South Carolina Public Radio was spotlighted on WNCW as their Health Focus Reporter, Bobbie Connor, shared two different reports that were very much related to one another. They were on processed foods and the concerns they present to the human body and heart failure. We called it "Bad Food - Bad Heart", from July 12, 2023.

From Asheville Watchdog, Reporter John Boyle recapped his news group's 12-part series dealing with concerns in downtown Asheville. From a major water outage to policing and mental health to affordable housing. This conversation originally aired on June 28, 2023.

The Daily Yonder's Sarah Melotte was our guest, recapping her story on how small towns and rural areas across America, particularly in the South, are facing tougher times due to new SNAP Program requirements. SNAP is a government program that provides income for food to low-wage individuals. With reports of food insecurity on the rise, this change could impact many who need it most.

From Smoky Mountain News, Cory Vaillancourt talked about being on location at Pactiv-Evergreen, the longtime Canton paper mill on its final day of operation. The paper mill was in operation for more than a century and has been one of Haywood County's largest employers over those years. What's next for the area and those out of work?

Jacob Biba of Carolina Public Press sat down with WNCW to recap his series called Stacked Against. Stories focused on North Carolina's role in plea bargaining and disparities in sentencing. From attorneys to advocates to those behind bars. The conversation from May 31st is interesting.

WUNC's Jason DeBruyn, Health Reporter, shared details from his latest story on legislative bills in North Carolina that could prevent transgender youth from taking steps to become who they feel they are as a male or female. Jason talks about how measures could even penalize healthcare providers who offer treatments to those who identify as transgender.

Based on 2020 census data, reclassification will take place later this year in many rural counties. What is presently known as a rural section of a county would be turned into a metropolitan, which is based on an increase in population. Sarah Melotte of The Daily Yonder wrote an article about this and included North Carolina information in her research.

In a very revealing report, Kyle Perrotti of Smoky Mountain News recapped his story that was over six months in the making. "The endless war: How drugs come into WNC and what, if anything, can be done about it" deals with addiction, suppliers, Operation JAWBreaker, and local authorities' ongoing battle to combat a growing problem.

Politics Reporter from WUNC Public Radio, Rusty Jacobs, was featured in this interview on April 12, 2023. Rusty talked about North Carolina GOP Bills about deadlines for voting ballots and the pro and cons of The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) and state leaders thought about using it. Keeping voter information safe is the key.

Could the Macon County, N.C., Library pull itself out of membership to The Fontana Regional Library System because of concerns over certain books with LGBTQ content or themes? Macon County Commissioners are weighing in, as are members of the community.Read the original story here: https://smokymountainnews.com/news/item/35367-macon-residents-commissioner-float-withdrawing-from-fontana-regional-library