{"id":140,"date":"2026-04-04T16:50:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T16:50:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?page_id=140"},"modified":"2026-04-04T16:51:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T16:51:28","slug":"homepage","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/","title":{"rendered":"Homepage"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-carousel smn-hero-slider wp-block-newspack-blocks-carousel__autoplay-playing slides-per-view-1 wpnbpc\" id=\"wp-block-newspack-carousel__1\" data-current-post-id=57 data-slides-per-view=1 data-slide-count=2 data-aspect-ratio=0.75 data-autoplay=1 data-autoplay_delay=7><button aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"swiper-button swiper-button-pause\"><\/button><button aria-label=\"Play Slideshow\" class=\"swiper-button swiper-button-play\"><\/button><div class=\"swiper\"><div class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<article data-post-id=\"55\" class=\"post-has-image swiper-slide category-news type-post post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=55\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/70d34f2d8f3af80b326ba13e8b194ba6_XL-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"image-fit-cover wp-post-image\" alt=\"Keeping the faith: First-of-its kind sheriff removal hearing plays out in Graham County\" object-fit=\"cover\" layout=\"fill\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/70d34f2d8f3af80b326ba13e8b194ba6_XL-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/70d34f2d8f3af80b326ba13e8b194ba6_XL-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/70d34f2d8f3af80b326ba13e8b194ba6_XL-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/70d34f2d8f3af80b326ba13e8b194ba6_XL-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/70d34f2d8f3af80b326ba13e8b194ba6_XL-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/70d34f2d8f3af80b326ba13e8b194ba6_XL.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=55\" rel=\"bookmark\">Keeping the faith: First-of-its kind sheriff removal hearing plays out in Graham County<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-04-04T16:47:08+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<article data-post-id=\"57\" class=\"post-has-image swiper-slide category-news type-post post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=57\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8a6053235373e7b495deae97e9707438_XL-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"image-fit-cover wp-post-image\" alt=\"No Kings 3: Protests reshape identity across America\" object-fit=\"cover\" layout=\"fill\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8a6053235373e7b495deae97e9707438_XL-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8a6053235373e7b495deae97e9707438_XL-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8a6053235373e7b495deae97e9707438_XL-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8a6053235373e7b495deae97e9707438_XL-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8a6053235373e7b495deae97e9707438_XL-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8a6053235373e7b495deae97e9707438_XL.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=57\" rel=\"bookmark\">No Kings 3: Protests reshape identity across America<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-04-04T16:47:11+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t<\/div><button class=\"swiper-button swiper-button-prev\" aria-label=\"Previous Slide\" ><\/button><button class=\"swiper-button swiper-button-next\" aria-label=\"Next Slide\" ><\/button><\/div><div class=\"swiper-pagination-bullets\" ><button option=\"0\" class=\"swiper-pagination-bullet\" aria-label=\"Go to slide 1\" selected><\/button><button option=\"1\" class=\"swiper-pagination-bullet\" aria-label=\"Go to slide 2\" ><\/button><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading smn-section-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#707070;font-size:24px;font-weight:300;text-transform:uppercase\">Latest<\/h2>\n\n\n\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles smn-latest-grid wpnbha is-grid columns-3 colgap-3 show-image image-aligntop ts-4 is-3 is-landscape smn-latest-grid\"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"140\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"55\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-news type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=55\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/70d34f2d8f3af80b326ba13e8b194ba6_XL-800x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Keeping the faith: First-of-its kind sheriff removal hearing plays out in Graham County\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/70d34f2d8f3af80b326ba13e8b194ba6_XL-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/70d34f2d8f3af80b326ba13e8b194ba6_XL-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/70d34f2d8f3af80b326ba13e8b194ba6_XL-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/70d34f2d8f3af80b326ba13e8b194ba6_XL-200x150.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=55\" rel=\"bookmark\">Keeping the faith: First-of-its kind sheriff removal hearing plays out in Graham County<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>There was no shortage of gray-haired attorneys in Graham County Superior Court last week. Some represented witnesses; others were just curious to watch a proceeding not seen in modern history. Maintaining faith in the justice system and protecting law enforcement were the themes of the four-day hearing held last week in Robbinsville to determine whether\u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=55\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRead More\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"byline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"author-prefix\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?author=0\"><\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><!-- .author-name -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2026-04-04T16:47:08+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"57\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-news type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=57\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8a6053235373e7b495deae97e9707438_XL-800x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"No Kings 3: Protests reshape identity across America\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8a6053235373e7b495deae97e9707438_XL-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8a6053235373e7b495deae97e9707438_XL-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8a6053235373e7b495deae97e9707438_XL-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8a6053235373e7b495deae97e9707438_XL-200x150.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=57\" rel=\"bookmark\">No Kings 3: Protests reshape identity across America<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Before the chants started and long before the first speaker took the microphone, people were already drifting toward one another \u2014 introducing themselves, comparing stories, soaking up the quiet relief of being in a crowd where, for once, they didn\u2019t feel outnumbered. What emerged in those early moments of the March 28 \u201cNo Kings 3\u201d\u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=57\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRead More\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"byline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"author-prefix\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?author=0\"><\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><!-- .author-name -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2026-04-04T16:47:11+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"59\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-news type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=59\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/744d50ba11581e7cb298f58a93a7d6f9_XL-800x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Stein pushes $792M Helene plan as recovery lags\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/744d50ba11581e7cb298f58a93a7d6f9_XL-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/744d50ba11581e7cb298f58a93a7d6f9_XL-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/744d50ba11581e7cb298f58a93a7d6f9_XL-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/744d50ba11581e7cb298f58a93a7d6f9_XL-200x150.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=59\" rel=\"bookmark\">Stein pushes $792M Helene plan as recovery lags<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>More than 18 months after Hurricane Helene caused roughly $60 billion in damage across Western North Carolina, only about 12% of federal recovery funding has arrived \u2014 as FEMA delays persist and questions about the agency\u2019s future mount \u2014 leaving displaced families in campers, local governments with budget gaps and Gov. Josh Stein proposing another\u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=59\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRead More\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"byline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"author-prefix\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?author=0\"><\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><!-- .author-name -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2026-04-04T16:47:13+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles smn-latest-row2 wpnbha is-grid columns-2 colgap-3 show-image image-aligntop ts-4 is-3 is-landscape smn-latest-row2\"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"140\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"61\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-news type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=61\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/c3963e4ebca5a3c1a64aa0518b9b36b7_XL-800x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Canton eyes future with Park Street overhaul\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/c3963e4ebca5a3c1a64aa0518b9b36b7_XL-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/c3963e4ebca5a3c1a64aa0518b9b36b7_XL-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/c3963e4ebca5a3c1a64aa0518b9b36b7_XL-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/c3963e4ebca5a3c1a64aa0518b9b36b7_XL-200x150.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=61\" rel=\"bookmark\">Canton eyes future with Park Street overhaul<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Canton is preparing to turn one of its most flood-prone, long-neglected buildings into something it has rarely been in decades \u2014 useful. Once the project is complete, the aging structure at 225 Park St. will become a flexible, flood-adapted gathering space designed not just to survive the next storm but to anchor a broader transformation\u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=61\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRead More\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"byline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"author-prefix\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?author=0\"><\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><!-- .author-name -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2026-04-04T16:47:15+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"63\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-18 type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=63\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/05cb521656d87951b8bd5e9f2c25e4d1_XL-800x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Fundraising, food, fellowship\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/05cb521656d87951b8bd5e9f2c25e4d1_XL-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/05cb521656d87951b8bd5e9f2c25e4d1_XL-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/05cb521656d87951b8bd5e9f2c25e4d1_XL-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/05cb521656d87951b8bd5e9f2c25e4d1_XL-200x150.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=63\" rel=\"bookmark\">Fundraising, food, fellowship<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Community Table is in a small and unassuming brick building nestled between Sylva\u2019s Municipal Drive and Poteet Park. It\u2019s also a local lifeline. Every year, tens of thousands of community members visit the nonprofit \u2014 which since 1999 has envisioned a Jackson County in which no one \u201cgoes to bed hungry\u201d \u2014 and are\u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=63\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRead More\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"byline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"author-prefix\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?author=0\"><\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><!-- .author-name -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2026-04-04T16:47:17+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading smn-section-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#707070;font-size:24px;font-weight:300;text-transform:uppercase\">Outdoors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns smn-topic-section is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60%\">\n\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles wpnbha is-grid columns-1 colgap-3 show-image image-aligntop ts-4 is-3 is-landscape \"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"140\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"65\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-17 type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=65\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/636d2f860fe5eb4b8a070d9e09bfbd46_XL-800x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Visitors of Whiteoak Sink reminded of group size limits\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/636d2f860fe5eb4b8a070d9e09bfbd46_XL-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/636d2f860fe5eb4b8a070d9e09bfbd46_XL-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/636d2f860fe5eb4b8a070d9e09bfbd46_XL-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/636d2f860fe5eb4b8a070d9e09bfbd46_XL-200x150.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=65\" rel=\"bookmark\">Visitors of Whiteoak Sink reminded of group size limits<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>As\u00a0spring approaches, Great Smoky Mountains National Park reminds visitors of group size limits during the popular wildflower season at Whiteoak Sink. Individuals and small groups of eight or fewer people may access the Whiteoak Sink area throughout the wildflower season from\u00a0April 1 through May\u00a03. Whiteoak Sink is a sensitive area that hosts many rare plants.\u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=65\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRead More\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2026-04-04T16:47:20+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:40%\">\n\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles wpnbha show-image image-alignleft ts-2 is-1 is-landscape \"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"140\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"67\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-17 type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=67\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/a9af9aec165b3bd5cd07315efa7b90e7_XL-800x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Smoky Mountain baseball team hosts youth night&#8230;\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/a9af9aec165b3bd5cd07315efa7b90e7_XL-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/a9af9aec165b3bd5cd07315efa7b90e7_XL-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/a9af9aec165b3bd5cd07315efa7b90e7_XL-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/a9af9aec165b3bd5cd07315efa7b90e7_XL-200x150.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=67\" rel=\"bookmark\">Smoky Mountain baseball team hosts youth night&#8230;<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Smoky Mountain High School baseball team held a special \u201cYouth Night\u201d Thursday night to give\u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=67\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRead More\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2026-04-04T16:47:22+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"69\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-17 type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=69\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/fbbab2846f8d809fad3a4d5e6748bc5e_XL-800x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"State stream management grant proposals&#8230;\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/fbbab2846f8d809fad3a4d5e6748bc5e_XL-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/fbbab2846f8d809fad3a4d5e6748bc5e_XL-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/fbbab2846f8d809fad3a4d5e6748bc5e_XL-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/fbbab2846f8d809fad3a4d5e6748bc5e_XL-200x150.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=69\" rel=\"bookmark\">State stream management grant proposals&#8230;<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources is now accepting proposals\u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=69\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRead More\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2026-04-04T16:47:24+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"71\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-17 type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=71\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6a4eb613a03ca0e73ab59223a13b542b_XL-800x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Locals can save on golf at Lake Junaluska&#8230;\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6a4eb613a03ca0e73ab59223a13b542b_XL-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6a4eb613a03ca0e73ab59223a13b542b_XL-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6a4eb613a03ca0e73ab59223a13b542b_XL-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6a4eb613a03ca0e73ab59223a13b542b_XL-200x150.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=71\" rel=\"bookmark\">Locals can save on golf at Lake Junaluska&#8230;<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Full-time residents of Haywood, Jackson and Buncombe counties can save money playing golf at Lake\u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=71\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRead More\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2026-04-04T16:47:26+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"73\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-17 type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=73\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/b6a9fef348e0c866f1d3fee531bd4d15_XL-800x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Word from the Smokies: Peregrine falcons soar from&#8230;\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/b6a9fef348e0c866f1d3fee531bd4d15_XL-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/b6a9fef348e0c866f1d3fee531bd4d15_XL-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/b6a9fef348e0c866f1d3fee531bd4d15_XL-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/b6a9fef348e0c866f1d3fee531bd4d15_XL-200x150.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=73\" rel=\"bookmark\">Word from the Smokies: Peregrine falcons soar from&#8230;<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>With striking white-and-gray plumage, yellow beaks and talons and powerfully compact bodies, peregrine falcons\u00a0(Falco peregrinus)\u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=73\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRead More\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2026-04-04T16:47:28+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading smn-section-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#707070;font-size:24px;font-weight:300;text-transform:uppercase\">A&amp;E<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns smn-topic-section is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60%\">\n\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles wpnbha is-grid columns-1 colgap-3 show-image image-aligntop ts-4 is-3 is-landscape \"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"140\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"75\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-16 type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=75\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/14373e4770edca1be30c90d4cfb85d97_XL-800x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Chain Yer Dragon: Rick Mitarotonda of Goose\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/14373e4770edca1be30c90d4cfb85d97_XL-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/14373e4770edca1be30c90d4cfb85d97_XL-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/14373e4770edca1be30c90d4cfb85d97_XL-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/14373e4770edca1be30c90d4cfb85d97_XL-200x150.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=75\" rel=\"bookmark\">Chain Yer Dragon: Rick Mitarotonda of Goose<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In October 2020, amid the shutdown and about halfway through the first set of the sold-out Goose drive-in show at the Smoky Mountain Event Center on the outskirts of Waynesville, a friend turned to me and said with a smile, \u201cYou know, we\u2019re probably going to follow this band around for the next few decades,\u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=75\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRead More\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2026-04-04T16:47:30+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:40%\">\n\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles wpnbha show-image image-alignleft ts-2 is-1 is-landscape \"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"140\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"77\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-16 type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=77\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/76ec6b67ba35a301572c1bae863f320e_XL-800x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"From Watergate to Lamontgate \u2014 \u2018The Accident R&#8230;\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/76ec6b67ba35a301572c1bae863f320e_XL-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/76ec6b67ba35a301572c1bae863f320e_XL-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/76ec6b67ba35a301572c1bae863f320e_XL-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/76ec6b67ba35a301572c1bae863f320e_XL-200x150.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=77\" rel=\"bookmark\">From Watergate to Lamontgate \u2014 \u2018The Accident R&#8230;<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u201cOn the day Richard Nixon resigned the presidency, Ronald Truluck drove the long way to\u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=77\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRead More\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2026-04-04T16:47:32+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"79\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-16 type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=79\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/121c4d80e74aef337596a294e11cddba_XL-800x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Peacock welcomes Unspoken Tradition&#8230;\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/121c4d80e74aef337596a294e11cddba_XL-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/121c4d80e74aef337596a294e11cddba_XL-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/121c4d80e74aef337596a294e11cddba_XL-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/121c4d80e74aef337596a294e11cddba_XL-200x150.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=79\" rel=\"bookmark\">Peacock welcomes Unspoken Tradition&#8230;<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Acclaimed Americana\/bluegrass ensemble Unspoken Tradition will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 11, at the\u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=79\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRead More\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2026-04-04T16:47:35+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"81\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-16 type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=81\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3e29debe28c448d44eb8b2ab7f500ca1_XL-800x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Asheville Mountain Boys roll into Sylva&#8230;\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3e29debe28c448d44eb8b2ab7f500ca1_XL-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3e29debe28c448d44eb8b2ab7f500ca1_XL-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3e29debe28c448d44eb8b2ab7f500ca1_XL-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3e29debe28c448d44eb8b2ab7f500ca1_XL-200x150.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=81\" rel=\"bookmark\">Asheville Mountain Boys roll into Sylva&#8230;<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A rising Americana\/bluegrass act, the Asheville Mountain Boys will perform at 10 p.m. Friday, April\u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=81\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRead More\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2026-04-04T16:47:37+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"83\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-16 type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=83\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/fb1f4eb296434266baee57e54b1d2467_XL-800x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Storytellers series returns to Pigeon Center&#8230;\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/fb1f4eb296434266baee57e54b1d2467_XL-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/fb1f4eb296434266baee57e54b1d2467_XL-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/fb1f4eb296434266baee57e54b1d2467_XL-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/fb1f4eb296434266baee57e54b1d2467_XL-200x150.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=83\" rel=\"bookmark\">Storytellers series returns to Pigeon Center&#8230;<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The first \u201cConversations with Storytellers\u201d of the 2026 season with Chris Aluka Berry will be\u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=83\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRead More\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2026-04-04T16:47:39+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading smn-partner-label has-text-color\" style=\"color:#f64740;font-size:14px;text-transform:uppercase\">Sponsored Content<\/h4>\n\n\n\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles smn-partner-content wpnbha is-grid columns-4 colgap-3 show-image image-aligntop ts-2 is-3 is-landscape smn-partner-content\"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"140\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"85\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-news type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=85\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1ccb0f0a977a249b38f69d109de0932d_XL-800x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Partner content: Lessons on Longevity\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1ccb0f0a977a249b38f69d109de0932d_XL-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1ccb0f0a977a249b38f69d109de0932d_XL-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1ccb0f0a977a249b38f69d109de0932d_XL-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1ccb0f0a977a249b38f69d109de0932d_XL-200x150.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=85\" rel=\"bookmark\">Partner content: Lessons on Longevity<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2026-04-04T16:47:41+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"87\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-news type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=87\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/9817e4b5e2bf24cd29232dc2dfbed98e_XL-800x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Partner content: How old are the eggs?\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/9817e4b5e2bf24cd29232dc2dfbed98e_XL-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/9817e4b5e2bf24cd29232dc2dfbed98e_XL-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/9817e4b5e2bf24cd29232dc2dfbed98e_XL-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/9817e4b5e2bf24cd29232dc2dfbed98e_XL-200x150.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=87\" rel=\"bookmark\">Partner content: How old are the eggs?<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2026-04-04T16:47:43+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"89\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-news type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=89\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/e371008e65578492bc081a84640038bb_XL-800x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Partner Content: Appalachian True Heritage Festival Returns to Downtown Waynesville in 2026\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/e371008e65578492bc081a84640038bb_XL-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/e371008e65578492bc081a84640038bb_XL-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/e371008e65578492bc081a84640038bb_XL-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/e371008e65578492bc081a84640038bb_XL-200x150.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=89\" rel=\"bookmark\">Partner Content: Appalachian True Heritage Festival Returns to Downtown Waynesville in 2026<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2026-04-04T16:47:45+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"91\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-news type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=91\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/50217a8e67c80718c7471cb1b9d091b8_XL-800x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Partner content: Using Your Freezer for Meal Solutions\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/50217a8e67c80718c7471cb1b9d091b8_XL-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/50217a8e67c80718c7471cb1b9d091b8_XL-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/50217a8e67c80718c7471cb1b9d091b8_XL-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/50217a8e67c80718c7471cb1b9d091b8_XL-200x150.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=91\" rel=\"bookmark\">Partner content: Using Your Freezer for Meal Solutions<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2026-04-04T16:47:47+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading smn-section-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#707070;font-size:24px;font-weight:300;text-transform:uppercase\">Opinion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns smn-topic-section is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60%\">\n\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles wpnbha is-grid columns-1 colgap-3 show-image image-aligntop ts-4 is-3 is-landscape \"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"140\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"93\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-opinion type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=93\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7a29bf2af8face6fd3d6da735a060de3_XL-800x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Let\u2019s stop asking kids what they want to be\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7a29bf2af8face6fd3d6da735a060de3_XL-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7a29bf2af8face6fd3d6da735a060de3_XL-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7a29bf2af8face6fd3d6da735a060de3_XL-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7a29bf2af8face6fd3d6da735a060de3_XL-200x150.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=93\" rel=\"bookmark\">Let\u2019s stop asking kids what they want to be<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When I was young, there were a handful of future professions that my friends and I aspired to be \u2014 doctor, nurse, teacher, actor, writer, artist, farmer, lawyer, journalist, astronaut, president, model, fashion designer, rockstar and famous athlete, among others. Personally, I vacillated among several of these through the years, until I ultimately became a\u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=93\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRead More\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2026-04-04T16:47:49+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:40%\">\n\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles wpnbha show-image image-alignleft ts-2 is-1 is-landscape \"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"140\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"95\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-opinion type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=95\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7164f68d211202f49c6506f103cd542a_XL-800x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Trump demeans Dignified Transfer&#8230;\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7164f68d211202f49c6506f103cd542a_XL-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7164f68d211202f49c6506f103cd542a_XL-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7164f68d211202f49c6506f103cd542a_XL-1024x769.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7164f68d211202f49c6506f103cd542a_XL-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7164f68d211202f49c6506f103cd542a_XL-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7164f68d211202f49c6506f103cd542a_XL-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7164f68d211202f49c6506f103cd542a_XL-200x150.jpg 200w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7164f68d211202f49c6506f103cd542a_XL-780x586.jpg 780w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7164f68d211202f49c6506f103cd542a_XL.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=95\" rel=\"bookmark\">Trump demeans Dignified Transfer&#8230;<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>During the first Dignified Transfer of six fallen soldiers, I was stunned to see Trump\u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=95\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRead More\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2026-04-04T16:47:51+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"97\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-opinion type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=97\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/c14cded91142bf9e1c143e509dde377e_XL-800x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Young Republicans want new members&#8230;\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/c14cded91142bf9e1c143e509dde377e_XL-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/c14cded91142bf9e1c143e509dde377e_XL-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/c14cded91142bf9e1c143e509dde377e_XL-1024x769.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/c14cded91142bf9e1c143e509dde377e_XL-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/c14cded91142bf9e1c143e509dde377e_XL-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/c14cded91142bf9e1c143e509dde377e_XL-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/c14cded91142bf9e1c143e509dde377e_XL-200x150.jpg 200w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/c14cded91142bf9e1c143e509dde377e_XL-780x586.jpg 780w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/c14cded91142bf9e1c143e509dde377e_XL.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=97\" rel=\"bookmark\">Young Republicans want new members&#8230;<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Why should Haywood County young adults consider joining and participating with the Mountain View Young\u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=97\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRead More\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2026-04-04T16:47:53+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"99\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-opinion type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=99\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/30f91b38079e18433d95f8bde4b59d23_XL-800x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"The bar is low, but Trump slithers under it&#8230;\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/30f91b38079e18433d95f8bde4b59d23_XL-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/30f91b38079e18433d95f8bde4b59d23_XL-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/30f91b38079e18433d95f8bde4b59d23_XL-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/30f91b38079e18433d95f8bde4b59d23_XL-200x150.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=99\" rel=\"bookmark\">The bar is low, but Trump slithers under it&#8230;<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>They may be coming for just the signs, but the message is clear: let\u2019s rewrite\u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=99\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRead More\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2026-04-04T16:47:55+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"101\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-opinion type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=101\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/f4806ecbf9825ef86b167ff6937a130d_XL-800x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Time to throw the bums out&#8230;\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/f4806ecbf9825ef86b167ff6937a130d_XL-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/f4806ecbf9825ef86b167ff6937a130d_XL-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/f4806ecbf9825ef86b167ff6937a130d_XL-1024x769.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/f4806ecbf9825ef86b167ff6937a130d_XL-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/f4806ecbf9825ef86b167ff6937a130d_XL-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/f4806ecbf9825ef86b167ff6937a130d_XL-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/f4806ecbf9825ef86b167ff6937a130d_XL-200x150.jpg 200w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/f4806ecbf9825ef86b167ff6937a130d_XL-780x586.jpg 780w, https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/f4806ecbf9825ef86b167ff6937a130d_XL.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=101\" rel=\"bookmark\">Time to throw the bums out&#8230;<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Republicans are fiscally responsible. They lower taxes on working folks\u00a0and make things less expensive. Republicans\u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/?p=101\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRead More\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2026-04-04T16:47:57+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group smn-support-cta is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5d2d9735 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-top-color:#e0e0e0;border-top-width:1px;padding-top:20px;padding-bottom:20px\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:14px;font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase\">Support the Smoky Mountain News and independent, award-winning journalism<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-vivid-red-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" style=\"border-radius:0px;font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase\">Contribute &gt;<\/a><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Latest Outdoors A&amp;E Sponsored Content Opinion Support the Smoky Mountain News and independent, award-winning journalism<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"newspack_content_restriction_is_exempt":false,"newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_hide_page_title":false,"newspack_show_share_buttons":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-140","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/140","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=140"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/140\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":141,"href":"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/140\/revisions\/141"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/smokymountainnews-demo-skills.newspackstaging.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=140"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}