N.C. Gov. McCrory: Duke needs to get Dan River coal-ash spill under control

Press release from N.C. Gov. Pat McCrory Press Release Governor McCrory Directs Duke Energy to Bring Coal Ash Spill Under Control Governor travels with his environmental agency staff to spill site in Eden Raleigh, NC – North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory traveled to the site of the coal ash spill in Eden Thursday to direct […]

DENR continues testing of Dan River after coal-ash spill

Press release from the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Environment State test results of water quality sampling near coal ash spill released RALEIGH – State test results completed Thursday for a number of water quality parameters, including 17 metals, show no violations of state water quality standards for most samples taken Monday and […]

DENR: Early water tests from Dan River coal-ash spill “normal”

Press release from N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources DENR releases initial water test results from Duke Energy coal ash spill RALEIGH – Initial water quality testing performed on site at Duke Energy’s Dan River power plant today by staff from the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources showed no deviation from normal […]

Ashvegas update: More details on new West Asheville coffee shop

“Ashvegas” (aka Jason Sandford) reported on Jan. 9 that a new coffee café is coming to 800 Haywood Road in West Asheville: Odds Cafe. The building is next to the former Digable Pizza (and that spot’s under renovation). This week, Ashvegas provides an update on café owner Audrie Blomquist’s plans: Audrie, whose nickname has always […]

C-T: Local solar company FLS Energy gets big investor boost

From the Asheville Citizen-Times “Asheville solar firm gets $30M investment,” by Dale Neal FLS Energy, the homegrown solar power company ranked as one of the nation’s fastest growing firms, looks to add jobs locally while spreading nationwide with a $30 million infusion by a group of private investors. FLS Energy will close this week on […]

NYTimes: Study explores affects of poverty, increased income in Eastern Band of Cherokee

From the New York Times “The Great Divide: What Happens When the Poor Receive a Stipend? By MOISES VELASQUEZ-MANOFF Today, more than one in five American children live in poverty. How, if at all, to intervene is almost invariably a politically fraught question. Scientists interested in the link between poverty and mental health, however, often […]

Go Bulldogs! UNCA women’s basketball team upsets conference leaders in overtime

from UNC Asheville Women’s Hoops Stuns Liberty In Overtime, 83-80 ASHEVILLE, N.C. – With time winding down in overtime and the UNC Asheville women’s basketball team holding an 81-80 lead, freshman guard Ja’Da Brayboy forced a turnover and then converted two free throws to give the Bulldogs an 83-80 victory over Big South Conference leader […]

C-T: Demolition on The Block makes way for revitalization project

The Asheville Citizen-Times highlights the early stages of a six-story project that will provide 62 affordable-housing units, as well as commercial/retail space, for The Block, downtown’s historic African-American business district. “The site that will become Eagle Market Place has been stripped down as part of the process of putting a new, six-story building in [The […]

US Weather Service: Flood watch for Buncombe, most of Appalachians

The U.S. Weather Services advises that the Asheville area, most of Western North Carolina, upstate South Carolina and much of the Appalachians is under a flood watch through tonight, Dec. 22. According to the Weather Channel, the Asheville area could receive 2 to 3 inches of rain. ..FLOOD WATCH TODAY AND TONIGHT… .INCREASING MOISTURE AHEAD […]

Citizen-Times: Duke Energy requests more time to comply with city lighting rules

From the Asheville Citizen-Times When City Council passed an ordinance in November 2008 to reduce glare from outdoor security lights, it gave light owners five years to comply. Now, Duke Energy, owner of the vast majority of the lights, says it needs more time because it has done little or nothing to replace or modify […]

Citizen-Times profiles First Presbyterian’s ‘Sanctuary Saturday’

From the Asheville Citizen-Times [Sanctuary Saturday occurs] from October through March in the fellowship hall at First Presbyterian Church [in] downtown [Asheville], when the hungry and homeless seek refuge from the elements and protection from the unknown during the cold winter months. Now in its fifth year, the Saturday Sanctuary ministry at First Presbyterian is […]

Ingles Markets, Heath Shuler Foundation help provide Thanksgiving meals to 1,000 families

Press release from the Eblen Foundation INGLES MARKETS / HEATH SHULER FOUNDATION BRIGHTEN THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS FOR THOUSANDS (Asheville, NC) This Wednesday, November 27th, former collegiate and NFL star and United State Congressman Heath Shuler will be joining Ingle’s Markets and members of the Eblen Charities Board of Directors, Duke Energy, Wells Fargo Advisors, Asheville Radio […]

C-T: Conference, church agreement could affect Montreat College merger with Point University

From the Asheville Citizen-Times MONTREAT — An agreement between Montreat College and the association that runs the Montreat Conference Center could play a role in the college’s plans to merge with Georgia-based Point University. Montreat and Point officials announced in July that the two schools had agreed to pursue a merger. The combined school would […]

Forest Service update: Table Rock fire in Linville Gorge wilderness covers 2,700 acres

Press release from the U.S. Forest Service BURKE COUNTY, NC – Due to concerns over fire fighter safety, The North Carolina Type 3 Team is evaluating options for controlling the Table Rock wildfire in the Linville Gorge on the Grandfather Ranger District. “Even though recent rains have assisted fire fighters in their suppression efforts, this […]

N.C. air-quality officials continue warnings for north counties near Table Rock

Press release Air Quality officials continue health notice for Western North Carolina RALEIGH – Air quality officials continued an advisory today for air pollution in parts of western North Carolina as smoke from a Burke County wildfire drifts downwind. Residents in Avery, Burke, Caldwell, McDowell and Watauga counties could experience unhealthy air quality, depending on […]

Mission Health: Transylvania Regional and McDowell hospitals earn recognition

Press release from Mission Health Mission Health’s Transylvania Regional Hospital and McDowell Hospital Nationally Recognized for Exceptional Patient Care by Prestigious Health Care List Asheville, N.C. (Oct. 30, 2013) – In national quality rankings that were released today by the leading accreditor of American healthcare organizations, two Mission Health hospitals have been recognized for exceptional […]

Will Asheville break its annual rainfall record this week?

Will the Asheville area break its annual rainfall this week? The Asheville Citizen-Times predicts we might: From the Asheville Citizen-Times Showers on the way for Thursday and Friday may be just enough to nudge Asheville to a yearly rainfall record. Unfortunately, it all starts on Halloween…. This week’s precipitation, arriving ahead of a cold front, […]