Press release from Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership: The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership (BRNHA) has announced its 2020 Heritage Grants Program, which will provide funding for projects that preserve, interpret, and promote Western North Carolina’s agricultural, craft, Cherokee, music, and natural heritage. These five distinctive legacies earned the region a Congressional designation as […]
News Bulletins
NCDHHS launches testing initiative for nursing homes
Press release from North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services: The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) will partner with Omnicare, a CVS Health company, to make facility-wide testing available to residents and staff in all North Carolina skilled nursing facilities. There are over 400 nursing homes in the state with approximately […]
Henderson County Public Schools updates Return to Learn plans
Press release from Henderson County Public Schools: Like school districts across North Carolina, Henderson County Public Schools anxiously awaits the state’s determination of how our schools can safely resume education in August. Governor Cooper and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) are expected to make this determination on Wednesday, July 1. […]
East Buncombe COVID-19 community testing site experiencing high wait times
Press release from Buncombe County Health & Human Services: There is a high volume of people seeking testing at the East Buncombe COVID-19 community testing site with a high wait time of up to 2 hours. Please be patient while waiting in line and be aware of traffic congestion in the area around the testing site. […]
New A-B Tech president John D. Gossett starts July 1
Press release from Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College: Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (A-B Tech) announced today that John D. Gossett, Ed.D., has been named the college’s seventh president. Gossett currently serves as president of McDowell Technical Community College in Marion. Gossett, 57, succeeds Dennis King, who retired January 31. Gossett was selected on March 9 by the […]
Three City Council public hearings scheduled for July 14 formal meeting
Press release from City of Asheville: The following are City Council public hearings scheduled for the next formal meeting – July 14. This listing is for information only and is subject to change. Please call City Clerk Maggie Burleson at 259-5601 if you have any questions. A. Public hearing to solicit comments for the […]
Vance Monument Task Force applications accepted through July 10
Press release from City of Asheville: BE A LOCAL LEADER NEW: Vance Monument Task Force The Vance Monument Task Force (VMTF) was created by joint resolution by the City of Asheville and Buncombe County. The VMTF will be tasked with gathering citizen input, particularly from those most impacted by the monuments and participate in public […]
Air quality forecast for Asheville, Tuesday, June 30: Moderate (YELLOW and GREEN)
Tuesday, June 30, is a code green air quality forecast day for the valleys of Asheville and Buncombe County. No health impacts are expected when air quality is in this range. For the ridge tops, it is a code yellow air quality forecast day. Unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged outdoor activities. This forecast is based on ozone levels. […]
Asheville police officer charged, suspended after SBI investigation concludes excessive force
Press release from Asheville Police Department: On February 11, 2020, Senior Police Officer Anthony Sorangelo and several other officers from the Asheville Police Department responded to a call for service regarding an intoxicated man lying on Hendersonville Road. During the arrest the man became agitated and combative while SPO Sorangelo assisted him into the patrol […]
Brevard foster families enjoy free night out courtesy of donors
Press release from Bracken Mountain Design Build: BREVARD – In the best-case scenarios for charitable giving, the costs are shared and the impact is doubled or tripled. That is exactly what Birmingham-based attorney Lawrence King of Simmons, Ford & Spree, P.C. set in motion when he purchased a $100 gift certificate from Rocky’s Grill & […]
Buncombe Ag & Land Resources office opens to the public
Announcement from Buncombe County Soil & Water: The Ag & Land Resources office is now open to the public. On-site staffing is limited so appointments are high recommended. For the protection of our staff we are asking for clients to wear a mask, if you do not have a mask we will provide one for […]
Meals on Wheels purchases new delivery containers with grant from WNC Bridge Foundation
Press release from Council on Aging for Henderson County: Hendersonville, NC: Thanks to a $10,000 grant from the WNC Bridge Foundation, the Council on Aging for Henderson County has been able to purchase 100 new insulated delivery bags for the Meals on Wheels program. The new bags are lighter and easier for volunteers to carry […]
Blue Ridge Humane Society Thrift Store now accepting donations
Announcement from Blue Ridge Humane Society: Hendersonville, NC—The Blue Ridge Humane Society Thrift Store will begin accepting merchandise donations for resell from the public on Tuesday, June 30th. Donations will only be accepted on Tuesdays and Fridays between the hours of 10:30am-4:00pm. The Thrift Store remains open for shopping with the reduced hours of 10:30am-4:30pm, […]
Asheville Police Department seeks assistance to locate arson suspect
Press release from Asheville Police Department: The Asheville Police Department is requesting assistance to identify an arson suspect. At approximately 2:12 a.m. on June 20 the Asheville Police Department responded to a fire in the alley between Salsa’s and Farm Burger (10 Patton Avenue) that was believed to be suspicious. The fire was lit in […]
Asheville gas prices rise in past week but trend below national average, GasBuddy reports
Press release from GasBuddy: Asheville gas prices have risen 6.2 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $1.99/g today, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 259 stations. Gas prices in Asheville are 24.0 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 60.4 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. According to […]
NCDHHS selects organizations to address COVID-19 impacts on Latinx community
Press release from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services: The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has awarded grants to five local North Carolina organizations to help address the disparate impact COVID-19 is having among the state’s Hispanic and Latinx communities. Association of Mexicans in North Carolina Inc. (AMEXCAN), El Centro Hispano, […]
Henderson County announced COVID-19 testing sites June 30 and July 7
Press release from the Henderson County Department of Public Health: The Henderson County Health Department will offer two COVID-19 testing sites for the public on Tuesday, June 30, and Tuesday, July 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at East Henderson High School, 150 Eagle Pride Drive, East Flat Rock 28726. The testing site will […]
Rep. Brian Turner advocates reopening of fitness facilities, urges NC governor to sign legislation
Statement from Rep. Brian Turner, D-Buncombe: June 26, 2020 (ASHEVILLE)—Following the passage of HB 806 from both chambers of the North Carolina General Assembly, Representative Brian Turner (D-Buncombe) released the following statement: “Representing a district filled with countless independent fitness studios, I’m proud to support legislation that will get our state’s 2.5 million health club […]
Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office releases information about face coverings
Press release from the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office: Starting Friday, June 26th at 5 p.m. face coverings are required across North Carolina as part of an Executive Order issued by Governor Roy Cooper. The full order can be read here. We have received many questions at the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office from community members about the […]
Air quality forecast for Asheville, Saturday, June 27: Moderate (YELLOW)
Forecast for Saturday, June 27, 2020, is a code yellow air quality forecast day for the valleys and ridge tops of Asheville and Buncombe County. Unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged outdoor activities. The Mountains of Western North Carolina are expected to be impacted by the Saharan dust plume over the weekend. For updated forecasts […]
Celo author Katey Schultz wins Foreward INDIES Book of the Year award
Press release from Loyola University Maryland’s Apprentice House Press: Loyola University Maryland’s Apprentice House Press is pleased to announce that Katey Schultz’s recent novel, Still Come Home, has been named a winner in the 21st annual Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards. Schultz was awarded the Bronze Medal in the Adult General Fiction category. […]