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Saturday, January 17, 2026

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - January 16, 2026
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75% of Americans oppose US attempting to take control of Greenland, CNN poll finds; Canada, China slash EV, canola tariffs in reset of ties; Trump administration announces health plan concept; Congress considers bill to make cars with electronic door handles safer; Michigan Planned Parenthood closures fuel ongoing debate.

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2026Talks - January 16, 2026
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Trump threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act, as Minnesotans protest ICE. A Homeland Security official announced a run for Congress and federal courts move to keep the administration from getting voter data from two blue states.

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The Yonder Report - January 15, 2026
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Rural Appalachia is being eyed for massive AI centers, but locals are pushing back, some farmers say government payments meant to ease tariff burdens won't cover their losses and rural communities explore novel ways to support home-based childcare.

Stephanie Carson

Stephanie Carson went to school to be a foreign war correspondent, earning degrees in Broadcast News and International Politics, and now finds herself writing about the rights of people who live and work here at home. After working for a major news network for several years as an investigative producer, Stephanie moved to North Carolina and started working for Public News Service. A recipient of two Emmy’s and an Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Journalism, Stephanie is a self-described travel junkie, craft beer and cider lover, and a “Ski Mom” to her two daughters who race competitively on the slopes of North Carolina in the winter.


Languages Spoken: English

Topic Expertise: politics, women's issues, consumer law, water quality, outdoor recreation

Local Expertise: North Carolina and Tennessee politics, education, health care

Location: Asheville, NC

Demographic Expertise: immigration, small business development, local economies

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Latest Work

The swamp sparrow is among the birds traveling through North Carolina this month, on its way south for the winter. (Kenneth Cole Schneider)

Native Plants Provide Pit Stops for Bird Migration through NC

CLEMMONS, N.C. – Chances are more than a few North Carolinians turned on their heat this weekend and dug out winter clothes as temperatures …

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Women who test positive for gestational diabetes must monitor their blood sugar during pregnancy, but experts say the risks don't stop there. (Twenty20)

TN's High Diabetes Rate Raises Concerns for Pregnant Women

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – National Diabetes Month starts this week, and more than 1 in 10 Tennesseans is diabetic. At 11 percent, the state has one …

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The Great Smoky Mountains are part of an International Biosphere Reserve helping to absorb carbon emissions. (Ken Lund/Flicker)

NC Land Conservancies Unify to Fight Climate Change

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Climate change is top of mind after extreme weather events such as Hurricanes Florence and Michael, and North Carolina's land …

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Tennessee women diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer or pre-cancerous conditions for these cancers are enrolled for treatment coverage through the state’s TennCare program. (Army Medicine)

Free Breast Cancer Screenings Available to Qualifying Tennesseans

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – More than 5,000 new cases of breast cancer were reported in Tennessee in 2017, according to the Tennessee Breast Cancer …

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Yard signs asking people to vote against the amendments are found across the state. (Schell Simpson/Protect the NC Constitution)

NC Council of Churches Opposes 6 Ballot Issues

RALEIGH, N.C. – "Nix All Six" is the message on yard signs across North Carolina in reference to the six constitutional amendments on the …

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Early voting begins today in North Carolina for the November midterms, and runs until Nov. 3. (Marcia Cirillo)

NC Early Voting Begins Today: What You Need to Know

RALEIGH, N.C. - Early-voting precincts are open today for people to cast their ballots in advance of the November election date. With constitutional …

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Tennessee's midterm election is expected to see a record turnout because of renewed energy of voters and two hotly contested races. (Twenty20)

Clean Energy Group Powers Vote in Tennessee

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The pursuit of clean energy is what drives groups such as the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, but this election season…

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Wilson Creek in Caldwell County has a growing number of outdoor enthusiasts seeking out the area because of improved trout population and waterways. (Trout Unlimited)

NC Communities Benefit from Historic Conservation Legislation

LINVILLE FALLS, N.C. – Outdoor recreation generates $28 billion dollars annually in North Carolina, according to the Outdoor Recreation …

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(CDPL)

Report: Obsolete Laws Used to Sentence Most NC Death Row Inmates

RALEIGH, N.C. – In North Carolina, 141 men and women currently face death sentences, making the state home to the sixth-largest death row …

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Ebel Grasslands Ranch sits on 525 acres of native grasses near Sulphur Springs, where it has been a family farm for more than 100 years. (Ebel Grasslands Ranch)

Farm Bill Expiration Stalls Conservation Efforts on Farms

SULPHUR SPRINGS, Texas — While Senators were moving forward with the confirmation of the next Supreme Court justice, what wasn't moving on …

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