are the best treatments.

Heat stroke is considered a medical emergency and life-threatening. This is when your temperature exceeds 104 degrees, you stop sweating, and your thinking can even become fuzzy. Heat stroke requires a call to 9-1-1 and immediate medical intervention, because it can cause your organs to shut down.

When I talk about hydration, I mean that you should drink water or a sports drink — alcohol doesn’t hydrate you — in fact, it contributes to dehydration.

A good thing to do when you’re enjoying outdoor activities with your family or friends is to create a “buddy system” where you keep an eye on each other. This way others may recognize when someone in the group is in trouble before they themselves do.

I want to take a moment to give a shout-out to our wonderful athletic trainers who are there to help protect athletes and identify these types of problems, in addition to sports injuries. They are present at practices and games to ensure that players take water breaks, cool down, and take good care of themselves. They’re also specially trained to offer aid if an emergent event occurs. We are so blessed to have our athletic trainers on the sidelines caring for our athletes. Thank you to our team members Lynette and Justin, for all you do to keep our students safe.

No matter what season it is, everyone at Angel Medical Center is committed to caring for our community with expertise and sensitivity. Thank you for trusting us.

Clint Kendall, FACHE, MBA, MSN, BSN, RN, is Chief Executive Officer/Chief Nursing Officer of Angel Medical Center. He started his career as a nurse, and that perspective still informs his work and passion for the patient experience. Clint holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Nursing, and Health Care Management from the University of Phoenix, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Western Carolina University. Clint has also earned the Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) certification, and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE), and the American Nurses Association (ANA).

Macon County Board of Commissioners June 09, 2026 Regular Meeting/Budget Hearing

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Coggins) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 19:31:22 +0000

The Macon County Board of Commissioners will be meeting tonight in the Commissioners Boardroom on the third floor of the Macon County Courthouse. Entry after 5pm will be through the backdoor.

Live Video | Macon County

Public Agenda

1. Call to order and welcome by Chairman Young

2. Announcements

3. Moment of Silence

4. Pledge of Allegiance

5. Public Hearing(s) – 6 P.M.
a. Recommended Fiscal Year 2026-2027

6. Adoption of the FY27 Budget and Budget Ordinance

7. Additions to agenda

8. Public Comment Period

9. Adjustments to and approval of the agenda

10. Reports/Presentations - None

11. Old Business - None

12. New Business
a. Discussion on Revising Fire Department Contracts – County Manager Warren Cabe

13. Consent Agenda
a. Minutes of the May 12, 2026, Regular Meeting, the May 21, 2026, Continued Session/Budget Work Session, and the May 26, 2026 Continued Session/Budget Work Session
b. Amended Minutes of the March 10, 2026, Regular Meeting
c. Budget amendments #368-369
d. Ordinance Amending FY 2025-2026 Budget
e. Capital Project Ordinance Amendment – Recreation Parks Capital Projects
f. Capital Projects Ordinance Amendment – Franklin High School Project
g. Grant Project Ordinance Amendment – Housing Administration
h. Grant Project Ordinance Amendment – Duke Energy 2017 HHF
i. 5311 Certification Resolution – Macon County Transit
j. Macon County Public Health Fee Schedule and Billing Guide
k. Tax Releases for the Month of May 2026 in the Amount of $2,380.75
l. Monthly ad valorem Tax Collection Report – no action necessary

14. Appointments
a. Macon County Public Library Board of Trustees – 3 seats

15. Closed Session as allowed under NCGS 143-318.11

16. Adjourn/Recess

Agenda Packet | (Download 154-page PDF)

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Published at 3.30pm on Wednesday, June 09, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins

News and Weather Briefing for Monday, June 08, 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Coggins) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 09:17:15 +0000

• 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. Mainly diurnal shower and thunderstorm chances expected through the the week.

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. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms this morning, then showers with thunderstorms likely this afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. Northwest winds around 5 mph this morning, becoming light and variable. Chance of rain near 100 percent.

..TONIGHT....Cloudy. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then a chance of showers after midnight. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. Light and variable winds. Chance of rain 70 percent.

..TUESDAY....Patchy fog in the morning. A chance of thunderstorms. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. Light and variable winds, becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain 80 percent.

..TUESDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the lower 60s. Light and variable winds. Chance of rain 50 percent.

..WEDNESDAY....Partly sunny. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 70s. West winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

..WEDNESDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy with showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then partly cloudy after midnight. Lows in the mid 60s. Chance of rain 70 percent.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

Other than areas of dense fog this morning, hazardous weather is not expected today or tonight.

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

State and Local News

(video) As prices stay high, secondhand shopping gains popularity in western North Carolina | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)

• Flesh-eating screwworms head for American livestock [NC Newsline]

• Looking for revenue, NC lawmakers agree to raise taxes on sports gambling operators [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• Baffling. Frustrating. Frightening. What it's like to be sued over medical debt. [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• Man sentenced in shooting of teen who just wanted a ride on Blue Ridge Parkway [Raleigh News & Observer]

Iran War News

The Global Shipping Crisis: 14 Weeks of the Persian Gulf Blockade | What's Going on With Shipping?

• Iran Update Special Report, June 07, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• AP News Liveblog [AP News]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• France24 Liveblog [France 24]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Fox News Liveblog [Fox News]

• Israel and Iran trade strikes, threatening to drag region back to full-scale war [AP News]

• Iran war day 101: Tensions escalate as Iran and Israel trade air attacks [Al Jazeera]

• Israel strikes various targets throughout Iran in response to Iranian missiles, IDF confirms [Jerusalem Post]

• Middle East: UN doubles Lebanon aid appeal amid Israel war [DW News]

• Iran admits extraordinary new detail in Khamenei strike, Trump offered 'way out': expert [Fox News]

World News

Armenia votes in tense election over West or Russia direction | World News Tonight | TVP World

America’s Decline is Worse Than You Think | Paul Warburg

War Briefing looks at 100 days of conflict in Iran | Sky News

• Why is Chinese President Xi Jinping visiting North Korea now? [Al Jazeera]

• N.K. leader's sister says Pyongyang's nuclear status 'irreversible' [Yonhap News Agency]

• UK, Germany, France back direct Ukraine, Russia dialogue [DW News]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 08, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• Armenia PM Pashinyan's ruling party wins landslide election victory [France 24]

National News

ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - June 7, 2026 | ABC News

Meet the Press Full Episode — June 7 | NBC News

Full interview: Trump says Iran ‘is not an endless war’ as conflict reaches 100 days | NBC News

• Police search for suspects in Ohio shooting that wounded 12 near a street festival [AP News]

• Top Valuation Expert Says SpaceX Not Worth Its $1.77T IPO Price [Ground News]

• Four takeaways from Trump’s explosive interview [The Hill]

• NBC News Posts Litany of Fact Checks Following Trump’s Wild Meet the Press Interview [Mediaite]

• 5 hospitalized in mass stabbing incident at New York's Penn Station [UPI]

• California's slow vote count draws scrutiny — here's why it takes longer than other states [UPI]

• Raman overtakes Spencer Pratt in razor-thin race, AP count shows, but race remains uncalled [Fox News]

Financial News

How AI Will Play Out, Explained | Economics Explained

Israel and Iran Trade Missile Attacks, Jeopardizing Peace Talks | Daybreak Europe 06/08/2026 | Bloomberg Television

• Oil Jumps as Iran and Israel Exchange Fire and Tensions Escalate [Yahoo Finance]

• Tech stock sell-off accelerates; SoftBank drops 6% as investors sour on AI-linked names [CNBC]

Science and Technology

The EU Chips Act Has Failed | Asianometry

• YouTube Processed 2.5 Billion Content ID Copyright Claims in 2025 [Torrent Freak]

• Scientists ejected from diabetes conference for distributing journal reprints [Ars Technica]

• ‘Chat Is Dead’: OpenAI Reportedly Planning Radical Changes to ChatGPT [Gizmodo]

• Dementia risk linked to nitrate in drinking water, study finds [Science Daily]

• Immune Booster 29: Immune regulation and science communication with Nicholas Jackson [Microbe TV]

Time May Not Exist | Arvin Ash

AI and Crypto News

Bitcoin: Dubious Speculation | Benjamin Cowen

• Frontier AI Models Can Find Crypto's Biggest Bugs. Experts Warn the Industry Isn't Ready [Decrypt]

• Galaxy drops CLARITY Act odds to 60% as time is running out [Coin Telegraph]

• Bitcoin Risks $55K Slide as Analyst Doubles Down on $100K Target [Bitcoin.com]

The Biggest Macro Opportunity No One Is Talking About - Dan Tapiero | The Wold of All Streets

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Published at 9.00am on Monday, June 08, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins

News and Weather Briefing for Saturday, June 06, 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Coggins) — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 09:23:53 +0000

• 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. Dry and hot conditions today and Sunday. Shower and thunderstorm chances return early next week.

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. Partly sunny. Highs around 80. West winds around 5 mph.

..TONIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Lows around 60. Southwest winds around 5 mph.

..SUNDAY....Mostly cloudy. Highs in the upper 70s. West winds around 5 mph.

..SUNDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s. West winds around 5 mph.

..MONDAY....Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. Northwest winds around 5 mph in the morning, becoming light and variable. Chance of rain 60 percent.

..MONDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then a chance of showers after midnight. Lows in the mid 60s. Chance of rain 60 percent.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

Other than areas of dense fog this morning, hazardous weather is not expected today or tonight.

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

State and Local News

(video) Franklin Town Council June 2026 Meeting | Macon Media

• County Manager Presents Annual Budget Message to County Commissioners [ Macon Media ]

(video) Community reflects amid St. Joseph's Hospital demolition | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)

•State Board of Education warns proposed NC teacher pay plan leaves veterans behind [NC Local]

• State Health Plan hikes prices for older state workers, retirees [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• NC Dems want more information about GOP threats over WCU voting site [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• NC State Health Plan board approves higher costs for some retirees in 2027 [Raleigh News & Observer]

Iran War News

Inside the Hearing: Maritime Administration, Federal Maritime Commission and the Fight for Cargo | What's Going on With Shipping?

• Iran Update Special Report, June 05, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• France24 Liveblog [France 24]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Fox News Liveblog [Fox News]

• US military says it shot down Iranian missiles, drones launched toward Gulf allies, Strait of Hormuz [AP News]

• Iran war day 98: Tehran raises doubts on deal as Lebanon fighting continues [Al Jazeera]

• Iran's military 'totally destroyed' with around 21% missile capacity remaining, Trump claims [Jerusalem Post]

• Germany's Iran war lessons after 100 days [DW News]

• US military intercepts sanctioned ship in Indian Ocean [Fox News]

World News

“Cinderella of Tennis”: Pole Maja Chwalińska eyes the Roland Garros crown | World News Tonight | TVP World

This System Defined The Global Economy For 211 Years | Micro

Why does Zelenskyy feel confident enough to send a 'cheeky' letter to Putin? | War briefing | Sky News

• Arrests of critics in Ghana provokes alarm over free speech under Mahama [Al Jazeera]

• N. Korea's Kim attends navigation test of Kang Kon destroyer [Yonhap News Agency]

• Finland: 4 suspects in sabotage of undersea Estonia cables [DW News]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 05, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• ISS astronauts briefly put on evacuation alert during repair to fix air leak [France 24]

National News

ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - June 5, 2026 | ABC News

NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - June 5 | Space Station leak, Trump exclusive, James Handy stabbed | NBC News

• Trump could also tear down the Statue of Liberty, DOJ argues in defense of White House ballroom [Politico]

• Democrat Xavier Becerra advances to general election in race for California governor [AP News]

• Democrat Xavier Becerra advances to general election in California governor’s race [Ground News]

• USDA confirms second screwworm fly found in Texas [The Hill]

• Treasury Dept. asks banks to look for signs of illegal immigrant labor [UPI]

• Virginia gun sales spike ahead of July 1 assault weapons ban signed by Gov. Spanberger [Fox News]

Financial News

The Biggest Fed Shift Since 2008 Just Started (Most Aren't Ready) | Mark Moss

US Adds 172,000 Jobs in May, Topping All Estimates | Balance of Power: Late Edition 6/5/2026 | Bloomberg Television

• Wall Street's hottest trade is cracking [Yahoo Finance]

• Social media bans on teens risk strengthening Big Tech’s grip on the sector, Bluesky exec warns [CNBC]

Science and Technology

We’ve Been Looking for Aliens for 70 Years. We've Been Doing It Wrong All Along | PBS Space Time

• Vietnam’s Online Piracy Failures Trigger Section 301 Investigation, Tariffs on the Table [Torrent Freak]

• The saga of the International Space Station air leak took a worrying turn Friday [Ars Technica]

• Fusion Power’s Newest Problem Is People Secretly Making Nukes [Gizmodo]

• A tiny atomic shift gives scientists powerful control over metals [Science Daily]

• Immune Booster 29: Immune regulation and science communication with Nicholas Jackson [Microbe TV]

Biggest Nuclear News in My Lifetime | Kyle Hill

Crypto News

Bitcoin Sweeps The February 2026 Low | Benjamin Cowen

• Strategy Shares Fall to 4-Month Low as STRC Dips and Bitcoin Sinks Under $60K [Decrypt]

• Saylor says Bitcoin needs ‘disciplined expansion’ as analysts weigh demand reset [Coin Telegraph]

• 'Too Many Coincidences': Polymarket Accuses Kalshi of Corporate Espionage [Bitcoin.com]

Ben Cowen: Why the BTC Bear Market Isn't Over & the Case for a Q4 Bottom | BMP Ep 11 | Bitcoin Magazine

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Published at 9.00am on Friday, June 05, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins

News and Weather Briefing for Friday, June 05, 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Coggins) — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 08:57:41 +0000

• 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. Dry conditions with a warming trend through Saturday. Shower and thunderstorm chances return early next week.

WEATHER SPONSOR

This space available

DAY SPONSOR

Macon Media is being underwritten today by Bourbon & Bacon. (Formerly Franklin Office Supply)
Visit their store at 161 Highlands Road in Franklin or check out their website at bourbonandbaconfs.com

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 this morning, then becoming partly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. Northwest winds around 5 mph, becoming south this afternoon.

..TONIGHT....Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. Southwest winds around 5 mph.

..SATURDAY....Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. West winds around 5 mph.

..SATURDAY NIGHT....Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows around 60. West winds around 5 mph.

..SUNDAY....Partly sunny. Highs around 80. Northwest winds around 5 mph.

..SUNDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s.

..MONDAY....Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers. A chance ofthunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 70s. Chance of rain 50 percent.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

Other than areas of dense fog this morning, hazardous weather is not expected today or tonight.

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

State and Local News

(video) Franklin Town Council June 2026 Meeting | Macon Media

• County Manager Presents Annual Budget Message to County Commissioners [ Macon Media ]

(video) Overcrowding issues at North Carolina detention center is a safety crisis, sheriff says | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)

• Jackson County Board of Elections Chair alleges pressure from Raleigh and auditor’s office forced his early voting plan vote [NC Local]

• Granny-flat bill stokes power struggle over zoning between state and NC cities [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• North Carolinians on Social Security could see cuts by 2032 [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• Should NC pass a law to protect outdoor pets from extreme weather? [Raleigh News & Observer]

Iran War News

The Felicity Ace Legal Battle: Court Rules on Porsche Battery Fire Claims | What's Going on With Shipping?

• Iran Update Special Report, June 04, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• France24 Liveblog [France 24]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• UN nuclear watchdog says it’s been unable to inspect Iranian facilities [AP News]

• What’s happening on day 96 of Iran war as US, Iran engage in new attacks [Al Jazeera]

• Iran demands frozen assets be released in initial phase of deal with US, leading to stalemate [Jerusalem Post]

• Israel, Lebanon renew ceasefire after US-brokered talks [DW News]

• President Trump says Tehran has not left the negotiating table [Fox News]

World News

Will Chwalińska avenge Świątek’s loss in French Open semis? | World News Tonight | TVP World

This System Defined The Global Economy For 211 Years | Micro

What's happening on the frontline in Ukraine? | War briefing with Professor Michael Clarke | Sky News

• How India’s CBSE exam scandal set off student outrage against PM Modi [Al Jazeera]

• N. Korea's Kim inspects new nuclear facility, vows to 'exponentially' bolster nuclear forces [Yonhap News Agency]

• Ukraine drones hit Saint Petersburg as economic forum starts [DW News]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 03, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• SpaceX eyes $75 billion IPO, valuing company at $1.77 trillion [France 24]

National News

ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - June 3, 2026 | ABC News

NBC Nightly News Full Episode — June 3: Standoff suspect killed, Scott Pelley disputes CBS | NBC News

• Journalist Scott Pelley fired by CBS after ‘60 Minutes’ clash with management [WYFF-TV (Greenville, SC)]

• Trump administration has separated dozens of children from their parents for a second time, AP finds [AP News]

• USDA Investigates Possible New World Screwworm Case in South Texas [Ground News]

• Trump says UFC arena outside White House could be permanent [The Hill]

• Senators debate Trump's 'denaturalization' plans for American citizens [UPI]

• Trump says he will nominate acting AG Todd Blanche to permanently lead Justice Department [Fox News]

Financial News

Every Bond Market In The World Is Breaking | Andrei Jikh

US Seeks To Revive Iran Talks as Israel, Lebanon Reach Ceasefire | Daybreak Europe 06/04/2026 | Bloomberg Television

• Trump's rebuilding his tariffs. They could end up a lot narrower. [Yahoo Finance]

• Finland’s president says EU should expand to 40 states — including Canada [CNBC]

Science and Technology

Richard Feynman is Now A.I. Slop | Kyle Hill

•Streaming Piracy Crackdown ‘KRATOS 2’ Leads to 29 Arrests, Targets Remain Unknown [Torrent Freak]

• Flesh-eating screwworm infection confirmed in South Texas, USDA says [Ars Technica]

• China-Linked Spies Are Reportedly Using Job Platform Scams to Harvest Intel [Gizmodo]

• Scientists discover a quantum effect that could eliminate batteries [Science Daily]

• TWiV 1327: Influenza viruses in the MIST [Microbe TV]

Study Suggests Spacetime Can Crystallize Possibly Solving Several Mysteries | Anton Petrov

Crypto News

QMn7cm4nfYU | Benjamin Cowen

• As Oil Moves Higher, Bitcoin Sinks to Lowest Price Since March [Decrypt]

• Over $600M in Bitcoin longs liquidated as BTC dips toward $60K [Coin Telegraph]

• George Santos Hyped His State of the Union Seat, Then Bet He Wouldn't Show [Bitcoin.com]

Ben Cowen: Why the BTC Bear Market Isn't Over & the Case for a Q4 Bottom | BMP Ep 11 | Bitcoin Magazine

Support Macon Media

• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]

Become a Patron!

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

Published at 9.00am on Friday, June 05, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins

News and Weather Briefing for Thursday, June 04, 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Coggins) — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 10:11:22 +0000

• 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. Dry conditions with a warming trend through Saturday. Shower and thunderstorm chances return early next week.

WEATHER SPONSOR

This space available

DAY SPONSOR

Macon Media is being underwritten today by Bourbon & Bacon. (Formerly Franklin Office Supply)
Visit their store at 161 Highlands Road in Franklin or check out their website at bourbonandbaconfs.com

GENERAL FORECAST

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

Other than areas of dense fog this morning, hazardous weather is not expected today or tonight.

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

State and Local News

(video) Franklin Town Council June 2026 Meeting | Macon Media

• County Manager Presents Annual Budget Message to County Commissioners [ Macon Media ]

(video) Tracking the Tropics | 2026 hurricane season outlook | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)

• Jackson County Board of Elections Chair alleges pressure from Raleigh and auditor’s office forced his early voting plan vote [NC Local]

• NC lawmakers enact education tax-break bill, adopting Trump policy by overriding Stein veto [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• Construction begins on new Upper Falls trail at Graveyard Fields [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• Republican officials say GOP and NC auditor pressured them to reject voting site [Raleigh News & Observer]

Iran War News

The Felicity Ace Legal Battle: Court Rules on Porsche Battery Fire Claims | What's Going on With Shipping?

• Iran Update Special Report, June 03, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• France24 Liveblog [France 24]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• House approves war powers resolution to halt military action against Iran in a rebuke of Trump [AP News]

• What’s happening on day 96 of Iran war as US, Iran engage in new attacks [Al Jazeera]

• Iran demands frozen assets be released in initial phase of deal with US, leading to stalemate [Jerusalem Post]

• Israel, Lebanon renew ceasefire after US-brokered talks [DW News]

• President Trump says Tehran has not left the negotiating table [Fox News]

World News

National News

Financial News

Science and Technology

Crypto News

Support Macon Media

• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]

Become a Patron!

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

Published at 9.00am on Thursday, June 04, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins

News and Weather Briefing for Wednesday, June 03, 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Coggins) — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 09:05:26 +0000

• 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. Mountain valley fog...some locally dense will dissipate shortly after sunrise. Dry with a warming trend today through Saturday. Shower and thunderstorm chances return early next week.

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 lower 70s. East winds around 5 mph.

.TONIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Southeast winds around 5 mph.

.THURSDAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. North winds around 5 mph, becoming south in the afternoon.

.THURSDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s. South winds around 5 mph, becoming north after midnight.

.FRIDAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. North winds around 5 mph, becoming south in the afternoon.

.FRIDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

Other than areas of dense fog this morning, hazardous weather is not expected today or tonight.

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

State and Local News

(video) Franklin Town Council June 2026 Meeting | Macon Media

• County Manager Presents Annual Budget Message to County Commissioners [ Macon Media ]

(video) What will a rebuilt fish hatchery include? | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)

• Will NC lawmakers make their deadline for a budget deal? Stein is unconvinced, but hopeful. [NC Local]

• Should NC schools use more remote days for bad weather? [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• Teen and man indicted in Fairview triple homicide [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• After Uber driver’s killing, NC lawmakers target rideshare safety gaps [Raleigh News & Observer]

Iran War News

The Felicity Ace Legal Battle: Court Rules on Porsche Battery Fire Claims | What's Going on With Shipping?

• Iran Update Special Report, June 02, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• France24 Liveblog [France 24]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Fox News Liveblog [Fox News]

• Powerful Iran-backed militias in Iraq say they will start handing in weapons to authorities [AP News]

• Iran war day 95: Trump pushes Lebanon truce after Tehran vows to end talks [Al Jazeera]

• Hezbollah drone solution to be implemented in coming days, PM reportedly tells n. council head [Jerusalem Post]

• US-Iran talks appear stalled as Trump claims otherwise [DW News]

• US ally answers Trump's call on Strait of Hormuz: 'Part of a diplomatic effort' [Fox News]

World News

EU puts its foot down regarding illegal migration | World News Tonight | TVP World

If you wanted to hurt America, start here | CaspianReport

• Is the Great Nicobar Island India’s Hormuz-like chokepoint against China? [Al Jazeera]

• S. Koreans vote in high-stakes local elections seen as key test for Lee [Yonhap News Agency]

• Unpacking Germany's campaign for a UN Security Council seat [DW News]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 02, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• WHO reports dramatic drop in suspected Ebola cases from over 900 to 116 [France 24]

National News

ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - June 2, 2026 | ABC News

NBC Nightly News Full Episode — June 2 | NBC News

• Journalist Scott Pelley fired by CBS after ‘60 Minutes’ clash with management [WYFF-TV (Greenville, SC)]

• Takeaways from Tuesday’s primaries as Democrats try to make Iowa inroads and defend California [AP News]

• Pentagon Hires Elias Irizarry, Convicted in Jan. 6 Case, for Counterterrorism Role [Ground News]

• Thune on Pulte pick: ‘We don’t need a weaponized’ director of national intelligence [The Hill]

• Saildrones head into hurricanes for sixth straight year [UPI]

• Illegal immigrant flashes courtroom grin after allegedly killing baby, mother and grandmother [Fox News]

Financial News

Trump Tariffs: China, UK, Europe Among US Trade Partners Targeted | Daybreak Europe 06/03/2026 | Bloomberg Television

• The Uncomfortable Truth MAHA Is Exposing About US Healthcare [Yahoo Finance]

• Investors bet humanoid robots will transform industry and homes over the next decade [CNBC]

Science and Technology

The Level1 Links with Friends Show June 3 2026: $tar Citizen

• Google’s Top DMCA Sender Plateaus at 70 Million Takedowns Per Week [Torrent Freak]

• An OpenAI model solved a famous math problem that stumped humans for 80 years [Ars Technica]

• Microsoft’s Big New Idea for AI Gadgets Is a Badge With a Camera [Gizmodo]

• Scientists confirm a deep earthquake that shouldn't exist [Science Daily]

• TWiV 1327: Influenza viruses in the MIST [Microbe TV]

What Cool Payloads Will Starship Launch? | Q&A 428 | Scott Manley

Crypto News

Bitcoin: A Date with Destiny | Benjamin Cowen

• Microsoft Reveals '1,000x More Reliable' Quantum Chip as Bitcoin Threat Draws Nearer [Decrypt]

• Bitcoin falls below $66K as US and Iran launch new strikes [Coin Telegraph]

• El Salvador Buys the Dip as Bitcoin Slides Under $66,000, Reserve Nears 7,600 BTC [Bitcoin.com]

Ben Cowen: Why the BTC Bear Market Isn't Over & the Case for a Q4 Bottom | BMP Ep 11 | Bitcoin Magazine

Support Macon Media

• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]

Become a Patron!

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

Published at 9.00am on Wednesday, June 03, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins

News and Weather Briefing for Tuesday, June 02, 2026 Executive Summary of the June 2026 Franklin Town Council Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Coggins) — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 09:10:58 +0000

• 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. Much cooler today with scattered showers and isolated mountain thunderstorms.

2. Dry/convection-free weather with a warming trend Wednesday through the end of the week.

WEATHER SPONSOR

This space available

DAY SPONSOR

This space available

GENERAL FORECAST

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

Hazardous weather is not expected today or tonight.

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

State and Local News

Executive Summary of the June 2026 Regular Meeting of the Franklin Town Council

The Franklin Town Council held its regular meeting on June 1, 2026. Key highlights included the formal recognition and pinning of Justin Setzer as the new Fire Chief, unanimous adoption of two resolutions (one encouraging collaborative healthcare improvements with Mission Health/HCA, and one supporting the 25th anniversary of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule), and a call for a public hearing on a one-year moratorium on new data centers.

The Council conducted public hearings on a rezoning request, a development agreement with Duke Energy for greenway access, and the FY 2026-2027 budget. In old business, they approved a partial refund of tap fees for a canceled project with amended conditions. New business approvals included a contract for the Cartoogechaye Creek boardwalk and a Davis-Bacon compliance change order to secure federal funding. Departmental updates covered HR benefits, tax collections/events, and fire operations. All votes were unanimous. The meeting emphasized infrastructure, economic development, conservation, and fiscal responsibility with no tax rate increase in the proposed budget.

List of Votes and Results (All unanimous unless noted)

.• Excuse Councilman Collins: Carried
.• Adopt agenda: Carried
.• Approve consent agenda (minutes, budget amendment, tax releases): Carried
.• Resolution on Healthcare Services in Western NC: Carried
.• Resolution Recognizing 25th Anniversary of Roadless Rule: Carried
.• Call for Public Hearing on Data Center Moratorium (July 6): Carried
.• Public Hearing / Rezoning (503 Dowdle Mountain Road, R-1 to C-2): Approved (implied after hearing)
.• Public Hearing / Duke Energy Development Agreement: Approved (implied)
.• Public Hearing / FY 2026-27 Budget: ($14,726,123) Approved (implied)
.• Old Business – Tap Fee Refund (amended motion with policy development): Carried
.• New Business – Boardwalk Contract with Bridge Builders LLC ($207,800): Carried
.• New Business – Change Order #2 (Clearwell/Pump Station, Davis-Bacon, $21,372) + related budget amendments: Carried
.• Adjourn: Carried

The next regular meeting of the town council will be at 6pm on Monday, July 6, 2026.

• Macon County Board of Commissioners: Downloadable Agenda Packet and Live Video of Meeting [ Macon Media]

• Proposed 2026-2027 Budget for the Town of Franklin [Google Drive (89 page PDF)]

• Proposed 2026-2027 Budget for the Town of Franklin [Google Drive (89 page PDF)]

• County Manager Presents Annual Budget Message to County Commissioners [ Macon Media ]

(video) New grant program targets lingering Helene recovery gaps for Asheville businesses | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)

Why a 'quieter' 2026 hurricane forecast can be dangerous for North Carolina | WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)

• Here’s where NC homeowners pay the least and most property tax as voters, lawmakers eye changes [NC Local]

• NC officials raise concerns about marijuana-impaired driving enforcement [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• Forest research sites in WNC spared from federal cuts [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• As Canes tickets top $1,000, state lawmakers push bill to crack down on bots [Raleigh News & Observer]

Iran War News

Strait of Hormuz Week 13 Update: Mines, Blockades, and "Dark" Ships | What's Going on With Shipping?

• Iran Update Special Report, May 31, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• France24 Liveblog [France 24]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Fox News Liveblog [Fox News]

• US bombs Iranian military sites and Kuwait is hit by drone and missile fire [AP News]

• Iran war day 93: Trump won’t ‘rush’ deal; Israel expands Lebanon invasion [Al Jazeera]

• IDF takes control of Beaufort Ridge, but Hezbollah aerial strikes continue uninterrupted [Jerusalem Post]

• Iran war: US to lift naval blockade of ports, Trump says [DW News]

• (video) US has to put the provisions in place knowing how 'diabolical' Iranian regime is: Gen. Jack Keane [Fox News]

World News

No ceasefire, no talks: Moscow is not serious about peace | World News Tonight | TVP World

US, UK and Australia to develop unmanned undersea vehicles | BBC News

• Dozens killed in explosives depot blast in northeast Myanmar [Al Jazeera]

• Death toll rises to 5 in Hanwha Aerospace explosion [Yonhap News Agency]

• Germany news: Most expect AfD state premier after elections [DW News]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 31, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• France and allies intercept sanctioned Russian oil tanker in Atlantic [France 24]

National News

ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - May 31, 2026 | ABC News

Meet the Press Full Episode — May 31 | NBC News

• Why Peter Thiel Is Decamping to the End of the World [New York Times]

• Jerome Powell uses JFK award speech to warn against political pressure on Fed, courts and schools [AP News]

• CERN Finds High-Significance Hint of Physics Beyond Standard Model [Ground News]

• Trump says ‘cancel’ concert for America’s 250th birthday [The Hill]

• Newark, N.J., imposes curfew amid immigration facility protests [UPI]

• Agitators outside Delaney Hall set up organized logistics operation before Newark protests began [Fox News]

Financial News

Iran War: Ceasefire Deal in Doubt as Israel Steps up Lebanon Offensive | Daybreak Europe 06/01/2026 | Bloomberg Television

• A jobs report, more big chip earnings, and sticky inflation: What to watch this week [Yahoo Finance]

• Oil jumps 2% as Israel expands Lebanon offensive, rattling ceasefire hopes [CNBC]

Science and Technology

SpaceX Starts Pad 2 Inspections After Flight 12 Mishap | Starship Update | NASASpaceflight

• The Pirate Bay Remains Resilient, 20 Years After The Raid [Torrent Freak]

• Here’s why the failure of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket is so catastrophic [Ars Technica]

• As 1 Million New Car Buyers Vanish From U.S. Economy, a New Car Increasingly Becomes a Distant Dream [Gizmodo]

• This strange crystal acts like metal and glass at the same time [Science Daily]

• TWiV 1326: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin [Microbe TV]

NASA's Moon Base Plans - Will Blue Origin's Disaster Change Things? | Scott Manley

Crypto News

Bitcoin Closes Below the Bear Market Resistance Band | Benjamin Cowen

• How President Trump’s Immigration Order Will Feed the Stablecoin Economy, Bitcoin ATMs [Decrypt]

• NYDIG suggests $1.3B IBIT sale was whale exiting directional trade [Coin Telegraph]

• Powell Warns the Federal Reserve Won't Survive if a President Can Fire Officials Over Policy [Bitcoin.com]

Bitcoin Is About To DEVOUR $300 Trillion - Strive CEO Matt Cole | The Wolf Of All Streets

Support Macon Media

• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]

Become a Patron!

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

Published at 9.00am on Tuesday, June 02, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins

Planned Water Service Interruption – Thursday, June 4 – Town Mountain Road Area

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Coggins) — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 13:43:16 +0000

From the Town of Franklin (06-01-2026)

The Town of Franklin will be replacing three (3) fire hydrants in the Town Mountain Area on Thursday, June 4, 2026 which will result in a water service interruption. Water service will be interrupted for several hours beginning at 8:00 a.m. until mid-to-late afternoon.

Planned Water Service Interruption – Thursday, June 4 – Town Mountain Road Area

The Town of Franklin will be replacing three (3) fire hydrants in the area of Town Mountain on Thursday, June 4, 2026. Work will begin at 8:00 a.m. and should conclude by mid-to-late afternoon.

This replacement and installation will require water service to be interrupted for several hours as they complete this task. Door hangers with a service interruption notice are being placed at homes and businesses within the impacted area beginning today, June 1, 2026 and information is being shared via town website and other media outlets.

Impacted streets include: Town Mountain Drive, Kingwood Circle, Greenbrier Street, Lion Street, Foxfire Street, Skylark Street, Starfire Street, Lamplighter Street, Ridge Street and a portion of Clyde Street. The notice includes instructions to close all taps and faucets during the service interruption and recommends filling the bathtub or large containers to allow for use during the service interruption for flushing of toilets. Following the repair, water may appear cloudy or contain small particulates and customers are asked to run water until it clears.

The Town does not anticipate having to issue a boil water advisory with this water line service, and information will be shared via website and social media as soon as service has been restored. Should you have any questions, please contact Public Works at 828-524-2516.

News and Weather Briefing for Monday, June 01, 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Coggins) — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 09:06:43 +0000

• 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. Scattered showers and thunderstorms develop this afternoon, with a marginal risk for severe storms, mainly across the southern half of the area. Temperatures rebound to near-normal today, with a return to cooler conditions Tuesday.

2. Dry conditions are expected from Wednesday through Saturday. A warming trend begins Wednesday, with a return to near-normal temperatures expected by the weekend.

WEATHER SPONSOR

This space available

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.

GENERAL FORECAST

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

A cluster of thunderstorms are expected to move into the area from the northwest this afternoon and evening. A few of these storms may become strong to severe, with damaging winds and hail the primary threat, with the most likely area to see severe storms being in the southern Cumberland plateau southern Tennessee valley. If all things line up, the environment is supportive of winds up to 65 mph and 1 to 1.5 inch hail.

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

State and Local News

• Proposed 2026-2027 Budget for the Town of Franklin [Google Drive (89 page PDF)]

• County Manager Presents Annual Budget Message to County Commissioners [ Macon Media ]

(video) Bill to allow first responders to retire earlier could face setbacks | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)

NC's rural hospitals to feel impact of Medicaid cuts | WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)

• What the U.S. Forest Service’s restructuring means for WNC [NC Local]

• SBI investigates Shelby police officer for excessive force [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• Asheville mayoral candidates call housing and affordability a 'crisis' [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• NC lawmakers return from break with budget pending. Catch up on what they’re doing [Raleigh News & Observer]

Iran War News

World News

National News

Financial News

Science and Technology

Is Transhumanism the Great Filter? | John Michael Godier

• The Pirate Bay Remains Resilient, 20 Years After The Raid [Torrent Freak]

• Here’s why the failure of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket is so catastrophic [Ars Technica]

• As 1 Million New Car Buyers Vanish From U.S. Economy, a New Car Increasingly Becomes a Distant Dream [Gizmodo]

• This strange crystal acts like metal and glass at the same time [Science Daily]

• TWiV 1326: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin [Microbe TV]

NASA's Moon Base Plans - Will Blue Origin's Disaster Change Things? | Scott Manley

Crypto News

Support Macon Media

• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]

Become a Patron!

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

Published at 9.00am on Monday, June 01, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins

Weekend Weather Briefing for Sunday, May 31, 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Coggins) — Sun, 31 May 2026 08:02:35 +0000

• 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. Cooler and dry for much of the area today, with rain chances increasing from the south again tonight into Monday. The potential for locally heavy rainfall will continue, while a slight increase in the threat of severe storms is expected Monday.

2. Cooler than normal weather is expected during mid-week, with a warming trend expected beginning Thursday. Otherwise, mostly dry conditions from Tuesday onward.

WEATHER SPONSOR

This space available

DAY SPONSOR

This space available

GENERAL FORECAST

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

Hazardous weather is not expected today or tonight.

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

State and Local News

• Proposed 2026-2027 Budget for the Town of Franklin [Google Drive (89 page PDF)]

• County Manager Presents Annual Budget Message to County Commissioners [ Macon Media ]

(video) Property tax auction in western NC | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)

Multiple manslaughter charges filed against bus driver after deadly I 95 crash | WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)

• What the U.S. Forest Service’s restructuring means for WNC [NC Local]

• Bipartisan NC bill aims to make it easier to prosecute gang-related crime [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• Asheville mayoral candidates call housing and affordability a 'crisis' [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• NC officer who was filmed beating woman has been fired, police chief says [Raleigh News & Observer]

Iran War News

Why Russia is the Real Winner of the Battle for the Strait of Hormuz | What's Going on With Shipping?

US and Iran reach tentative deal to extend ceasefire, US sources say | BBC News

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

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• France24 Liveblog [France 24]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Fox News Liveblog [Fox News]

• US and Iranian negotiators reach tentative deal to extend ceasefire and start new nuclear talks [AP News]

• What’s happening on Iran war day 90 as US launches new strikes [Al Jazeera]

• Trump's refusal to return to war with Iran will 'cost him dearly', Saudi expert claims [Jerusalem Post]

• Civilians in Lebanon hit hardest as Israel targets Hezbollah [DW News]

• (video) Hezbollah has rendered much of northern Israel uninhabitable, Michael Oren says [Fox News]

World News

Ukraine and Sweden seal fighter jet deal | World News Tonight | TVP World

Russia is ‘relentlessly targeting’ the UK: This Is Why | Professor Michael Clarke analysis | Sky News

• Mexico backs amendment to annul election results over foreign interference [Al Jazeera]

• House draft of 2027 U.S. defense bill reinforces language on maintaining USFK troop levels [Yonhap News Agency]

• Russia drone breaches Romania airspace during Ukraine attack [DW News]

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

• Liveblog: NATO condemns 'Russia's recklessness' after drone hit apartment building in Romania [DW News]

National News

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

NBC Nightly News Full Episode - May 28 | NBC News

• Explosion and fire at a Dallas apartment building kills at least 3 people, including a child [AP News]

• Blue Origin rocket explodes ahead of satellite launch [Ground News]

• US Treasury secretary confirms plans for $250 bill featuring Trump’s face [Al Jazeera]

• ‘No Kings’ movement planning nationwide event on Trump 80th birthday [The Hill]

• Calif. teen wins Scripps National Spelling Bee in dramatic spell-off [UPI]

• Hawaii police arrest 'armed and extremely dangerous' man suspected in three killings on the Big Island [Fox News]

Financial News

SpaceX Cuts IPO Valuation By $200 Billion | Daybreak Europe 05/29/2026 | Bloomberg Television

• Rising prices take center stage as Fed's preferred inflation measure heated up further in April [Yahoo Finance]

• Strait of Hormuz shutdown: A visual guide to world’s most critical oil chokepoint [CNBC]

Science and Technology

Blue Origin's Rocket Explosion - How Bad Is It? | Scott Manley

• Mexican President Responds to World Cup Piracy Concerns, Prefers ‘Open’ Broadcasts [Torrent Freak]

• The most spectacular rocket explosion since N1 just happened in Florida [Ars Technica]

• Why Would Someone Publicly Burn $8 Million Worth of Bitcoin? Theories Are Flying [Gizmodo]

• Rogue planet moons could harbor alien life for billions of years [Science Daily]

• Infectious Disease Puscast #107 [Microbe TV]

Time Itself Seems to Have a Limit of Precision Due to a Quantum Physics Model | Anton Petrov

Crypto News

Bitcoin: The Window of Weakness | Benjamin Cowen

• Bitcoin Whales Are Pulling Back as Activity 'Mirrors' 2022 Bear Market: Analysts [Decrypt]

• Fidelity Digital Assets highlights 'growing evidence' of shift from dollar-based systems [Coin Telegraph]

• Stake DAO Freezes Arbitrum vsdCRV Markets After Attacker Mints 5.4T Synthetic Tokens [Bitcoin.com]

Bitcoin CRASHES To $73K As US Bombs Iran And ETFs Bleed $733M | The Wolf Of All Streets

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Published at 9.00am on Sunday, May 31, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins

Weather Briefing for Friday, May 29, 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Coggins) — Fri, 29 May 2026 09:00:15 +0000

• 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. The potential for isolated heavy rainfall and flash flooding returns tonight into Saturday, as a front moves back into the area. One last round of convection is anticipated Monday before the front finally clears the region. Temperatures trend below normal for the weekend.

2. Dry and cooler than normal weather is expected Tuesday through at least Thursday.

WEATHER SPONSOR

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DAY SPONSOR

Macon Media is being underwritten today by Bourbon & Bacon. (Formerly Franklin Office Supply)
Visit their store at 161 Highlands Road in Franklin or check out their website at bourbonandbaconfs.com

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....Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. Southeast winds around 5 mph.

..TONIGHT....Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then showers likely after midnight. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

..SATURDAY....Patchy fog in the morning. Showers likely in the morning, then showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 70s. North winds around 5 mph in the morning, becoming light and variable. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..SATURDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the mid 50s. East winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

..SUNDAY....Mostly cloudy. Highs around 70. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the morning.

..SUNDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers. Lows in the mid 50s. Chance of rain 30 percent.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening. These may produce some isolated heavy downpours and result in localized flooding.

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

State and Local News

• Proposed 2026-2027 Budget for the Town of Franklin [Google Drive (89 page PDF)]

• County Manager Presents Annual Budget Message to County Commissioners [ Macon Media ]

(Blue Ridge Parkway) 2nd-deadliest National Park System | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)

NC's push for red-flag laws rekindles after Raleigh courthouse shooting | WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)

• The White House intervened to get a $620 million deal for an NC company tied to Donald Trump Jr. [NC Newsline]

• ‘Fueled by greed’: Former NC political megadonor Greg Lindberg sentenced to prison [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• Asheville mayoral candidates call housing and affordability a 'crisis' [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• Report: NC sees big drop in teacher union membership and union strength [Raleigh News & Observer]

Iran War News

World News

National News

Financial News

Science and Technology

Crypto News

Support Macon Media

• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]

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Published at 9.00am on Friday, May 29, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins

Mountain Voices Community Chorus Presents “Songs of Peace & Light” – June 16, 2026 at 7 pm

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Coggins) — Thu, 28 May 2026 13:53:31 +0000

Mountain Voices Community Chorus Presents

“Songs of Peace & Light” – June 16, 2026 at 7 pm

A Free Community Concert Featuring Show Tunes, Pop, Gospel & Patriotic Selections

Submitted by Theresa Ramsey

FRANKLIN, NC – Mountain Voices Community Chorus warmly invites the public to their 2026 Spring Concert, “Songs of Peace & Light,” on Tuesday, June 16, beginning at 7:00 PM at First United Methodist Church, 66 Harrison Avenue in Franklin, NC. Admission is FREE, with donations gratefully accepted to help offset the cost of music (tax-deductible for this 501(c)(3) organization).

This year’s concert promises an uplifting evening of music across a wide range of styles, including show tunes, pop favorites, gospel, and patriotic selections. The program opens with a lively ensemble piece, Mountain Music, featuring fiddle, banjo, guitar, bass, and percussion, before moving through an inspired selection of beloved songs including Dream, Look to the Rainbow, Trip a Little Light Fantastic, and the soaring You’ll Never Walk Alone. Following an intermission performance by Pinnacle Brass, the second half turns to the sacred and patriotic – gospel selections including Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel and Appalachian Psalm, and a moving tribute to those who serve(d), closing with Make Me a Channel of your Peace and Let There Be Peace on Earth.

RECENTLY ADDED! A second concert has been added on July 24, 2026 at 7 pm at the Mountain City Playhouse located at 186 Playhouse Drive in Mountain City, GA.

Mountain Voices Community Chorus is a 45-voice mixed community chorus with members from western North Carolina and northeast Georgia. Founded in 2015 and directed by Beverly Barnett, the chorus rehearses year-round to prepare for its summer and winter concert seasons. Pianist Mary Pittman leads a full ensemble of local instrumentalists – including strings, brass, flute, percussion and more – to bring each performance to life.

“This concert is about bringing hope and harmony to our community,” said Director Beverly Barnett. “We’ve chosen music that speaks to peace, light, and the resilience of the human spirit – something we can all celebrate together.”

Those interested in joining Mountain Voices Community Chorus for future concerts are encouraged to visit their Facebook page or contact Beverly Barnett directly at (828) 508-6052 or bevobie@aol.com.

News and Weather Briefing for Thursday, May 28, 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Coggins) — Thu, 28 May 2026 08:51:57 +0000

• 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 cold front tracks across the forecast area Thursday. This will allow showers and thunderstorms to return this afternoon and evening, keeping the isolated strong to severe storm threat and isolated flash flood threat around.

2. A front stalls just south of the area, keeping mainly diurnal rain chances through the weekend. Drier air may finally work into the entire area from the north by the middle of next week.

WEATHER SPONSOR

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DAY SPONSOR

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GENERAL FORECAST

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening. These may produce some isolated heavy downpours and result in localized flooding.

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

State and Local News

• Proposed 2026-2027 Budget for the Town of Franklin [Google Drive (89 page PDF)]

• County Manager Presents Annual Budget Message to County Commissioners [ Macon Media ]

Floodwaters move faster post-Helene, officials warn | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)

NC employees can't use job info in prediction market bets | WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)

• NC GOP lawmaker removes name from anti-abortion bill after social media outcry [NC Newsline]

• JetZero adjusts early NC hiring targets, citing state budget delay [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• Buncombe County to buy former Asheville Mall JCPenney for $5M [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• Meet the NC student who will compete in finals of Scripps National Spelling Bee [Raleigh News & Observer]

Iran War News

China Now Controls 70% of Shipbuilding: Can the U.S. Make a Comeback? | What's Going on With Shipping?

Iran TV obtains 'initial unofficial' draft of US deal | BBC News

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

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• France24 Liveblog [France 24]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Fox News Liveblog [Fox News]

• Kuwait says it faces a missile and drone attack as shaky ceasefire in Iran war again challenged [AP News]

• Iran war day 89: Lebanon strikes kill 31 as ceasefire tensions rise [Al Jazeera]

• UN adds Israeli entities to blacklist of countries that commit sexual violence - exclusive [Jerusalem Post]

• Iran war: Trump says US will 'watch over' Strait of Hormuz [DW News]

• Iranian regime may try to ‘string out’ talks, terrorism analyst warns [Fox News]

World News

Kyiv urgently appeals to U.S. for air defense capabilities | World News Tonight | TVP World

UK spy chief: Almost 500,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine war | Sky News

• Aid cuts and climate change drive deadly malaria surge in Zimbabwe [Al Jazeera]

• BOK lifts S. Korea's growth forecast to 2.6 pct for this year amid robust chip-driven exports [Yonhap News Agency]

• Canada to buy Swedish surveillance plane over US models [DW News]

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

• Think it’s hot now? The next five years will smash records, UN says [AP News]

National News

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

NBC Nightly News Full Episode - May 27 | NBC News

• 9 missing after Washington paper mill tank rupture and officials say there’s no hope of survivors [AP News]

• After Protests Outside Synagogues, New York Makes It a Crime to Block Entry to a House of Worship [Ground News]

• Entertainers unveiled for 250th US birthday bash on National Mall [The Hill]

• Newsom signs bill to curb Trump interference in California elections [UPI]

• NASA chief pulls back curtain on Trump UFO files after bizarre finds surface in buried fed records [Fox News]

Financial News

Iran War: US Launches Strikes as Trump Rejects Easing Sanctions | Daybreak Europe 05/28/2026 | Bloomberg Television

• Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq futures drop following US strikes in Hormuz [Yahoo Finance]

• Oil jumps 3% after Iran says it targeted U.S. airbase following fresh American strikes [CNBC]

Science and Technology

The T. rex of the Sea Was Just Discovered | 7 Days of Science and Ben G Thomas

• Mexican President Responds to World Cup Piracy Concerns, Prefers ‘Open’ Broadcasts [Torrent Freak]

• Happy, who taught researchers that elephants can recognize themselves, is euthanized [NPR]

• Nvidia bets $150B on Taiwan as Trump’s plan to make US an AI hub backfires [Ars Technica]

• Elon Musk Says America’s Kamikaze Drones Used the Wrong Starlink Subscription [Gizmodo]

• Researchers block key protein that helps Parkinson’s spread through the brain [Science Daily]

• Kraken Now Lets You Earn Yield on Bitcoin Holdings via Lending Vaults [Decrypt]

• Crypto markets shed $80B after fresh US strikes on Iran [Coin Telegraph]

• Porter Stansberry Warns of US Financial Collapse by 2029 on Pompliano Podcast [Bitcoin.com]

"The Banks are Feeling FOMO" on Bitcoin Lending w/ SALT Lending CEO Shawn Owen | BMP Ep 10 | Bitcoin Magazine

Support Macon Media

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Become a Patron!

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

Published at 9.00am on Thursday, May 28, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins

News and Weather Briefing for Wednesday, May 27, 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Coggins) — Wed, 27 May 2026 09:47:32 +0000

• 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. Diurnal thunderstorms return today, but with a lower heavy rain threat overall than the last few days. Coverage is expected to be mainly confined to North Carolina. A low-end severe weather risk is possible, with damaging wind the main hazard.

2. Diurnal rain and thunder chances continue through at least the end of the week. The pattern becomes murky, but likely still unsettled, through the beginning of next week.

WEATHER SPONSOR

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DAY SPONSOR

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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. Areas of fog this morning. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms this morning, then showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. Southwest winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

..TONIGHT....Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then mostly cloudy after midnight. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows around 60. West winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

..THURSDAY....Partly sunny. Patchy fog in the morning. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 70s. Northwest winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

..THURSDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the upper 50s. Northeast winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

..FRIDAY....Partly sunny. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 70s. Southeast winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

..FRIDAY NIGHT....A chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Showers likely. Lows in the upper 50s. Chance of rain 70 percent.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening. These may produce some isolated heavy downpours and result in localized flooding.

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

State and Local News

• Proposed 2026-2027 Budget for the Town of Franklin [Google Drive (89 page PDF)]

• County Manager Presents Annual Budget Message to County Commissioners [ Macon Media ]

Heavy rain damages western NC | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)

What supplies are needed for your hurricane kit? | WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)

• Advocates rally at NC legislature to oppose potential ICE detention expansion [NC Newsline]

• Republican lawmakers consider shortening NC’s early voting period [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• WNC home repairs after Helene face $500 million funding gap [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• Former Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson faces lawsuit in NC after admitting porn habit [Raleigh News & Observer]

Iran War News

China Now Controls 70% of Shipbuilding: Can the U.S. Make a Comeback? | What's Going on With Shipping?

Dozens killed in Lebanon as Israel intensifies strikes | BBC News

• Iran Update Special Report, May 26, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• France24 Liveblog [France 24]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• US military says it carried out ‘self-defense’ strikes in Iran, including on missile launch sites [AP News]

• Iran war day 87: Trump says US not in rush to sign deal, dashing optimism [Al Jazeera]

• Trump's Board of Peace's official fund receives 'zero dollars' despite billions pledged - report [Jerusalem Post]

• Iran medicine shortages worsened by war [DW News]

• Trump moves Cabinet meeting from Camp David to White House as Iran talks intensify [Fox News]

World News

U.S. to pull 50% of deep-strike capability from Europe? | Morning Report | TVP World

Trump has ANOTHER medical. What don't we know about Trump's health? | Sky News

• ‘Naturally scared’: India’s Muslims denied public spaces for Eid prayers [Al Jazeera]

• N. Korea tests new lightweight missile launcher, tactical cruise missiles under Kim's watch [Yonhap News Agency]

• Ukraine: EU summons Russian envoy after call to leave Kyiv [DW News]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 26, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• US has deported thousands of Cubans and Venezuelans to danger in Mexico, Human Rights Watch says [AP News]

National News

ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - May 26, 2026 | ABC News

NASA’s Jared Isaacman shares moon base plans | NBC News

• ICE detainees are dying by suicide at an ‘alarming’ rate, an AP investigation finds [AP News]

• US draws up plans to halt immigration, customs processing at 'sanctuary city' airports [Ground News]

• Cook Political Report shifts Texas Senate rating toward Democrats after Paxton runoff victory [The Hill]

• South Carolina Senate adjourns without new map, defying Trump [UPI]

• MAGA triumph: Trump ally Ken Paxton defeats John Cornyn in bitter Texas GOP primary war [Fox News]

Financial News

Memory Mania Overshadows Investors' Fears Around Iran War | Insight with Haslinda Amin 5/27/2026 | Bloomberg Television

• White House promises lower energy prices 'as soon as the Straits are open,' but analysts say to prepare for a 'Hormuz Hangover' [Yahoo Finance]

• CNBC Daily Open: The $1 trillion club just got bigger [CNBC]

Science and Technology

The Level1 Links with Friends Show May 27 2026: Meta Momfluencers Muddle Murmurs

• Top 10 Most Pirated Movies of The Week – 05/25/2026 [Torrent Freak]

• NASA lays out moon base plans with landers, buggies and drones at the top of the list [NPR]

• NASA takes steps toward building Moon Base, including discussing a “perimeter” [Ars Technica]

• Majority of Americans Support Ban on Surveillance Pricing and Electronic Shelf Labels [Gizmodo]

• Large Hadron Collider detects strange particle behavior that could rewrite physics [Science Daily]

• TeraWulf Stock Pops as Bitcoin Miner Acquires Kentucky Site to Meet AI Power Demands [Decrypt]

• Bitcoin mining stocks jump as AI infrastructure boom boosts sector outlook [Coin Telegraph]

• Trump Appoints Former Attorney General Pam Bondi to White House AI Advisory Panel [Bitcoin.com]

Bitcoins Return to Its Roots: Why Home Mining is Making a Comeback | Bitcoin 2026 | Bitcoin Magazine

Support Macon Media

• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]

Become a Patron!

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

Published at 9.00am on Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins

News and Weather Briefing for Tuesday, May 26, 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Coggins) — Tue, 26 May 2026 05:48:44 +0000

• 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. Daily chances for showers and thunderstorms continue into the weekend. Drier conditions may return briefly on Friday but confidence is low. We will have a better shot at dry weather early next week as high pressure builds in from the north.

WEATHER SPONSOR

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DAY SPONSOR

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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. Patchy fog in the morning. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers with thunderstorms likely in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 70s. Southwest winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..TUESDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Showers with thunderstorms likely in the evening. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. Southwest winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 80 percent.

..WEDNESDAY....Patchy fog in the morning. Showers likely in the morning, then showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 70s. West winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain near 100 percent.

..WEDNESDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then a chance of showers after midnight. Lows around 60. West winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..THURSDAY....Partly sunny with a chance of showers. A chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 70s. Chance of rain 50 percent.

..THURSDAY NIGHT....Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then mostly cloudy after midnight. Lows in the mid 50s. Chance of rain 50 percent.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

Locally heavy downpours and flash flooding possible as more showers and thunderstorms occur.

The wet pattern continues on Wednesday and Thursday, although additional heavy rains and flooding aren`t expected those days.

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

State and Local News

• Proposed 2026-2027 Budget for the Town of Franklin [Google Drive (89 page PDF)]

• County Manager Presents Annual Budget Message to County Commissioners [ Macon Media ]

Communities across western North Carolina honor service members on Memorial Day | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)

100 Deadliest Days of Summer begins on Memorial Day | WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)

• UNC Board of Governors gives initial OK to UNC Wilmington medical school [NC Newsline]

• How they voted: NC congressional votes for the week ending May 21 [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• NC lawmakers debate changes in adult care home inspections [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• NC snake eats venomous copperheads. What to know about the ‘secretive’ creatures [Raleigh News & Observer]

Iran War News

12 Weeks of Crisis: A Full Recap of the Strait of Hormuz Blockade | Is a Deal Near? | What's Going on With Shipping?

Trump calls critics of his potential Iran deal 'losers' | BBC News

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

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• France24 Liveblog [DW News]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• US military says it carried out ‘self-defense’ strikes in Iran, including on missile launch sites [AP News]

• Iran war day 87: Trump says US not in rush to sign deal, dashing optimism [Al Jazeera]

• IDF strikes Hezbollah infrastructure targets as Home Front Command tightens northern guidelines [Jerusalem Post]

• US launches 'self-defense strikes' on Iran as Israel orders Hezbollah attacks [DW News]

World News

Pope Leo declares crusade against AI | World News Tonight | TVP World

The World Cup city in the middle of drug cartel heartland | Sky News

• WHO chief says suspected Ebola deaths at 220 as epidemic ‘outpacing us’ [Al Jazeera]

• Lee calls for stepped-up efforts to acquire nuclear-powered submarines [Yonhap News Agency]

• Uganda confirms 2 new Ebola cases, DRC infections hit 900 [DW News]

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

• Leaders keep a wary eye on Belarus for signs it might offer Russia help in Ukraine [AP News]

National News

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

Meet the Press NOW — May 25 | NBC News

• Officials lift evacuation orders for some California residents living near a damaged chemical tank [AP News]

• Massie teases 2028 comeback after primary loss to Trump-backed challenger [Ground News]

• Races to watch in Texas’s primary runoffs: Cornyn-Paxton, Chip Roy’s attorney general bid, House contests [The Hill]

• Trump lays wreath at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier [UPI]

• These 5 cities are seeing big home price cuts [Fox News]

Financial News

Why Bitcoin Is The Only Exit From The Federal Reserve | The Wolf Of All Streets

Oil Climbs as US Strikes Iran Targets | The Asia Trade 5/26/2026 | Bloomberg Television

• Oil Rebounds as Strikes Near Strait Muddy Outlook for Iran Deal [Yahoo Finance]

• CNBC’s The China Connection newsletter: Tariffs eased. Trust didn’t. [CNBC]

Science and Technology

Why Does the Universe Exist at All? | Arvin Ash

• Italian Police Target “Previously Unseen” Streaming Piracy Tech That Looks Familiar [Torrent Freak]

• Citing Gandalf, Pope Leo says we must “disarm” AI [Ars Technica]

• China Launched Artificial Embryos to Orbit to Find Out If We Can Have Space Babies [Gizmodo]

• Eating more beans and soy could slash high blood pressure risk by nearly 30% [Science Daily]

• Trump Media Moves Over $200 Million in Bitcoin as Losses Pile Up: Arkham [Decrypt]

• Crypto PAC money pours into Texas primary runoffs, as prediction markets favor challengers [Coin Telegraph]

• Meltem Demirors Says Banks Won as Bitcoin ETFs Pull Crypto Into Wall Street’s Orbit [Bitcoin.com]

Bitcoins Return to Its Roots: Why Home Mining is Making a Comeback | Bitcoin 2026 | Bitcoin Magazine

Support Macon Media

• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]

Become a Patron!

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

Published at 9.00am on Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins

News and Weather Briefing for Memorial Day, May 25, 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Coggins) — Mon, 25 May 2026 08:52:55 +0000

• 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. Patchy dense fog is possible through this morning. Another round of rainfall may develop today into tonight, but confidence is limited.

2. Rainy weather with potential for afternoon storms continues through at least Wednesday. A cold front and some drier air may arrive by Thursday, but the pattern is highly uncertain past this point.

WEATHER 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. A slight chance of showers this morning, then showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. Patchy fog. Highs in the lower 70s. Southwest winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

..TONIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms likely in the evening, then a chance of showers after midnight. Patchy fog in the evening, then areas of fog after midnight. Visibility one quarter mile or less at times after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

..TUESDAY....Mostly cloudy. Patchy fog in the morning. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then showers with thunderstorms likely in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..TUESDAY NIGHT....Showers with thunderstorms likely in the evening, then showers likely after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 80 percent.

..WEDNESDAY....Showers likely in the morning, then showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. Southwest winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..WEDNESDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Lows around 60. Chance of rain 80 percent.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

Showers and thunderstorms will affect much of the area today, mainly after 11am

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

State and Local News

• Proposed 2026-2027 Budget for the Town of Franklin [Google Drive (89 page PDF)]

• County Manager Presents Annual Budget Message to County Commissioners [ Macon Media ]

Helene-impacted veteran receives new home | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)

Indy Car, NASCAR pay tribute to Kyle Busch three days after his death | WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)

• Whatley backs Trump’s $1.8B ‘anti-weaponization fund’ despite GOP revolt on Capitol Hill [NC Newsline]

• NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell tells Kyle Busch family 'we got you' before start of Coca-Cola 600 [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• When is Memorial Day 2026? From Decoration Day to a federal holiday [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• Rattlesnakes are part of the routine for workers rebuilding I-40 in Western NC [Raleigh News & Observer]

Iran War News

12 Weeks of Crisis: A Full Recap of the Strait of Hormuz Blockade | Is a Deal Near? | What's Going on With Shipping?

Negotiations towards a deal with Iran are ‘constructive’ says Trump | BBC News

• Iran Update Special Report, May 24, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• France24 Liveblog [DW News]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Asian shares mostly gain and oil prices fall after Trump says peace talks on Iran war are proceeding [AP News]

• Iran war day 86: Trump announces potential deal amid ‘cloud of mistrust’ [Al Jazeera]

• New US-Iran deal 'bad deal,' fails to address missiles, terror proxies, Israeli sources tell 'Post' [Jerusalem Post]

• Iran war: Trump says US won't 'rush into' deal with Tehran [DW News]

• White House blasts Cruz, Pompeo for trashing Trump peace efforts as Iran appeasement [DW News]

World News

U.S. and Iran close to peace deal, says Trump | World News Tonight | TVP World

Will Russia launch a major offensive on Ukraine this summer? | Sky News

• Africa Day 2026: Has the continent achieved true liberation? [Al Jazeera]

• S. Korean submarine arrives in Canada amid Seoul's bid for US$39.6 bln Canadian submarine deal [Yonhap News Agency]

• Cuba receives China rice shipment amid US threats, blackouts [DW News]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 24, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• Young men storm a Congo hospital treating Ebola patients to demand bodies of their kin [AP News]

National News

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

Remembering Kyle Busch | Full Pre-Race Tribute | NASCAR

• Southern California officials trying to prevent explosion or leak from damaged chemical tank [AP News]

• Bystander in serious condition after fatal shooting near White House checkpoint [Ground News]

• After San Diego shooting, Muslim Americans aim to turn grief into action [Al Jazeera]

• Navy chief undercuts Trump and Hegseth on Taiwan, Iran [The Hill]

• 19 hurt when stampede breaks out at S.C. beachfront motorcycle rally [UPI]

• White House gunman had criminal record, history of mental health issues [Fox News]

Financial News

Why Bitcoin’s Real Bull Run Hasn’t Even Started - Adam Back | The Wolf Of All Streets

Iran War: Trump Says 'No Rush' as US, Iran Inch Towards Deal | Daybreak Europe 05/25/2026 | Bloomberg Television

• Stocks and earnings surge, and Iran deal may be imminent: What to watch this week [Yahoo Finance]

• Americans are ‘entrenched’ in financial stress amid debt and price pressures [CNBC]

Science and Technology

We Thought Black Holes Ended in Singularities. They Might End In a Frozen Big Bang. | PBS Space Time

• Anna’s Archive Hit With $19.5m Default Judgment and Global Domain Takedown Order [Torrent Freak]

• SpaceX’s Starship V3—still a work in progress—mostly successful on first flight [Ars Technica]

• 99% of CEOs Expect AI-Driven Layoffs in the Next Two Years [Gizmodo]

• Beet juice lowers blood pressure in older adults in just 2 weeks [Science Daily]

• Now You Can Buy Bitcoin, XRP and More in ChatGPT via MoonPay [Decrypt]

• Crypto entrepreneur Chun Wang joins SpaceX mission to Mars [Coin Telegraph]

• Vitalik Warns Ethereum’s Smart Wallets Have a ‘Relay’ Problem Ahead of Major Upgrade [Bitcoin.com]

How China Hijacked Bernie & AOC's War on AI | Bitcoin Policy Hour EP 38 | Bitcoin Magazine

Support Macon Media

• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]

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

Published at 9.00am on Monday, May 25, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins

Mountain Findings Awards $20,000 Impact Scholarship to Highlands High School Senior Claire Worley

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Coggins) — Fri, 22 May 2026 16:25:02 +0000

Mountain Findings Awards $20,000 Impact Scholarship to Highlands High School Senior Claire Worley

HIGHLANDS, NC — Mountain Findings, a 100% volunteer-run non-profit organization, is proud to announce Claire Worley as the recipient of the 2026 Impact Scholarship Award. Worley, a graduating senior at Highlands High School, will receive a $20,000 four-year scholarship to support her upcoming studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The Impact Scholarship Award recognizes a graduating senior who demonstrates financial need and a deep, firsthand understanding of the Mountain Findings mission through active volunteerism. Over the past year, Worley worked extensively alongside the organization's volunteers, assisting shoppers, moving furniture, loading vehicles, and operating the register.

Worley’s long-term career goal is to become a critical care nurse, providing vital medical services both domestically and internationally. By lessening the financial burden of higher education, Mountain Findings aims to empower students like Worley to achieve their academic goals and drive positive future change through their careers and life actions.

According to Dan Rupp, President, "We are incredibly proud to support Claire as she takes this next big step toward her dream of helping others. She has been an invaluable asset to our volunteer team, and we know she will bring that same dedication to her nursing career."

This award is part of a broader commitment by Mountain Findings to support local youth. This year, the organization handed out $64,000 in scholarships to Highlands High School seniors. Additionally, Mountain Findings continues to endow approximately $40,000 in scholarships to past recipients to support them through the completion of their degrees.

About Mountain Findings:

Mountain Findings is a 100% volunteer-run non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the local community and investing in the future of area students through financial aid, ongoing scholarships, and financial support in college, trades, certification, and technology programs.

Weather Briefing for Friday, May 22, 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Coggins) — Fri, 22 May 2026 08:44:24 +0000

• 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. Developing cold air damming will maintain dreary conditions for today and tonight, with widespread cloudy and rainy conditions. The risk of severe thunderstorms appears low. The risk of flooding rain appears low also, but nonzero,with extremely isolated issues possible going into Friday night.

2. Unsettled weather continues through most of the week as the large-scale pattern ushers Gulf moisture into the Carolinas.

WEATHER SPONSOR

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DAY SPONSOR

Macon Media is being underwritten today by Bourbon & Bacon. (Formerly Franklin Office Supply)
Visit their store at 161 Highlands Road in Franklin or check out their website at bourbonandbaconfs.com

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 with a chance of thunderstorms. A chance of showers this morning, then showers this afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. Light and variable winds. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..TONIGHT....Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then showers likely after midnight. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows around 60. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

..FRIDAY....Patchy fog in the morning. Showers. A chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs around 70. Southeast winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..FRIDAY NIGHT....A chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Showers. Lows around 60. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain near 100 percent.

..SATURDAY....Showers in the morning, then showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 70s. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain near 100 percent.

..SATURDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then a chance of showers after midnight. Lows around 60. Chance of rain 70 percent.

..SUNDAY....Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..SUNDAY NIGHT....A chance of thunderstorms. Showers. Lows in the lower 60s. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..MEMORIAL DAY....Showers likely in the morning, then showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..MONDAY NIGHT....Showers with a chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 60s. Chance of rain 90 percent.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

Showers and thunderstorms will affect much of the area today, and a few storms may become strong to severe with damaging wind gusts the primary threat. Heavy rainfall will also accompany any storms.

Gusty winds will be possible in some of the higher elevations today through tonight, with gusts to around 40 mph or higher possible in some wind-prone locations.

Additional rounds of storms are expected on Saturday, a few of which could again produce strong gusty winds.

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

State and Local News

• Proposed 2026-2027 Budget for the Town of Franklin [Google Drive (89 page PDF)]

• County Manager Presents Annual Budget Message to County Commissioners [ Macon Media ]

Bear breaks into home in WNC | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)

WNC Interstate continues rebuilding phase almost 2 years after Hurricane Helene | WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)

• North Carolina Court of Appeals rejects ‘fair elections’ lawsuit [NC Newsline]

• Did a bot deny your claim? NC lawmakers want to regulate AI in health insurance [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• NASCAR legend Kyle Busch unexpectedly dies in NC. What we know [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• Kyle Busch NASCAR timeline: 234 wins, two titles and decades of drama [Raleigh News & Observer]

Support Macon Media

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

Published at 9.00am on Friday, May 22, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins

News and Weather Briefing for Thursday. May 21, 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Coggins) — Thu, 21 May 2026 08:47:31 +0000

• 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 cold front will drop down from the northwest late today and tonight, ushering in a change in our weather for the Memorial Day weekend. The new pattern will support a period of cooler and more unsettled weather that could ultimately put a dent in our drought as it persists into the middle of next week. At this time, the risk of severe thunderstorms and flooding rain appears low.

WEATHER SPONSOR

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DAY SPONSOR

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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 with a chance of thunderstorms. A chance of showers this morning, then showers this afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. Light and variable winds. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..TONIGHT....Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then showers likely after midnight. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows around 60. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

..FRIDAY....Patchy fog in the morning. Showers. A chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs around 70. Southeast winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..FRIDAY NIGHT....A chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Showers. Lows around 60. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain near 100 percent.

..SATURDAY....Showers in the morning, then showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 70s. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain near 100 percent.

..SATURDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then a chance of showers after midnight. Lows around 60. Chance of rain 70 percent.

..SUNDAY....Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..SUNDAY NIGHT....A chance of thunderstorms. Showers. Lows in the lower 60s. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..MEMORIAL DAY....Showers likely in the morning, then showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..MONDAY NIGHT....Showers with a chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 60s. Chance of rain 90 percent.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

Scattered thunderstorms are expected today through Saturday, especially during the afternoon and evening hours, which will bring the risk for locally heavy rainfall and frequent lightning. Widespread severe weather is not expected at this time.

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

State and Local News

• County Manager Presents Annual Budget Message to County Commissioners [ Macon Media ]

Crowd control incident involving peperballs | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)

NC lawmakers pass amendments to add property and income tax limits to ballot | WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)

• NC Senate moves constitutional amendment on local property tax increases to the November ballot [NC Newsline]

• North Carolina House Republicans override Stein veto on education tax-break bill [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• Blue Ridge Parkway opens for season with ongoing repairs [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• Walls that will hold up I-40 through Pigeon River Gorge begin to take shape [Raleigh News & Observer]

Iran War News

The Hormuz Effect: Why Supertanker Volumes Dropped 36% & Stocks are Sliding | What's Going on With Shipping?

Iran 'not a forever war', says US Vice President JD Vance | BBC News

• Iran Update Special Report, May 20, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• France24 Liveblog [DW News]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• In Iran’s capital, weapons demonstrations send a signal at home and abroad as threat of war remains [AP News]

• Iran war day 83: Tehran ‘reviewing’ latest US response to end conflict [Al Jazeera]

• Israel's defense industry races to develop defenses against Hezbollah's deadly fiber-optic drones [Jerusalem Post]

• Middle East: Iran says any new attack will widen war [DW News]

World News

Drone breaches Lithuanian airspace | World News Tonight | TVP World

Putin and Trump are queuing up to meet Xi Jinping. This Is Why. | Sky News

• Trump administration indicts Cuba’s Raul Castro over 1996 plane shootdown [Al Jazeera]

• Ex-spy chief Cho Tae-yong sentenced to 1 1/2 yrs in prison for perjury in martial law trial [Yonhap News Agency]

• Germany's Merz pitches 'associate' EU membership for Ukraine [DW News]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 20, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

What to know about Ebola as Congo reports more than 130 dead | Associated Press

National News

ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - May 20, 2026 | ABC News

Top Story with Tom Llamas - May 20, 2026 | NBC News

• Republicans expected to abandon $1B security proposal for White House and Trump’s ballroom [AP News]

• How AIPAC channels millions through shell PACs ahead of US midterms [Associated Press]

• Tensions between the U.S. and Cuba: What we know about announcements expected May 20 [Al Jazeera]

• 5 things to know about the Raúl Castro indictment and the Cuba crisis [The Hill]

• House passes bipartisan housing affordability bill [UPI]

• Former DOJ prosecutor charged with stealing confidential Jack Smith investigation documents about Trump [Fox News]

Financial News

Bitcoin Has A 120-Day Fed Countdown - Trump Just Signed The Order | Mike Alfred | The Wolf Of All Streets

Asia Tech Stocks Rally As Investors Return To AI Trade | The China Show 5/21/2026 | Bloomberg Television

• SpaceX files IPO prospectus, offering a peek into its finances [Yahoo Finance]

• Treasury yields resume climb as traders monitor inflation risks [CNBC]

Science and Technology

There Are ‘Ghost’ Humans in Our Genome - We Just Found Out Who They Were | 7 Days of Science

• Hollywood Secures Broad “Omnibus” Pirate Site Blocking Order in UK High Court [Torrent Freak]

• Trump admin didn’t want Ebola-exposed Americans, sent them to Berlin, Prague [Ars Technica]

• The Scandal Over a Supposedly AI-Written, Award-Winning Short Story Is Troubling. Or Just Mean? [Gizmodo]

• Jupiter’s lightning may be 100x more powerful than Earth’s [Science Daily]

• Beyond the Noise #107: The subtle horror of package inserts [Microbe TV]

New Era for Astronomy: Direct Observation of Exoplanetary Surface | Anton Petrov

Crypto News

Ethereum: Rejected off the Bear Market Resistance Band | Benjamin Cowen

• Elon Musk's SpaceX IPO Filing Reveals $1.45 Billion Bitcoin Position [Decrypt]

• Tax evaders are trying ‘novel digital assets’ to dodge authorities: Chainalysis [Coin Telegraph]

• Soluna Buys out Dorothy 1B as Bitcoin-to-AI Campus Conversion Advances [Bitcoin.com]

Bitcoin vs the Surveillance State | Bitcoin Magazine Podcast Ep 9 | Bitcoin Magazine

Support Macon Media

• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]

Become a Patron!

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

Published at 9.00am on Thursday, May 21, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins

News and Weather Briefing for Wednesday, May 20, 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Coggins) — Wed, 20 May 2026 09:59:04 +0000

• 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 cold front will approach the area today and then stall nearby through the weekend, resulting in cooler and wetter weather through Memorial Day weekend. The threat for severe thunderstorms and excessive rain appears to be low at this time.

WEATHER SPONSOR

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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 sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon. Highs in the lower 80s. Southwest winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.

..TONIGHT....Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. Southwest winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

..THURSDAY....Mostly cloudy. Patchy fog in the morning. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 70s. Light and variable winds, becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..THURSDAY NIGHT....Showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then showers likely after midnight. Lows around 60. Southeast winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..FRIDAY....Showers likely in the morning, then showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 70s. Southeast winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..FRIDAY NIGHT....Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then showers after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. Chance of rain near 100 percent.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

Hazardous weather is not expected today or tonight.

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

State and Local News

• County Manager Presents Annual Budget Message to County Commissioners [ Macon Media ]

What you should expect this hurricane season in 2026 | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)

NC House delays vote on amendments targeting income, property taxes | WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)

• NC House advances property tax loophole and UNC system construction bills [NC Newsline]

• NC data-center proposal seeks to keep rising utility costs away from customers [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• Pete Buttigieg packs barn for rural Democrat in competitive NC congressional district [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• NC Republicans advance new constitutional amendments to strip governor’s power [Raleigh News & Observer]

Iran War News

The Hormuz Effect: Why Supertanker Volumes Dropped 36% & Stocks are Sliding | What's Going on With Shipping?

Iran 'not a forever war', says US Vice President JD Vance | BBC News

• Iran Update Special Report, May 19, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• France24 Liveblog [DW News]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Senate advances bill aimed at ending Iran war as Cassidy, after primary loss, flips to support [AP News]

• Iran war day 82: Tehran warns of ‘new fronts’ as Trump sets deadline [Al Jazeera]

• Israel, US early war goals sought to reinstate Iran's Ahmadinejad as leader, NYT report says [Jerusalem Post]

• US Senate advances measure to limit Trump's Iran war powers [DW News]

World News

U.S. to pull more troops from Europe | World News Tonight | TVP World

Is Russia ready to attack a NATO member? | DW News

• China’s Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin hold talks in Beijing [Al Jazeera]

• N. Korea's Kim chairs army commanders' meeting, orders southern border defense buildup [Yonhap News Agency]

• Xi welcomes Putin in Beijing, hails China’s ‘unyielding’ ties with Russia [France 24]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 19, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

Xi Jinping hosts a welcome ceremony for Putin in China (full) | Associated Press

National News

ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - May 19, 2026 | ABC News

NBC Nightly News Full Episode - May 19, 2026 | NBC News

Who Are The Alleged San Diego Mosque Shooters Cain Clark and Caleb Velasquez? | New York Post

• Donald Trump Solidifies Grip on GOP With Thomas Massie Kentucky Ouster [Newsweek]

• Takeaways from Tuesday’s primaries: Massie’s loss leaves no doubt about Trump’s power over the GOP [Associated Press]

• Tensions between the U.S. and Cuba: What we know about announcements expected May 20 [NBC News]

• Trump’s midterm retribution crusade crescendos with Massie primary defeat: Key takeways [The Hill]

• CDC says American infected with Ebola was sent to Germany for care [UPI]

• 2026 primary election live updates: Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Idaho and Oregon [Fox News]

Financial News

Bitcoin Bleeds $1B As 30Y Yield Hits 5.14% (Highest Since GFC) | The Wolf Of All Streets

Global Bond Selloff Threatens Turmoil in Asia | Insight with Haslinda Aminn 05/20/2026 | Bloomberg Television

• The AI bots are coming and the young are booing, not applauding [Yahoo Finance]

• U.S. Treasurys are now firmly in the ‘danger zone,’ strategists say [CNBC]

Science and Technology

The Level1 Links with Friends Show May 20 2026: Motherboard Meltdown

• Sky Sends Cease-and-Desist Letters to 200 Irish IPTV Subscribers Exposed via Revolut [Torrent Freak]

• FBI seeks US-wide access to license plate cameras, wants “data in near real time” [Ars Technica]

• Google Search Is Dead. Welcome to the Era of the ‘Intelligent Search Box’ [Gizmodo]

• Lost for 150,000 years: Rainforest discovery upends human history [Science Daily]

• TWiV 1323: One influenza infection, two patients [Microbe TV]

Let's Talk About the New UFO Files Released by The Government | Anton Petrov

Crypto News

Bitcoin: An Unfortunate Pattern | Benjamin Cowen

• Minnesota Bans Prediction Markets—And Is Sued By the Trump Admin Hours Later [Decrypt]

• Trump-backed Truth Social pulls bids for crypto ETFs [Coin Telegraph]

• Lummis Warns US Must Pass CLARITY Act Immediately or Cede Digital Asset Leadership to China and Europe [Bitcoin.com]

Verifiable Smart Contracts with Simplicity | Bitcoin Magazine

Support Macon Media

• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]

Become a Patron!

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

Published at 9.00am on Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins

News and Weather Briefing for Tuesday, May 19, 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Coggins) — Tue, 19 May 2026 08:46:11 +0000

• 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 summer-like pattern will continue through Wednesday, with above normal temperatures and increasing humidity. Chances for mountain diurnal convection increase Wednesday afternoon as a front approaches.

2. A cold front will bring better rain chances Thursday into the weekend, but any drought relief will be limited.

WEATHER SPONSOR

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DAY SPONSOR

This space available

GENERAL FORECAST

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

Hazardous weather is not expected today or tonight.

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

State and Local News

• County Manager Presents Annual Budget Message to County Commissioners [ Macon Media ]

Asheville prison to close | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)

North Carolina high school runner's raised hand costs team state track and field title | WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)

• NC Senate committee advances amendment on income tax cap for 2026 ballot [NC Newsline]

• Tax cap constitutional amendment, plus measures on farms and unions, pass first hurdle in NC [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• More floods or fewer hurricanes? What El Niño could mean for Carolinas [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• Senate confirms NC’s Dan Bishop, Ellis Boyle for US attorney positions [Raleigh News & Observer]

Iran War News

Hormuz is all Blocked Up with Ships - Week 11 | Iran and US Blockade Update | What's Going on With Shipping?

Will the US ever admit who bombed the schools in Iran? | Sky News

• Iran Update Special Report, May 18, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• France24 Liveblog [DW News]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Trump says he’s called off Iran strike planned for Tuesday at request of Gulf allies [AP News]

• Iran war day 81: Trump delays attack; Tehran says won’t ‘surrender’ [Al Jazeera]

• Trump says ‘very good chance’ of Iran deal after postponing planned US strike [Jerusalem Post]

• Middle East: Trump warns Iran 'time is ticking' on deal [DW News]

Iran war: US in 'serious negotiations' as Trump calls off attack | LiveNOW from FOX

World News

Zelenskyy’s former aide Yermak out on a $3-million bail | TVP World

How worried should we be about the Ebola "emergency"? | Global News Podcast | BBC News

Germany's multi-billion-euro plan for shelters, hospital beds and emergency vehicles | DW News

• WHO declares Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, Uganda a global health emergency [Al Jazeera]

• Lee says Japan an important partner in overcoming global rainstorm together [Yonhap News Agency]

• Russia to conduct three-day nuclear drills on May 19-21 [France 24]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 18, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

Ukraine launches deadly attack on Moscow as war drags on | ABC News

National News

ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - May 18, 2026 | ABC News

NBC Nightly News Full Episode - May 18, 2026 | NBC News

5 dead in San Diego mosque shooting: The 'strange' details | CNN

• The anti-war crack in MAGA's youth base [Politico]

• Cassidy Loses His Primary in Louisiana, as Trump Vanquishes Another G.O.P. Foe [New York Times]

• Trump administration to create $1.776B 'Truth and Justice Commission' to compensate allies [ABC News]

• TrumpRx Adds Hundreds of Generic Drugs: What It Means for Prices [CBS News]

• Trump-backed prayer rally roils debate on church and state [The Hill]

• MTA, LIRR unions reach tentative deal, ending 3-day strike [UPI]

• Active shooter threat at San Diego Islamic Center neutralized after massive police response [Fox News]

Financial News

Bitcoin’s Strategic Reserve Just Got Real — White House Exclusive | The Wolf Of All Streets

Trump Holds Off on New Iran Strikes After Gulf Appeal | Horizons Middle East & Africa 5/19/2026 | Bloomberg Television

• SpaceX IPO Adds Second Musk Stock. It’s a Problem for Tesla [Yahoo Finance]

• U.S. Treasury sell-off eases, traders eye highest 30-year yield since 1999 [CNBC]

Science and Technology

The Level1 Links with Friends Show May 19 2026: 10 Gooning Street

• Jury throws out Musk case against OpenAI [DW News]

• ACE Subpoena Targets French Private Tracker, Chinese Pirate Forum, and Vietnamese APIs [Torrent Freak]

• One Mars spacecraft, two senators, and a cloud of questions [Ars Technica]

• ‘The Worst Leak That I’ve Witnessed’: U.S. Cybersecurity Agency Leaves Its Digital Keys Out in Public on GitHub [Gizmodo]

• Antarctic glacier collapses at record speed as Hektoria retreats 15 miles in just 15 months [Science Daily]

• TWiV 1323: One influenza infection, two patients [Microbe TV]

Galactic Butterfly Effect! Even a Single Star Can Dramatically Change a Galaxy | Anton Petrov

Crypto News

Bitcoin Rejected off the 200D | Benjamin Cowen

• Swan Bitcoin Hit With Nearly $1 Billion Lawsuit Over Prime Trust Collapse [Decrypt]

• Echo Protocol's eBTC exploited for $77M in admin key compromise [Coin Telegraph]

• Capital B Buys 192 BTC After $20M Raise as Treasury Strategy Accelerates [Bitcoin.com]

Upgrading Wallets for Users from Now to 2140 | Bitcoin 2026 | Bitcoin Magazine

Support Macon Media

• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]

Become a Patron!

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

Published at 6.00am on Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins

News and Weather Briefing for Sunday, May 17, 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Coggins) — Sun, 17 May 2026 08:53:12 +0000

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

• [Public Safety Notifications]

• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]

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NWS GENERAL OUTLOOK

1. A summer-like pattern will be in place through mid-week, with above normal temperatures, increasing humidity, and spotty diurnal convection expected. An isolated severe thunderstorm will be possible in the afternoon and evening each day.

2. A cold front will bring better rain chances mid to late week, but rainfall amounts are expected to remain light any drought relief will be limited.

WEATHER SPONSOR

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DAY SPONSOR

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GENERAL FORECAST

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

Hazardous weather is not expected today or tonight.

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

State and Local News

• County Manager Presents Annual Budget Message to County Commissioners [ Macon Media ]

Affordable housing projects move forward across western North Carolina | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)

Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina holds celebration of federal recognition | WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)

• State employee group says auditor’s report shows ‘pay crisis’ in NC government [NC Newsline]

• How they voted: NC congressional votes for the week ending May 14 [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• More floods or fewer hurricanes? What El Niño could mean for Carolinas [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• Is a super El Niño hitting NC getting more likely? What that means for weather [Raleigh News & Observer]

Iran War News

The Dali Settlement in Baltimore, The "Golden Fleet," and a 1,500ft Tsunami: Top 5 Maritime Stories | What's Going on With Shipping?

Donald Trump says Xi Jinping wants Strait of Hormuz opened | BBC News

• Iran Update Special Report, May 16, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• France24 Liveblog [DW News]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• BRICS ministers fail to issue a joint statement over differences on conflict in the Middle East [AP News]

• Iran war: Iran warns of readiness for war and economic costs as US talks falter [Al Jazeera]

• Iran allegedly behind Canada attacks on US consulate, synagogue [Jerusalem Post]

• Leader of Hamas's armed wing killed in strike on Gaza, says Israel [DW News]

What Satellite Images Reveal About Iran’s Attacks on U.S. Bases | The New York Times

World News

London protests expose deep divisions across the U.K. | World News Tonight | TVP World

Professor Jiang: World War 3 Has Already Begun, Let Me Explain! | The Diary Of A CEO and Predictive History

Trump warns Taiwan not to declare independence | DW News

• WHO declares Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, Uganda a global health emergency [Al Jazeera]

• Trump says he discussed N. Korea with Xi during summit in Beijing [Yonhap News Agency]

• Ukraine launches more than 500 drones at Russia in deadly overnight attack, authorities say [France 24]

• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 16, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

Taiwan ramps up drone production amid threat of potential China invasion | NBC News

National News

ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - May 16, 2026 | ABC News

NBC Nightly News Full Episode - May 15, 2026 | NBC News

Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, May 15, 2026

• China vs. God: Ezra Jin and Beijing’s War on Christianity [The Free Press]

• Cassidy Loses His Primary in Louisiana, as Trump Vanquishes Another G.O.P. Foe [New York Times]

• Trump administration to create $1.776B 'Truth and Justice Commission' to compensate allies [ABC News]

• Colorado River crisis could force drastic water measures across the West, experts say [CBS News]

• Massie primary tests Trump’s grip on GOP [The Hill]

• House panel demands reasons U.S. troop deployment to Poland canceled [UPI]

• Trump scores major Republican primary victory as Cassidy ousted in Louisiana [Fox News]

Financial News

The CLARITY Act advances in the Senate. What's next? | Yahoo Finance and The Wolf Of All Streets

Bloomberg This Weekend | Trump Returns from China, Xi to Meet with Putin, LIRR Goes on Strike | Bloomberg Television

• History's weirdest bubbles have a message for the AI trade: Chart of the Day [Yahoo Finance]

• Kevin Warsh comes into the Fed facing a big ‘family fight’ over cutting interest rates [CNBC]

Science and Technology

Will NASA's Nuclear Powered Spacecraft Revolutionize Space Exploration? | Scott Manley

• The Digital Babel: How Oligarchs Broke the Public Square and Destroyed Shared Reality [The Intellectualist]

• Universal Wins Indian Court Order Against IMDb-Themed Pirate Streaming Sites [Torrent Freak]

• The US is betting on AI to catch insider trading in prediction markets [Ars Technica]

• Elon Musk Explains Why the SpaceX Board Must Be Powerless to Fire Him [Gizmodo]

• Stunning 150-million-year-old stegosaur skull rewrites dinosaur evolution [Science Daily]

• TWiV 1322: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin – Hantavirus special [Microbe TV]

Mystery of SgrA* Strange G-Objects Finally Solved | Anton Petrov

Crypto News

Powell Steps Down as Chair of the Federal Reserve | Benjamin Cowen

• Justin Sun-Led Liberland Micronation Awards Ethereum Founder Vitalik Buterin Its Top Honor [Decrypt]

• When prediction markets go wrong: Who decides what counts as the truth? [Coin Telegraph]

• Latam Insights: Coinbase Co-Founder Eyes Venezuela as Grupo Salinas Embraces Stablecoins [Bitcoin.com]

The Banks Lose The Yield Fight: Inside The CLARITY Act Stablecoin Battle | BPH EP 37 | Bitcoin Magazine

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Published at 9.00am on Sunday, May 17, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins