Statement from Asheville City Council: We are aware of possible protests planned for this weekend by groups with the goal of disrupting business downtown. We support the right to protest, we support speaking out against economic and racial injustice, and we discourage the disruption of business. Disrupting downtown businesses harms service workers, and the many […]
News Bulletins
N.C. Board of Elections sends judicial voter guide to all state households
Press release from the N.C. State Board of Elections: All North Carolina households – about 4.7 million in all – will soon receive the Judicial Voter Guide 2020. The 2020 guide contains information about all candidates for N.C. Supreme Court and N.C. Court of Appeals. It also includes important election dates and deadlines, tips for […]
Vance Monument Task Force plans community engagement for October
Press release from the City of Asheville: The joint city-county Vance Monument Task Force has begun its work of exploring options for removing, repurposing, or making alterations to the Vance Monument, as charged in a joint resolution by the city of Asheville and Buncombe County. With six members appointed by the city of Asheville and […]
Asheville selected as new site for 2020 Maui Invitational
Press release from the Explore Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau: Asheville is pleased to be named the host city in the mainland move of the 2020 Maui Jim Maui Invitational. The Tournament receives national coverage each year by ESPN and is considered the premier event around the Thanksgiving holiday. With the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s […]
Buncombe County Schools responds to Cooper’s K-5 Plan A announcement
Press release from Buncombe County Schools: On Sept. 17, Governor Cooper announced that North Carolina students in grades K-5 would be allowed to return for in-person classroom instruction under Plan A if a school system can do so safely beginning Monday, Oct. 5. As a reminder, the Governor’s Plan A includes: Minimal social distancing in […]
French Broad River Economic Impact Study seeks survey participants
Press release from the Mills River Partnership: Mills River Partnership supports the work of the French Broad River Partnership, and would kindly appreciate your participation in filling out this survey. Your participation in this survey will contribute to the beneficial work being done in the region. Visitors and Residents The French Broad River Partnership, in conjunction […]
Buncombe Soil and Water releases 2020 annual report
Press release from the Buncombe County Soil and Water Conservation District: In a snapshot, FY20 was a great year. FY20 may have thrown some curveballs, but the BCSWCD staff navigated the global pandemic with ease. Not only did the BCSWCD staff continue to provide normal programming and assistance, but they also stepped up to fight […]
Darin Waters named William C. Friday Faculty Fellow for the 2020-2022 fellowship class
Press release from UNC Asheville: Wildacres Leadership Initiative is pleased to announce Dr. Darin Waters as William C. Friday Faculty Fellow for the 2020–2022 fellowship class. Dr. Waters will join lead faculty Meredith Doster as a full partner in the work and practice of this two-year, statewide fellowship that honors the legacy of longtime UNC system president William C. […]
Virtual Pride Festival 2020
Press release from Blue Ridge Pride: Blue Ridge Pride is excited to announce that 2020 Pride is back on, just virtually. Back in May, after careful consideration from our Board of Directors, we determined as a result of COVID-19, community health, and social distancing, that we would cancel our plans for the Blue Ridge Pride […]
Nonprofits Thrive and Blue Ridge Health receive funding for homeless relief efforts
Press release from Thrive: In response to the COVID-19 crisis, two local organizations have been granted $398,825 in additional funding from the Federal Government through the CARES act. Thrive and Blue Ridge Health worked in partnership to apply for funding in two different programs in the grant to maximize the impact on homeless relief efforts […]
COVID-19 cluster traced to Enchanting Hair Fashions in Canton
Press release from Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency: The Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency, in consultation with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has identified a COVID-19 cluster connected to Enchanting Hair Fashions in Canton. Three salon employees, five customers, and five close contacts of those employees or […]
Gov. Roy Cooper appoints Darin Waters to the Arboretum Board of Directors
Press release from the Office of Gov. Roy Cooper: Today, Governor Roy Cooper announced appointments for boards and commissions in North Carolina. Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Arboretum Board of Directors: Dr. Darin J. Waters of Asheville as a member at-large. Waters is an Assistant Professor of History and Special Assistant […]
Public schools able to implement Plan A for elementary schools
Press release from the Office of Gov. Roy Cooper: After several weeks of stable COVID-19 trends and continued low virus spread in school settings, Governor Roy Cooper today announced that beginning on October 5, North Carolina public school districts and charter schools can choose to implement Plan A for elementary schools (grades K-5). Plan A […]
Report reveals decline in total travel in the Asheville metro area
Press release from Lattice Publishing LLC: Despite sharp declines in total travel since the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans have been taking significantly more long-distance road trips than in previous years. COVID-19 took hold during the warmer months and peak travel periods for many Americans, contributing to a more than 30 percent decline in total travel since […]
Buncombe County noted as a trouble spot for seat belt safety
Press release form N.C. Department of Transportation: The North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program (NCGHSP) is working with researchers this month to determine the statewide official seat belt use rate. “Researchers will be observing several areas, primarily our larger metropolitan: Mecklenburg County which has experienced a sharp decline of nearly eight percent,” said Mark Ezzell, NCGHSP […]
N.C. Department of Transportation launches its 2020 Watch for Me N.C. awareness campaign
Press release from N.C. Department of Transportation: Drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists in western North Carolina from Murphy to Mount Airy will see increased safety information as the N.C. Department of Transportation kicks off its 2020 Watch for Me NC awareness campaign. Last year, 241 pedestrians and 19 bicyclists were killed on North Carolina roadways. Drivers, […]
Deputy Ryan Hendrix’s funeral service scheduled for Friday, Sept. 18
Press release from Henderson County Sheriff’s Office: Please be advised of the following information regarding the funeral services for Henderson County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Hendrix. The 2pm services this Friday, at Mud Creek Baptist Church, will be for law enforcement officers, first responders and family members only. Visitation for the public to pay their respects […]
Mission nurses overwhelmingly approve unionization
Press release from National Nurses United: It’s a new day at HCA’s Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina, for registered nurses, for their patients, their community, and as a message to nurses and all workers across the South. In the first private sector hospital union election win in North Carolina, the largest at any nonunion […]
UNC Asheville experiences largest drop in enrollment among UNC campuses
Press release from University of North Carolina System: Despite the unprecedented challenges of this academic year, the UNC System welcomed a record-setting class this fall. This marks the third year in a row that the University has reached record-high enrollment. There are now 242,464 students enrolled across the UNC System — an increase of 1 […]
Buncombe County Health and Human Services to host Facebook Live community update at 3 p.m.
Press release from Buncombe County Health and Human Services: Buncombe County will be providing a Community Update today at 3:00 pm via Facebook Live @Buncombegov. The Spanish version will be aired via Facebook Live @BCHHS. Today’s speaker is Stacie Saunders, Buncombe County Public Health Director.
Buncombe high schoolers to continue remote learning through December
Announcement from Buncombe County Schools: Tonight, the Board of Education held a Special Called meeting to reconsider Return to Learn plans for this semester. After some discussion, regarding students in grades 9-12 and Buncombe Co. Early College, the board voted that these students will remain remote through December. More scheduling details will follow soon. Please […]