2021: The Great Catastrophe continues

Xpress speaks with eight local artists about the ups and downs of a difficult year and what inspired them amid the ongoing pandemic.

Motown, soul and R&B songs will bring in the New Year at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. Also: UNC Asheville students and faculty launch new podcast; local author examines the history…

ASAP prepares for its new executive director. Also: Mother Earth Food expands its mission with recent grant; Chow Chow announces 2022 dates; and more!

What was 2021 like for local chefs and food entrepreneurs? Xpress caught up with a few to get their take on another challenging year.

While COVID-19 may have dominated WNC's psyche in 2021, it was by no means the only health and wellness story Xpress told. Opioid abuse, mental health and self-care also emerged…

Don’t tell the kids, but Asheville’s most beloved Santa doesn’t live at the North Pole. Dennis Reed and his wife Deborah — aka Mr. and Mrs. Claus — reside in Haywood County,…

When Tropical Depression Fred tore through Western North Carolina in August, among the casualties was the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s executive board has moved…

Three local historians reflect on historical moments and projects that occurred in 2021.

Community members from a range of professions tap into their optimistic sides and look to the future.

When Xpress asked community members about safety and security in 2021, the questions were intentionally left very broad. After all, concepts like safety and risk can mean very different things…

As WNC heads into yet another year of economic uncertainty, Xpress asked regional business leaders, government figures and laborers about their takeaways from 2021 in the world of work.

With growth comes worsening traffic, rising housing costs and long lines of tourists waiting at locally beloved bars and restaurants. But it’s not all bad, as 2021's Year In Review…

Yes, local schooling has seen drama this year. Given those issues, Mountain Xpress chose education as one of the areas to spotlight in discussion with community leaders about insights from…

If there was one constant in local media this year, it was change. Here are some of 2021’s notable comings and goings in the Asheville area’s media landscape.

As Asheville City Council pursues low-barrier shelter and permanent supportive housing options for the area's homeless population, Xpress listens to two residents as they share their experiences on the street.

With only Antanette Mosley opposed, Asheville City Council members voted Dec. 14 to approve the conversion of an East Asheville Ramada Inn into permanent supportive housing for at least 100…

"I understand that fewer pages cost less to produce, but how many more pages would it take to use 11-point copy that is much easier to read?"

"God has gifted humans with the knowledge, the ability and the science to help prevent the spread of infections, as well as COVID."

"To prevent our community from continuing to fail our Black youths, white parents should demand that barriers to opportunities for Black youths are removed, and policies are implemented with an…

"I think most of us are adult enough to make our own decisions on how much light we require on our property, without being told how much light we can…

Xpress readers offered up a raft of thought-provoking letters to the editor, commentaries and comments about local affairs in 2021.