I-40 Improvements Continue in Eastern Buncombe County

Press release from the North Carolina Department of Transportation:  Improvements to bridges on Interstate 40 between Swannanoa and Black Mountain will continue through October as part of a two-year project to rehabilitate a 12-mile section of interstate. A contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation will work on nights and weekends to rehabilitate six bridges […]

UNC Asheville Board of Trustees to meet virtually July 24

Press release from UNC Asheville: The UNC Asheville Board of Trustees will meet via Zoom at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, July 24, 2020. Board members and staff will attend via electronic means in keeping with state and county directives that restrict the size of gatherings and include social distancing standards. This meeting will be open to the public via Zoom here: https://unca-edu.zoom.us/j/93416432599?pwd=U2VzZ0F1eVluUThWYVByVHhFS3VTdz09 Portions of the meeting may be closed […]

Buncombe County community COVID-19 testing on hold

Press release from the Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services:  For many weeks now, Buncombe County and clinical partner, Western North Carolina Community Health Services (WNCCHS) have tested over 850 people per week at the COVID-19 community testing sites. The community testing sites are meant to serve residents of Buncombe County who meet […]

Henderson County Water and Sewer Advisory Council announces meeting on July 27

Press release from City of Hendersonville: The next Henderson County Water and Sewer Advisory Council meeting will be held on Monday, July 27, 2020, at 6:00 pm at the City of Hendersonville Operations Center. The Water and Sewer Advisory Council provides an opportunity for transparency and collaboration between governing boards, stakeholders, the media, and the […]

Public input requested on hotel development and North Fork Dam improvements

Email from City of Asheville: The Office of Sustainability would like to make community members aware of two (2) opportunities to make your voices heard. Please take a moment to participate. HOTEL SURVEY Now is the time to identify environmental objectives you’d like to see included in hotel development in the City of Asheville. The […]

Boysworth named Warden of Swannanoa Correctional Center for Women

Press release from North Carolina Department of Public Safety: The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has named Theodore “T.A.” Boysworth as the new warden at the Swannanoa Correctional Center for Women in Black Mountain. He had been the deputy warden for custody and operations at the facility since 2018. “Warden Boysworth is a […]

Applicants invited to apply for Asheville City Council vacancy

Press release from the City of Asheville: The City of Asheville operates under a council-manager form of government. The Asheville City Council establishes the City’s policies and appoints the City Manager, who oversees day-to-day city operations and executes Council-established laws and policies.  The City Council also ensures the entire community is being served. The City […]

Duke announces that Asheville Combined Cycle Station is producing cleaner energy

Press release from Duke Energy: Duke Energy Progress customers in North Carolina and South Carolina are receiving 560 megawatts of cleaner energy from the company’s new state-of-the-art Asheville Combined Cycle Station in Arden, N.C. The new station generates enough energy to serve about 450,000 homes. The $817 million station includes two electricity-producing power blocks with […]

Air quality forecast for Wednesday, July 22: Good/Moderate (GREEN and YELLOW)

Wednesday, July 22, 2020, is a code yellow air quality forecast day for the valleys of Asheville and Buncombe County.  Unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged outdoor activities.  This forecast is based on particulate matter in the air. For the ridge tops, it is a code green air quality forecast day.  No health impacts are expected when […]

Park superintendent launches Smokies Hikes for Healing

Press release from Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent Cassius Cash invites the public to participate in a new initiative he developed called Smokies Hikes for Healing. Up to ten people can join the superintendent on eight hikes led by facilitators who will provide an opportunity for an open conversation about […]

Chief Justice Beasley orders extension of emergency directives regarding jury trials, court facility public health measures

Press release from North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts: Chief Justice Cheri Beasley has extended emergency directives in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These directives postpone jury trials and prescribe social distancing measures. The Chief Justice also extended a directive allowing additional time for clerks of superior court to schedule summary ejectment proceedings. “Courthouses continue to […]

Public invited to submit final questions as North Fork Dam improvement nears completion

Press release from City of Asheville: In a continued effort to prevent significant damage in the event of a natural disaster (flood or earthquake), and to meet the regulatory standards and design requirements set by North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Dam Safety Division, the City of Asheville, in conjunction with consultants from Schnabel Engineering, […]

Walk to End Alzheimer’s takes new approach for 2020 event

Press release from Alzheimer’s Association: The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s® will take place on Saturday, Oct. 10. The Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Asheville which attracts thousands each year to raise awareness and funds to fight Alzheimer’s disease will look different this year. Instead of hosting a large gathering, the Alzheimer’s Association – Western […]

Henderson County youth sought for “Say No to Asphalt Plant” poster contest

Press release from Friends of East Flat Rock: The Friends of East Flat Rock are asking Youth in Henderson County to participate in a Poster Contest. (K-12) It is easy to enter, and you could even win a prize! Simply email a copy of your drawing to: PosterContestEFR@gmail.com. Download the Friends of East Flat Rock […]

Pisgah Health Foundation grant enables Project Dignity expansion

Press release from Pisgah Health Foundation: A $25,000 grant from Pisgah Health Foundation has been awarded to non-profit Project Dignity of WNC, Inc, based in Hendersonville. Created in 2017, Project Dignity has continued to provide free feminine hygiene products to hundreds of women and girls in Henderson, Buncombe, Polk, Transylvania, Rutherford, Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties. […]

Changes enacted to sustain Buncombe County COVID-19 response capacity

Press release from Buncombe County: In an effort to keep from overwhelming our local COVID-19 response capacity, modifications to the Buncombe County COVID-19 community testing sites will go into effect this week. These changes are intended to make the COVID-19 response in Buncombe County more sustainable and responsive to the needs of our community. Since […]

The Block Community Collaborative releases statement supporting reparations, condemning police violence

Statement from The Block Community Collaborative: The Block Community Collaborative (TBCC) is made up of numerous businesses and residents in the historic, African-American neighborhood known as The Block.  As businesses and residences located on Eagle and Market Streets, we were witnesses to the excessive militarization of police and staging of APD in riot gear, armored […]

NCDMV to waive road test requirement for some drivers 18 and over

Press release from NC Division of Motor Vehicles: RALEIGH – With the timeframe for resuming road tests remaining unknown because of the continued impact of COVID-19 cases, the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) will begin waiving road tests for qualified drivers who are 18 or older, starting Wednesday, July 22.  These drivers MUST have an […]

Ingles Markets to require face coverings for all customers

Announcement from Ingles Markets: Ingles Markets, Incorporated (NASDAQ: IMKTA) announces plans to require customers to wear a face covering to help in the fight against COVID-19. The CDC stated “Cloth face coverings are one of the most powerful weapons we have to slow and stop the spread of the virus – particularly when used universally […]