A symbolic gathering on ancestral lands fortifies collaboration between the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the U.S. Forest Service.
New Stories
Asheville City Council approves BID provider, postpones vote on changes to the city’s building code
Asheville City Council had a lot to bite off at its Jan. 14 meeting. Much discussion arose over choosing a manager of a controversial Business Improvement District (BID), post-storm changes to building codes and solutions for those about to lose FEMA housing assistance.
Secret Agent 23 Skidoo’s Imaginarium carries rhymes from the page to the stage
The new youth hip-hop writing program incorporates playfulness, performance and the classic rite-of-passage journey with a focus on healing.
Helene will have long-lasting effect on animal-adoption agencies
From a decrease in adoptions to an increased need for emergency veterinary care, Tropical Storm Helene’s impact will continue in 2025 for animal shelters.
Smart Bets: An Arctic Soiree
Local DJs will spin the soundtrack for the debut of winter-inspired works from Mark Bettis, Victoria Pinney and Jeffrey Burroughs.
Debris removal will take ‘a long time,’ according to Buncombe County
After the storm, officials estimated that Helene created about 10 million cubic yards of debris in Buncombe County alone. County Manager Avril Pinder says “It’s going to take a long time” to clean up all the debris.
Mission Health appeals state’s awarding of 26 acute care beds to AdventHealth’s planned Weaverville hospital
Mission’s appeal, brought against the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and the Division of Health Service Regulation, says those agencies’ decisions curbed Mission’s expansion efforts.
Smart Bets: 31 days of post-Helene art
Artist Kira Bursky’s collection of 31 drawings reflects themes and images familiar to many local residents who experienced the disaster.
Smart Bets: Moth StorySLAM
Sign up to tell a story or just enjoy the show on Jan. 16 at The Grey Eagle.
What’s new in food: Rosetta’s Kitchen reopens with commitment to inclusivity
The once all-vegan restaurant stirred up controversy when it began serving meat dishes to feed the community after Tropical Storm Helene. Also in this week’s food news: Rollup Herbal Bar’s new Waynesville space, winter markets are open, birria ramen makes its winter return to Brevard and more.
Buncombe’s new trash-service provider says all carts have been delivered
FCC Environmental says workers have delivered nearly 76,000 trash carts to 38,500 residents, but complaints about service continue to percolate through the community.
From CPP: ‘Scars of the storm.’ Helene is gone, but its impact is far from over in Mitchell County.
The rural region, somewhat isolated by the mountains, has struggled with its economic viability, and Helene has exposed some of the area’s tender points.
New beginning post-Helene or business as usual?
“So do we really want to return to maximizing profits and exploiting the beauty of our marvelous mountains and the brilliance of our creative people, while risking ever more floods, landslides and the havoc they wreak?”
Letter: Make the connection between war and climate change
“Our endless war-making and support for other countries’ war-making are putting loads of carbon into the air.”
The Dead Tongues and Kevin Rumley release new albums
The longtime locals embrace the magic of solitude and collaboration on their latest collections.
Letter: Now’s the time to apply for SBA loans
“It costs nothing to apply, and the sooner your application is in, the sooner you will know your full options and any approved money will be sent.”