Press release from Buncombe County Schools: Buncombe County Schools is providing remote/virtual learning opportunities for all students. This learning takes place outside the traditional school and classroom setting and uses various media and formats such as but not limited to: video conference, telephone conference, email, print materials, online materials or learning management systems. This information is […]
News Bulletins
YMCA continues to provide community support during COVID-19 crisis
Press release from YMCA of Western North Carolina: Like many YMCAs across the nation, the YMCA of Western North Carolina has shifted operations to support critical community needs during the coronavirus pandemic. The Y suspended programs and temporarily closed facilities on March 16. Following the recommendations of Gov. Roy Cooper and the N.C. Department of Health […]
Henderson County Public Schools employee tests positive for COVID-19
Press release from Henderson County Public Schools: On Tuesday, March 31, 2020, the Henderson County Department of Public Health (HCDPH) notified the district that a Henderson County Public Schools employee has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. Though local public health officials continue to be the authority in identifying positive cases and investigating close contacts, we […]
APD conducts preliminary investigation into March 31 active shooter incident
Press release from Asheville Police Department: On the morning of March 31 at approximately 9:49 a.m., the Asheville Police Department (APD) responded to the area of 60 Court Plaza, located in downtown Asheville, to assist the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office with an active shooter. The preliminary investigation shows that the shooter, who has been identified as […]
WCU faculty, students with Chinese ties bring much-needed surgical masks to area
Press release from Western Carolina University: A chat room conversation between colleagues at Western Carolina University with ties to China led to fast action that is putting surgical masks into the hands of front-line health workers in the region’s smaller care facilities. Yue Cai Hillon, professor of management at WCU, said the effort began with the […]
Area elders sought for new documentary film interviews
Press release from Center for Cultural Preservation: The Center for Cultural Preservation, WNC’s History and Documentary Film Center, is launching a special film project that seeks to capture the stories of WNC elders who themselves or their families overcame societal turmoil such as Great Floods, the 1918 pandemic, the Depression and other events that disrupted their […]
Haywood Co. Public Health Director offers advice during COVID-19
Press release from Haywood County Sheriff’s Office: Please see the 3/31/2020 message below from Haywood County Public Health Director, Patrick Johnson. First: When you do go out for essential activities at a grocery store or hardware store make sure you thank the person manning the cash register and the other employees. They are doing generally unrecognized […]
Local businesses partner to produce and bottle hand sanitizer
Press release from Dogwood Health Trust: The Board of Directors for Dogwood Health Trust recently approved the allocation of $10 million to address COVID-19 needs throughout the 18 county and Qualla boundary region of Western North Carolina. The funds are to support the goal of “flattening the curve” in the COVID-19 epidemic here locally. Efforts are […]
Mission Health sets up triage tents at local hospitals to prepare for COVID-19
Press release from Mission Health: Mission Health announced today the organization would be moving forward with standing up tents at its hospitals in the coming days to create additional capacity for triaging patients outside of emergency departments, should it become necessary as the COVID-19 outbreak evolves. “All Mission Health facilities have well-established protocols in place to […]
NC families to receive enhanced FNS benefits to ensure food access
Press release from To help families access food during the COVID-19 pandemic, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is temporarily increasing benefits for March 2020 and April 2020 to current Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) recipients in North Carolina. NCDHHS received federal authority to implement the program from the U.S. Department of […]
Asheville City Schools to honor scheduled Spring Break Holiday, April 6-13
Press release from Asheville City Schools: Good Afternoon Students, Staff and Families. This is Bobbie Short, Asheville City Schools, with an important update about Spring Break. While vacation plans have certainly changed, please know that the following decision was made with the mental health and well-being of our Asheville City Schools Family at its core. We […]
Hendersonville City Council to hold virtual meeting on April 2
Press release from City of Hendersonville: The Hendersonville City Council will hold its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, April 2, 2020 beginning at 5:45 p.m. In compliance with the Executive Orders of the Governor and Henderson County’s State of Emergency, physical public attendance of the public will not be permitted in the assembly room at […]
Statewide fund to provide financial relief to restaurant and hotel workers affected by pandemic-related layoffs
Press release from N.C. Restaurant Workers Relief Fund: The North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (NCRLA), the trade association behind NC’s $23.5 billion hospitality industry, has launched a relief fund to provide fast access to cash for restaurant and hotel workers immediately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The NC Restaurant Workers Relief Fund will support […]
City of Asheville issues protocols for inspections during State of Emergency
Press release from the City of Asheville: The City of Asheville is modifying its operations until further notice to protect residents and City staff while minimizing the spread of COVID-19 in our community. The Development Services Department (DSD) requests that contractors maintain a clean and safe environment for City staff so we may continue to […]
N.C. Insurance Commissioner orders deferral of premium payments to help consumers affected by the COVID-19 health emergency
Press release from N.C. Department of Insurance: North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey has activated an emergency declaration that will defer insurance premium payments for residents in all 100 counties. This order was activated March 27th as a result of President Trump’s March 25th Major Disaster Declaration for the State of North Carolina. North Carolina […]
N.C Arboretum closed indefinitely
Media update from the N.C Arboretum: Out of concern for the health and safety of our staff and guests and based on recent further mandates on social distancing set forth by federal, state and local government officials, The North Carolina Arboretum has made the decision to close until further notice effective at 5 p.m. today, Monday, […]
UPDATED: Travis Warren Glenn located
UPDATE from Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office: Travis Warren Glenn has been located. Press release from Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office: The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office is attempting to locate a missing person from the Swannanoa area of Buncombe County. Travis Warren Glenn is age 34, a white male, approximately 6’5” and 250 pounds with blue eyes and […]
N.C. Supreme Court extends Appellate Court deadlines
Press release from N.C. Judicial Branch communications office: The Supreme Court of North Carolina issued an order today extending all appellate court deadlines that fall between March 26 – April 30, 2020 for 60 days. In addition, the order encourages electronic filing and credits back secure-leave scheduled in April and May 2020. “We have reached a […]
Fish and Wildlife Service requests public input regarding genetically engineered crops on wildlife refuges in southeast
Press release from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has prepared a draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the potential use of genetically engineered crops (GECs) on national wildlife refuges in the southeastern United States. The National Wildlife Refuge System, the public lands network managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, employs a number of wildlife management practices to deliver specific […]
COVID-19 diagnosis at Brian Center for Health in Hendersonville
Media statement from Brian Center Health & Rehabilitation in Hendersonville: At this time, we can confirm that we have one resident at Brian Center Health and Rehabilitation/Hendersonville who has tested positive for COVID-19. This resident is currently undergoing isolation protocol at the Center. Any residents who are symptomatic are being isolated. We recognize the especially […]
Governor Cooper announces first COVID-19 unemployment benefits will be paid this week
Press release from the office of Gov. Roy Cooper: Today, Governor Roy Cooper announced that the first payments for the unemployment claims related to coronavirus will begin going out this week. The Division of Employment Security has received an unprecedented number of unemployment insurance claims since Governor Roy Cooper signed Executive Order No. 118 on […]