After 16 community workshops involving over 1,000 western North Carolina residents, Southwestern North Carolina’s Opportunity Initiative – or Opt-In – came together to discuss the future of the region at the Opt-In Regional Summit held on Thursday, May 8 at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Hotel.

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is set to receive over $4.8 million in federal grants for highway repairs and economic development.

These are the unofficial results of the May 6 North Carolina Primary Election as received from the North Carolina Board of Elections.

Billy Frank, Jr., a member of the Nisqually Tribe, passed away on Monday, May 5.  According to information from NCAI, “Billy spent his life fighting for our right to fish and protect our own waters and fiercely advocated for the complete fulfillment of treat...

Chelsea Saunooke, an EBCI tribal member from the Wolfetown community, held a small ribbon cutting on Monday, May 5 to officially open Stamper Dry Cleaners, a full-service dry cleaner with services done on location.

On Saturday, May 3, in Waynesville at Green Hill Cemetery, members and guests of the Colonel William Holland Thomas SCV Camp 2231 remembered the life and service of Colonel Thomas. William Holland served as Chief of the North Carolina or Qualla Town Cherokee (today’s Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) in 1839.

Ric Bird, an EBCI tribal member, opened his first Smoke Shop in Cherokee on Oct. 1, 2010. Since that time, his stores have contributed over $636,000 to tribal levy, and this past year alone, his two stores contributed over $225,000. He opened his third store, this one located in the Saunooke Village off of Big Cove Road, on Friday, May 2.