Blue Ridge Paper Products wastewater permit renewal hearings moved to April 14

Press release from North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality: RALEIGH – The Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Division of Water Resources (DWR) will conduct online public hearings Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at 6:00 PM, to review proposed amendments to the Blue Ridge Paper Products, LLC’s (d/b/a Evergreen Packaging) effluent discharge permit and color variance removal. […]

Land of Sky Regional Council releases report on racial disparities in five WNC counties

Press release from Land of Sky Regional Council: On average, people of color in our region earn lower wages, have less educational attainment, and suffer significant health and criminal justice disparities compared to white individuals.  These disparities are unacceptable and are the result of many complex factors.  Land of Sky Regional Council is committed to […]

Hendersonville City Council to hold remote meeting Feb. 4

Press release from the city of Hendersonville: The City of Hendersonville City Council will its REGULAR MEETING on Thursday, February 4, 2021, at 5:45 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the 2nd Floor of the City Hall Building, 160 Sixth Ave. E. Hendersonville, NC. Notice is hereby given that some City Council Members will participate […]

HCEF to host sixth annual “Food for Thought” event Jan. 18-24

Press release from Henderson County Education Foundation: January 15, 2021 (Hendersonville, NC) – The Henderson County Education Foundation (HCEF) will host its sixth-annual Food for Thought event January 18 through January 24. The community is invited to dine-in or take-out at local, participating establishments that have participated in the annual event over the past six years […]

BBB releases Asheville area annual report

Press release from Better Business Bureau of the Southern Piedmont and Western North Carolina: Charlotte, NC ​(​January 15, 2021​) – Better Business Bureau of Southern Piedmont and Western North Carolina released its 2020 annual report today, detailing consumer activity related to businesses located in the BBB’s 37-county service area. This report includes statistics on consumer […]

Polk Co. Government encourages residents to sign up for Everbridge emergency alerts

Press release from Polk County Government: COLUMBUS, NC. – Polk County Local Government encourages everyone in Polk County to sign up for Everbridge emergency alerts, an improved way of receiving vital information through a more enhanced version of the Nixle system. Polk County is transitioning from the Nixle system to Everbridge. People who previously signed […]

Mars Hill University prepares for in-person semester starting Feb. 2

Press release from Mars Hill University: Following a successful and healthy fall semester of primarily in-person, on-campus classes, Mars Hill University is carefully planning for the upcoming spring semester. University leaders anticipated a surge in COVID-19 cases as winter and the typical flu season arrived, so they strategized to delay move-in and in-person learning during […]

Veterans for Peace host Jan. 22 vigil honoring nuclear weapons treaty

Press release from Veterans for Peace: Friday, Jan. 22, will be a historic day for nuclear weapons. On that day, at midnight, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons will enter into force, establishing in international law a categorical ban on nuclear weapons, seventy-five years after their development and first use. The momentous occasion […]

Flying Squirrel Outdoor Challenge logo

Conserving Carolina launches Flying Squirrel Outdoor Challenge

Press release from Conserving Carolina: The Flying Squirrel Outdoor Challenge is Conserving Carolina’s newest outdoor challenge, starting in January 2021 and springboarding off the success of our previous White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 5. We invite people of all abilities in this challenge to explore eight places that Conserving Carolina has helped protect or open to […]

Buncombe County offices share MLK schedule

Press release from Buncombe County: Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Schedule for Buncombe County Offices All Buncombe County Government offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 18, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Buncombe County Public Libraries: All libraries are closed on Monday, Jan. 18. Recreation Services: All Buncombe County Parks are open regular hours […]

Asheville city offices to close for MLK, buses on holiday schedule

Press release from the City of Asheville: Asheville city government offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 18, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Here is a look at city services affected by this holiday.   Trash and recycling Though city offices will be closed, Sanitation Services will run on schedule. Residential trash and […]

Haywood County issues update on COVID-19 vaccine rollout

Press release from Haywood County: This week Haywood County finished the bulk of those in vaccination group 1A which included doctors, nurses, hospital staff, and doctor and dentist office staff members, and vaccination for those in the over 75 group (known as 1B) began. The first mass vaccination clinic was held Wednesday with a goal […]

Mountain BizWorks, DHT partner to increase federal business loan access

Press release from Mountain BizWorks: Mountain BizWorks is once again partnering with Dogwood Health Trust in a targeted effort to provide increased access to another round of the Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for nonprofits, small businesses, sole proprietors and independent contractors in the region, with a focus on rural and minority […]

DEQ holds Feb. 2 online hearing on state groundwater standards

Press release from the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality: The Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources will conduct an online public hearing Tuesday, Feb. 2, on proposed revisions to the N.C. Groundwater Quality Standards. Written public comments are being accepted through Tuesday, March 16. State law requires a review of its groundwater water quality […]

CommunityLab launches community COVID-19 testing in RAD

Press release from CommunityLab: CommunityLab launched a new mobile COVID-19 testing site open to the public starting Jan. 13. The testing site is stationed in the parking area at 401 Depot St. in Asheville and will be open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday each week from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Testing performed will be gold-standard […]

Asheville has 8th fewest minority-owned startups among midsized metros

Press release from Self Financial: In addition to being a critical driver of growth in the economy overall, entrepreneurship is one of the many ways that individuals can build wealth in America. But as 2020 has illustrated, opportunities to participate and succeed in the entrepreneurial economy are not equally distributed by race and ethnicity. This […]

UPDATE: Buncombe fills all additional COVID-19 vaccination appointments

Update from Buncombe County at 3:39 p.m.: All appointments have been scheduled, and the portal has been closed. Press release from Buncombe County: At approximately 1:30 p.m. today, Buncombe County Health and Human Services will open additional appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine for those 75 and older. These additional appointments will be open through February […]

United Way of Henderson County new board members 2021

United Way of Henderson County adds six new board members

Press release from the United Way of Henderson County: United Way of Henderson County (UWHC) has added six community leaders to its 2021 Board of Directors: Kirsten Bunch, Pauline Carpenter, Pam Combs, Sonia Giranda, Kimbela McMinn and Carol Stefaniak. “We are thrilled to welcome these new members to the United Way Board,” said Sherri Holbert, […]

UPDATED: Asheville announces Boards and Commissions meetings through Jan. 22

Update from the City of Asheville at 4:06 p.m. on Jan. 15: The Vance Monument Task Force specially scheduled meeting for Thursday, Jan. 21, has been rescheduled for Thursday, Feb. 4, at 4:30 p.m. Press release from the City of Asheville: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the following committees will hold remote meetings during the […]

Blair Myhand

Hendersonville taps Blair Myhand as new police chief

Press release from the City of Hendersonville: After an extensive search and selection process spanning five months, the City of Hendersonville has selected its next Chief of Police. In a virtual meeting held on Jan. 15, City Manager John Connet announced that Blair Myhand has been selected to serve as Hendersonville’s Police Chief.   Statement […]