Hope House founder Emily Fitchpatrick wins 2012 Community Leadership Award

Charlotte, NC – M. Chris Briese, Special Agent in Charge of the Charlotte Division of the FBI has chosen Mrs. Emily Fitchpatrick as the 2012 Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA) recipient for North Carolina. Mrs. Fitchpatrick is the founder and executive director of Hope House Programs (HHP) in Asheville, NC. HHP is a national initiative […]

RiverLink, state WaterRICH program partner for Oct. 22-23 rain-garden classes

Press release from RiverLink As part of our WaterRICH (Water Reuse, Infiltration, and Conservation for the Home) Program. RiverLink is partnering with the NC Cooperative Extension to offer rain garden class focusing on use in residential applications. We are offering the course to professionals for certification OR to residents not for certification (at a reduced […]

North Carolina voters say country would be better off if campaign ads weren’t so negative

A UNC/HPU Poll, conducted on the High Point University campus with support and collaboration from the UNC School of Journalism and Mass Communication, finds that a large majority of North Carolina registered voters agree that the country would be better off if election campaigns were not so negative. However, voters are split on who to […]

EDC gets Excellence in Economic Development Award from International Economic Development Council

Press releae from the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County Asheville, NC- The Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County (EDC) received a Silver Excellence in Economic Development Award for its Target Cluster Brochures from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) in the category of General Purpose Brochure for communities with populations of 200,000 – 500,000. […]

High levels of coal-ash toxins found in North Carolina waters, Duke study finds

A Duke University-led study has found high levels of arsenic, selenium and other toxic elements in coal ash effluents and in North Carolina lakes and rivers located downstream from the settling ponds of coal-fired power plants. Researchers collected and analyzed more than 300 water samples from 11 lakes and rivers for the study, which was […]

Chicago Tribune, Charlotte Observer profile Myers book on North Carolina beer scene

Breweries hopping in North Carolina From the Charlotte Observer, via the Chicago Tribune by John Borsden excerpt: Erik Lars Myers has built quite a career out of beer. Since the 36-year-old Maine native came to North Carolina a decade ago, his home-brewing hobby turned into a business — Mystery Brewing in Hillsborough and Nash Street […]

Asheville gas prices down, while California’s are up

California gas prices hit an all-time high — $4.61, WSOC Executive Producer Mitch Davis tweeted (based on a recent AP article). But here in Asheville, they’re down 2 cents a gallon. Press release from AshevilleGasPrices.com Asheville, October 8- Average retail gasoline prices in Asheville have fallen 2.0 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging […]

John Boyle: “Another day, another Twidiot”

Asheville Citizen-Times columnist John Boyle tells the tale of “Another Day, Another Twidiot” — and explores race, attitudes and politics. Here’s an excerpt: Thank you, Twittersphere, for yet another example of stupidity in action. Let’s call it Twidiocy. In the most recent case, a Buncombe County GOP volunteer was tweeting out some blow-by-blow from the […]

Southern Equality legal team offers free advice during Blue Ridge Pride, Saturday, Oct. 6

Press release from the Campaign for Southern Equality This Saturday, Oct. 6, from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Blue Ridge Pride, the Campaign for Southern Equality’s volunteer Legal Team will provide free assistance to LGBT individuals completing a Health Care Power of Attorney form. Many LGBT people either do not have the financial resources […]

Questions about the judicial races? See the NC Bar Association surveys

Election season includes district and statewide races for North Carolina judicial offices. But these races aren’t often covered by the media. Luckily, the North Carolina Bar Association surveyed more than 4,000 of its member attorneys about the candidates’ qualifications. Press release From the North Carolina Bar Association NORTH CAROLINA BAR ASSOCIATION PROVIDING INFORMATION ON CANDIDATES […]

Insurance companies request a 17.7 percent property rate increase for 2013

Press release From the North Carolina Department of Insurance RALEIGH— Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin today announced that the Department of Insurance received a homeowners rate filing from the North Carolina Rate Bureau on Oct. 1. The Bureau, which is not affiliated with the Department and represents the property insurance companies writing business in the state, […]

NC DOT’s tip for seeing the fall colors: Travel the state’s scenic byways

Press release from the North Carolina Department of Transportation Leaves changing color is one of the most visual indications that autumn is headed our way. A great way for sightseers to see the beautiful change of crisp, seasonal colors is to travel along North Carolina’s scenic byways. The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Scenic Byways program […]

Elderly woman shot, killed in Sunday robbery near Harrahs Casino in Cherokee

Asheville Citizen-Times report (excerpt) A woman was shot and killed during an armed robbery Sunday night in Cherokee, and the suspect remained at large Monday. The shooting was reported shortly before 10 p.m. in the parking lot at the Fairfield Inn & Suites on Paint Town Road (U.S. 19) across from Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, on […]

Asheville Christian Academy, Christ School students aim to raise money for Habitat for Humanity

Press release from Asheville Habitat for Humanity Students from Asheville Christian Academy and Christ School are learning about the need for affordable housing in Asheville – and have made a serious commitment to do something about it. This past Friday and Saturday, 18 students and advisors from the schools attended a two-day workshop hosted by […]

MAIN receives $10,000 Rural Digital Advocacy grant

Press release from MAIN ASHEVILLE – The nonprofit Mountain Area Information Network (MAIN) has been awarded a $10,000 Rural Digital Advocacy grant to build an online mapping and data visualization website for nonprofit organizations in Western North Carolina. Awarded by the Rural Policy Action Partnership, the grant was one of six national awards to organizations […]

Election 2012: Buncombe Sheriff Van Duncan endorses County Commissioner candidate Terry Van Duyn

Press release from the Van Duyn campaign : Buncombe County Sheriff, Van Duncan has recently endorsed Terry Van Duyn for Buncombe County Commissioner. Terry Van Duyn is running for County Commission in District 3, which comprises parts of South Asheville and Arden, Biltmore Forest, Enka, parts of Candler, Biltmore Lake, Sandy Mush, Leicester, and some […]