SoundTrack

My momma always told me you could tell a lot about a person by the shoes he wears. I’ve been self-conscious about my shoes, and noticing of others, ever since. So the first thing I did after shouldering my way to the front of The Grey Eagle stage was spy the Custard Pie footwear. This […]

WNC News Roundup

Here’s a look at some of what’s been happening around WNC: A hiker with two broken legs crawled for 20 hours before being rescued; Dillsboro is still reeling after the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad announced it was ceasing operations; McDowell deputies followed wheelbarrow tracks to nab a burglar, and they’re looking for a vandal who painted a home in an upscale community with animal feces; shoppers can cash in on the state’s tax-free weekend targeting the back-to-school crowd; and it’s Mineral and Gem Week in Mitchell County.

Economists­: Asheville defies national downturn

Despite the longest-running financial panic in the U.S. since the Great Depression, Asheville and its strong health-services and tourism sectors continue to see sustained economic growth, two economists said Thursday night. Hanging in there: Economist James F. Smith of Western Carolina University discussed national economic woes but noted that the Asheville area’s economy is still […]