Leaders at the Explore Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau are looking for new approaches to put the city on the map as a diverse destination by tapping into Asheville’s rich Black history and Black entrepreneurs.
New Stories
Council approves $217 million Asheville budget
The approved budget more than $30.1 million for the Asheville Police Department, $500,000 for the city’s reparations fund, $108,000 to create an urban forester position and $300,000 to increase full-time employee salaries, among other items.
Reparations commission considers youth involvement
The Community Reparations Commission, tasked with developing recommendations for Asheville and Buncombe County to address the impacts of systemic racism, currently consists of 25 members and seven alternates but has no youth representation.
Appalachian short-story collection blends comedy and tragedy
Local author Melanie McGee Bianchi discusses her recently published debut collection, The Ballad of Cherrystoke and Other Stories.
Food savings without shame in WNC
As inflation and supply chain issues continue to increase everyday costs, more locals, regardless of their employment status, are seeking ways to lower their food costs. For organizations and nonprofits offering free and healthy meals, part of the mission is to make all feel welcome.
WNC traffic planners try to keep up with increased commuting
It’s not your imagination: Commuting in the Asheville area is worse than ever. As skyrocketing housing prices have pushed more city residents into neighboring areas, the number of drivers entering Asheville each day on busy interstates and crowded secondary roads has grown dramatically. “Asheville is still very much the employment center of the region, and […]
Q&A: Appalachian Trail Chaplain discusses her long trek ahead
Xpress chats with Rachel Ahrens about her role as Appalachian Trail Chaplain.
Around Town: Buncombe County Special Collections blog opens to community posts
The Buncombe County Special Collections blog opens up to community submissions. Plus, local multimedia artist puts on augmented reality show, author chronicles history of the Toe River Valley, and photographers express experiences of queerness through visual autobiographies.
What’s new in food: Asheville’s past meets future at Eldr
Eldr opens in North Asheville. Also: New Belgium Brewing Co. launches Poured for All Initiative; Legally Addictive Foods announces plans to move its manufacturing operations to Asheville; and more!
Letter: More trash cans needed along river
“The trash receptacle availability every 5 miles or so along the French Broad walks and parks is woefully inadequate.”
Natural health product sales increase during COVID
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted more people to focus on their health, and the city’s many natural products stores rose to the occasion.
Letter: Gun sports at Biltmore should stop
“The way sound carries on a river, who knows how far that noise travels and how many schoolchildren, veterans or just lollygagging river floaters have to hear it.”
Letter: Start with legalizing medical marijuana
“Marijuana is beneficial for many people for a variety of issues, both physically and mentally.”
Q&A: Katie Wilson on making the world smaller
Xpress recently spoke with Katie Wilson, founder and executive director of Grow Abroad — a summer program that brings international students to Asheville to live and volunteer within the community.
Letter: Xpress should broaden letters’ focus
“I would encourage you to expand it to cover national and international issues so that writers of letters to the editor have more topics they can speak to, and your readers will be exposed to more food for thought.”