Haywood County Health and Human Service announces operational changes to accommodate COVID-19 vaccination

Press release from Haywood County Health and Human Services: Across the state, priorities of local health departments have shifted to accommodate COVID-19 vaccination. State guidance from NCDHHS to local health departments encourages scaling back on clinic services to maximize COVID-19 vaccination capacity. Beginning Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, the Public Health division of Haywood County Health […]

Several inches of snow expected in Asheville

From AccuWeather, Inc.: Asheville, North Carolina, and Bristol, Tennessee, can expect several inches of snow from the storm. The mountains in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee are forecast to pick up 6-12 inches of snow with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 18 inches over the peaks, such as Mount Mitchell and Grandfather Mountain in North […]

Lenoir-Rhyne University professor Laura Hope-Gill to serve as writer-in-residence

Press release from Lenoir-Rhyne University: Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Visiting Writer-in-Residence is a familiar face. Writing professor, Thomas Wolfe Center for Narrative director and current Lenoir-Rhyne Bost Distinguished Professor Award recipient Laura Hope-Gill has been selected as the writer-in-residence for the spring term when she will provide workshops on poetry and creative writing. She is giving a […]

Upcoming virtual events at UNCA

Press release from UNCA: All events listed are virtual, free and open to everyone except where indicated. For more information, please visit unca.edu/events, or contact Steve Plever, splever@unca.edu. ARTS Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. – Drawing Discourse Drawing Discourse, UNC Asheville’s annual juried international exhibition of contemporary drawing, will have its 12th renewal online this year, opening […]

Buncombe County government experiencing countywide phone outage

Press release from Buncombe County government: Due to a widespread vendor-related issue, Buncombe County Government is experiencing a countywide phone outage. We are working with Charter Communications  to resolve and will notify the public when the number is back up. This outage comes as many community members are attempting to call Health and Human Services […]

Asheville residents invited to take survey about city government

Press release from the City of Asheville government: How are we doing, as your City government? The City of Asheville is working with the Polco/National Citizen Survey company to find out. The National Citizen Survey captures residents’ opinions on governance and participation, also drilling down to specific issues such as the built environment, community engagement, […]

At Buncombe jail, 26 staff and 9 incarcerated individuals have tested positive for COVID-19

Press release from the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department: As of January 6th, 11 Detention Officers and two Detainees at the Buncombe County Detention Facility are currently positive for COVID-19. A total of 26 staff at the Detention Facility have tested positive since the beginning of the cluster outbreak in December and a total of nine […]

Buncombe County Public Health will begin scheduling phase 1b COVID-19 vaccinations on Jan. 7

Press release from the Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services:  Buncombe County Health and Human Services (BCHHS) received its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine, quantity of 700 doses, on December 21. Within 24 hours of receiving the shipment, BCHHS began vaccinating individuals in the Phase 1A group. Buncombe County HHS has received two […]

NCDHHS issues secretarial directive with immediate actions to protect North Carolinians from COVID-19

Press release from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services:  The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today issued a Secretarial Directive telling North Carolinians to stay home except for essential activities and avoid gathering, especially indoors, with people who do not live with you. The directive comes as the state reports […]

Buncombe commissioners accept $900K in federal aid for COVID-19 relief, offer rent, mortgage and utility assistance

Press release from Buncombe County Government: More funding for those in need of pandemic-related assistance will soon be available. On Jan. 5, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved accepting $900,000 of federal funding via a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). This money will be used exclusively to help with financial hardships stemming directly […]

Asheville Chief Finance Officer leaves for new position on west coast

Press release from the City of Asheville: City Chief Finance Officer Barbara Whitehorn has accepted a position as Finance Director  with the City of San Bernardino, Calif., and will leave the City of Asheville Jan. 15.  Under her direction for the past seven years, the City of Asheville and the Finance Department have improved policies […]

Food and Nutrition Services recipients to receive temporary 15% increase in benefits

Press release from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services: Today, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced that Food and Nutrition Services recipients will see a temporary increase in the amount of benefits they receive. This increase is part of the federal Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020. “We […]

Buncombe County debuts pilot program to help protect victims of domestic violence

Statement from the office of Chief District Judicial Judge Calvin Hill:  Buncombe County recently became one of nine Counties to become a part of a pilot program, Caitlyn’s Courage, aimed at providing greater protections for victims of domestic violence. Buncombe County was invited to join the small number of pilot Counties when Chief District Court […]

Henderson County shares COVID-19 vaccine plan

Press release from the Henderson County Department of Public Health:  The Henderson County Department of Public Health and community partners have received numerous inquiries from the public regarding COVID-19 vaccinations. We would like to take this opportunity to provide an update on Henderson County’s vaccination plan. At the end of December, the N.C. Department of […]

WNC Regional Air Quality board to meet Monday, Jan. 11

Meeting notice from the Western North Carolina Regional Air Quality Agency:  The WNCRAQA board meeting will be held on Monday, January 11, 2021 at 4:00pm. Due to recommendations to limit public gatherings and Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), this meeting will be conducted remotely as authorized by Session Law 2020-3 and GS §166A-19.24. The meeting […]

NC IDEA Foundation kicks off 2021 spring grants cycle

Press release from the NC IDEA Foundation:  NC IDEA, a private foundation committed to supporting entrepreneurial ambition and economic empowerment in North Carolina, announced today that the organization will kick off its Spring 2021 Grants Cycle with a virtual information session and office hours that will highlight NC IDEA’s two upcoming grant opportunities supporting ambitious, […]

Haywood County invites residents 75 and older to pre-register for COVID-19 vaccine

Press release from Haywood County Emergency Management:  Beginning Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2020,  Haywood County residents over the age of 75, who have not already been included in a previous vaccination group, may begin pre-registering for COVID-19 vaccine appointments.  As Haywood County prepares to move into the next phases of vaccine distribution, we are asking for […]

District Attorney Todd Williams to serve on NC Innocence Inquiry Commission

Press release from the office of Todd Williams:  The Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office announces the appointment of DA Todd Williams to serve as a Commissioner on the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission beginning in January 2021.   “I believe in the work of this groundbreaking Commission and am honored to receive this appointment. I decided […]