Last Updated on January 8, 2026 8:08 pm In the latest drought update for North Carolina, most of the High Country remains in Moderate drought. In the High Country, all of Watauga, Ashe, and Avery are in Moderate drought status. The weekly update, put out by the North Carolina Drought Management Council, shows zero counties …

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Last Updated on January 8, 2026 7:27 pm BOONE – The Boone Police Department is warning residents about phone scams where callers impersonate law enforcement and demand payment to avoid arrest. According to the department, neither the Boone Police Department nor any other law enforcement agency will call demanding money to avoid being arrested or …

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Last Updated on January 8, 2026 3:32 pm WILKES COUNTY – A routine traffic stop Wednesday morning led to a state trooper providing life-saving aid to a shooting victim and the arrest of a suspect, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. On Wednesday, January 8 at approximately 9:00 a.m., Trooper A.T. Hall witnessed …

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Last Updated on January 7, 2026 3:10 pm Raleigh, N.C. The North Carolina Department of Commerce recently awarded grants to eight local governments to support housing and public improvements for low- and moderate-income North Carolinians. The grants, totaling more than $12 million, were awarded from the department’s Community Development Block Grant – Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG-NR) …

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Last Updated on January 7, 2026 3:08 pm Raleigh, N.C. Throughout 2025, the North Carolina Department of Commerce has played a central role in supporting western North Carolina’s recovery after Hurricane Helene, including delivering housing assistance, workforce support, and economic recovery resources to help communities stabilize and rebuild. Through coordinated efforts across multiple Commerce divisions, …

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Last Updated on January 7, 2026 3:01 pm Renew NC, North Carolina’s housing recovery program, announced that the deadline for western North Carolina homeowners to apply for assistance through the Single-Family Housing Program (SFHP) has been extended to January 31. The extension provides one additional month for homeowners to submit applications for help with repairing, …

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Last Updated on January 7, 2026 2:08 pm Thirty years ago, the High Country experienced a winter event that would become a defining moment in our regional weather history. The Blizzard of 1996 was more than just a snowstorm—it was a powerful meteorological event that tested our community's resilience and left an indelible mark on …

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Last Updated on January 5, 2026 6:04 pm BOONE – The Town of Boone is offering complimentary Christmas tree pick-up for residents within the town limits beginning Sunday, January 5 through Friday, January 16. Residents should place their Christmas tree curbside during their regular trash and recycling pick-up. No need to call to schedule a …

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