On June 14, 2023, NC Governor Roy Cooper signed the legislation that legalized online sports betting across the state. After cutting through red tape, online sportsbooks officially went live in North Carolina on March 11, 2024. This comes just in time for a huge money maker in the college sports […]
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In the weeds: ECBI pushes cannabis dispensary despite setbacks
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is set to open Great Smoky Cannabis Company April 20. The cannabis dispensary located within the Cherokee reservation will be the first to legally distribute recreational marijuana in North Carolina. Last September ECBI approved a motion to legalize possession and use of marijuana […]
UNC System president pushes to block YikYak from university networks
In his Feb. 29 president’s report, UNC System President Peter Hans announced his intention to block anonymous social media apps including Yik Yak, Fizz, Whisper and Sidechat from campus networks, citing concerns for the mental health of students. Hans claims the apps show reckless disregard for the mental health of […]
A biodiversity hotspot in North Carolina’s high country
Just 32 miles south of Western Carolina University and only minutes from downtown Highlands sits a unique and integral biological hotspot. The Highlands Biological Station (HBS) was founded in 1927 and has grown its educational and research missions for nearly a century. In 2018, HBS became a multi-campus center of […]
Drugs in Jackson County: A history of the issue
Originally published by The Sylva Herald “The investigation led to 15 arrests on charges stemming from illegal guns, drug possession, trafficking and setting up places from which to deal drugs…” (The Sylva Herald Nov. 2022). “Three men from outside Jackson County were arrested with multiple pounds of drugs and charges […]
Settlement sends county money to fight drugs
Originally published by The Sylva Herald The US Government reached a historic $56 billion cumulative settlement agreement following the aftermath of various lawsuits concerning opioid exploitation by American pharmacies. The state of North Carolina is set to receive $1.5 billion in total according to Attorney General Josh Stein. Jackson County […]
Documenting history: The ‘voice of the students’ for 90 years
The end of 2023 marked the 90th year of The Western Carolinian. The first edition of the student-run newspaper was published Feb. 15, 1933. A lot has changed since then but one thing remains the same: The Western Carolinian seeks to report the truth and inform the public on WCU’s […]
SGA and UASWS work together to pass WISE Act
On Monday, Nov. 27, SGA voted to pass the Wage Increase for Student Employees Act. This signals a big step toward the Undergraduate Alliance for Student Worker Success’ (UASWS) goal to raise student wages across campus. The WISE Act, created by SGA Senator Zach Powell, is a resolution that is […]
N.C. 107: Pain, but eventual gain
Originally published by The Sylva Herald Businesses along Highway 107 lay stark and empty as the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) prepares to widen the route between Cullowhee and Sylva. Graffiti coats the sides of once well-loved buildings and community staples as many businesses have closed or relocated to […]
Timeline for rollout of new FAFSA announced, WCU to host FAFSA Day – Press Release
CULLOWHEE – In November, the U.S. Department of Education announced the timeline for rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid form and provided dates and timelines for schools as to when to expect applicant information. The new FAFSA rollout comes as a result of the FAFSA Simplification […]