Odyssey Community School hires new directors, signs to stay in Montford

For immediate release As a follow-up to the January sale of 90 Zillicoa to the UNC-Asheville Foundation, we are pleased to announce that Odyssey Community School secured a lease from UNC- Asheville Foundation allowing Odyssey to remain in its current location at 90 Zillicoa Street for the next academic year. “Remaining on the 90 Zillicoa […]

Asheville’s East Fork Pottery to be featured on UNC-TV

Local business East Fork Pottery, will be featured on UNC-TV’s flagship program, Our State, on April 3rd at 8pm EST. Our State is an Emmy award-winning documentary program that showcases and celebrates North Carolina’s rich cultural and artistic heritage. The fifteen minute segment on East Fork Pottery and it’s founder, Alexander Matisse, will kick off […]

YWCA, community organizations and Individuals take stand against racism

For immediate release The persistence and pervasiveness of racism divides our community and keeps individuals from achieving success in education, health, employment, and quality of life. The YWCA’s annual Stand Against Racism initiative brings people together to raise awareness that racism still exists and that it can no longer be ignored or tolerated. In 2013, […]

AC-T: Asheville power washing downtown sidewalks

The Asheville Citizen-Times reported Wednesday that a contractor for city government has begun pressure washing downtown sidewalks, cleaning areas that a city official said might not otherwise get washed even once a year. The cleaning removes grime, dirt, chewing gum, dog feces and stains from what public works employees not-so-lovingly call “trash juice,” foul liquid […]

Report shows Asheville roadways cost each driver $900 annually

Press release Asheville, NC – Roads and bridges that are deficient, congested or lack desirable safety features cost North Carolina motorists a total of $6.5 billion statewide annually – more than $900 per driver in the Asheville area – due to higher vehicle operating costs, traffic crashes and congestion-related delays. Increased investment in transportation improvements […]

Continental AG celebrates $35 million expansion in Henderson County

For immediate release Fletcher, NC – Governor Pat McCrory and Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker joined U.S. Congressman Mark Meadows, North Carolina Senators Apodaca and McGrady, and other leaders in helping Continental AG celebrate the opening of a $35 million expansion at its Henderson County production plant that will result in 40 new jobs over the […]

AC-T: Lawsuit over Smokies camping fee can continue

A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit over backcountry camping fees implemented last year at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park can move forward, the Asheville Citizen-Times reported Friday. However, Eastern District of Kentucky Senior Judge Joseph Hood dismissed a portion of the lawsuit that challenges an online reservation system. According to media reports, […]

North Carolina history and geography available online via “North Carolina Gazetteer”

Press release RALEIGH, N.C. — NCPedia and the N.C. Government and Heritage Library, in cooperation with the University of North Carolina Press, now make the entirety of “The North Carolina Gazetteer” available online through NCPedia at www.ncpedia.org, The free online encyclopedia features thousands of articles and resources about North Carolina culture and history. It is […]

N.C. unemployment rate falls to 6.4 per cent in February

For immediate release RALEIGH — The state’s seasonally adjusted February unemployment rate was 6.4 percent, decreasing 0.3 of a per- centage point from January’s revised rate of 6.7 percent. The national rate increased to 6.7 percent from January’s 6.6 percent. North Carolina’s February 2014 unemployment rate was 2.2 percentage points lower than a year ago. […]

Charlotte Observer: Asheville Airport uses Duke coal ash as fill material

The Charlotte Observer reported Friday that since 2008, the Asheville airport has been receiving the ash from Duke Energy. Duke gives the airport the ash for free, the Observer reported, and the airport uses it as fill material for construction projects. Charlotte officials are considering burying coal ash at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. In Asheville, […]

AC-T: Elections officials move forward on 95 voter challenges; 86 dismissed

Buncombe County elections officials moved forward with 95 challenges to voter registrations brought by the Asheville Tea Party and the Voter Integrity Project. The Board of Elections on Thursday dismissed 86 of the 182 challenges the groups filed, including 55 challenges that met part of the legal threshold for further investigation. Tea party volunteer Bill […]

Obama honors Bill Hodge of Wilderness Society

Press release (Washington, DC)—At a White House ceremony March 18, President Obama honored Bill Hodge of The Wilderness Society with the Champion of Change Award for Engaging the Next Generation of Conservation Leaders. Hodge is the director of the Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards (SAWS) program at The Wilderness Society. As SAWS director, Hodge works to […]