Press release from the City of Asheville government: How are we doing, as your City government? The City of Asheville is working with the Polco/National Citizen Survey company to find out. The National Citizen Survey captures residents’ opinions on governance and participation, also drilling down to specific issues such as the built environment, community engagement, […]
News Bulletins
At Buncombe jail, 26 staff and 9 incarcerated individuals have tested positive for COVID-19
Press release from the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department: As of January 6th, 11 Detention Officers and two Detainees at the Buncombe County Detention Facility are currently positive for COVID-19. A total of 26 staff at the Detention Facility have tested positive since the beginning of the cluster outbreak in December and a total of nine […]
Buncombe County Public Health will begin scheduling phase 1b COVID-19 vaccinations on Jan. 7
Press release from the Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services: Buncombe County Health and Human Services (BCHHS) received its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine, quantity of 700 doses, on December 21. Within 24 hours of receiving the shipment, BCHHS began vaccinating individuals in the Phase 1A group. Buncombe County HHS has received two […]
NCDHHS issues secretarial directive with immediate actions to protect North Carolinians from COVID-19
Press release from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services: The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today issued a Secretarial Directive telling North Carolinians to stay home except for essential activities and avoid gathering, especially indoors, with people who do not live with you. The directive comes as the state reports […]
Buncombe commissioners accept $900K in federal aid for COVID-19 relief, offer rent, mortgage and utility assistance
Press release from Buncombe County Government: More funding for those in need of pandemic-related assistance will soon be available. On Jan. 5, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved accepting $900,000 of federal funding via a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). This money will be used exclusively to help with financial hardships stemming directly […]
Asheville Chief Finance Officer leaves for new position on west coast
Press release from the City of Asheville: City Chief Finance Officer Barbara Whitehorn has accepted a position as Finance Director with the City of San Bernardino, Calif., and will leave the City of Asheville Jan. 15. Under her direction for the past seven years, the City of Asheville and the Finance Department have improved policies […]
Snowfall alert issued for parts of the South, including WNC
Republished from AccuWeather: Despite a lack of Arctic air across the Lower 48 states during the first full week of the new year, storms will continue to brew and cause trouble in the form of snow — and not just across northern areas. AccuWeather meteorologists are keeping an eye on a storm that will emerge from the […]
Food and Nutrition Services recipients to receive temporary 15% increase in benefits
Press release from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services: Today, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced that Food and Nutrition Services recipients will see a temporary increase in the amount of benefits they receive. This increase is part of the federal Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020. “We […]
Buncombe County debuts pilot program to help protect victims of domestic violence
Statement from the office of Chief District Judicial Judge Calvin Hill: Buncombe County recently became one of nine Counties to become a part of a pilot program, Caitlyn’s Courage, aimed at providing greater protections for victims of domestic violence. Buncombe County was invited to join the small number of pilot Counties when Chief District Court […]
Henderson County shares COVID-19 vaccine plan
Press release from the Henderson County Department of Public Health: The Henderson County Department of Public Health and community partners have received numerous inquiries from the public regarding COVID-19 vaccinations. We would like to take this opportunity to provide an update on Henderson County’s vaccination plan. At the end of December, the N.C. Department of […]
Asheville rents up 4.3% since start of pandemic
From Apartment List: Asheville rents have increased 1.1% over the past month, and have increased significantly by 5.4% in comparison to the same time last year. Currently, median rents in Asheville stand at $1,050 for a one-bedroom apartment and $1,392 for a two-bedroom. This is the fifth straight month that the city has seen rent […]
Carl Sandburg Home will host virtual story slam Jan. 27-29
Press release from the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site: Carl Sandburg Home NHS will host a virtual story slam in honor of Carl Sandburg’s January 6th birthday. Throughout the month of January, storytellers are invited to prepare a true five-minute story, take a video of themselves reading the story, and submit the video to […]
WNC Regional Air Quality board to meet Monday, Jan. 11
Meeting notice from the Western North Carolina Regional Air Quality Agency: The WNCRAQA board meeting will be held on Monday, January 11, 2021 at 4:00pm. Due to recommendations to limit public gatherings and Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), this meeting will be conducted remotely as authorized by Session Law 2020-3 and GS §166A-19.24. The meeting […]
NC IDEA Foundation kicks off 2021 spring grants cycle
Press release from the NC IDEA Foundation: NC IDEA, a private foundation committed to supporting entrepreneurial ambition and economic empowerment in North Carolina, announced today that the organization will kick off its Spring 2021 Grants Cycle with a virtual information session and office hours that will highlight NC IDEA’s two upcoming grant opportunities supporting ambitious, […]
Haywood County invites residents 75 and older to pre-register for COVID-19 vaccine
Press release from Haywood County Emergency Management: Beginning Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2020, Haywood County residents over the age of 75, who have not already been included in a previous vaccination group, may begin pre-registering for COVID-19 vaccine appointments. As Haywood County prepares to move into the next phases of vaccine distribution, we are asking for […]
District Attorney Todd Williams to serve on NC Innocence Inquiry Commission
Press release from the office of Todd Williams: The Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office announces the appointment of DA Todd Williams to serve as a Commissioner on the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission beginning in January 2021. “I believe in the work of this groundbreaking Commission and am honored to receive this appointment. I decided […]
HCPS to adopt fully remote learning model starting Jan. 7
Press release from Henderson County Public Schools: Following this afternoon’s approval by the Henderson County Board of Public Education, Henderson County Public Schools will “Return to Learn” from Winter Break on Thursday, Jan. 7 under Plan C – the fully remote learning model. Students will attend class under Plan C through at least Jan. 31, […]
Leicester family welcomes first baby born at Mission in 2021
Announcement from Mission Health: Meet Reed Edwards, first baby born at Mission Hospital in 2021, pictured with parents Hallie and Reed of Leicester.
Buncombe Co. cancels Jan. 4 community engagement market; outdoor market at Enka Middle still on for Jan. 5
Press release from Buncombe County Government: Community Engagement Market Canceled for Jan. 4 Because of the impact of confirmed cases of COVID, the Buncombe County Community Engagement indoor community market scheduled for today at the Deaverview Community Center has been canceled. The outdoor community market scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 5, at Enka Middle from 5-6:30 […]
City of Hendersonville Housing Assistance Corp. receives Community Development Block Grant
Press release from the city of Hendersonville: The City of Hendersonville, in partnership with the Housing Assistance Corporation, is excited to announce the award of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) in the amount of $750,000 from The North Carolina Department of Commerce. “Receiving this grant is a culmination of numerous years and many stakeholders’ collaboration,” […]
NCDHHS reports record highs on COVID-19 key metrics
Press release from N.C. Department of Health and Human Services: RALEIGH — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is reporting new records for COVID-19 key metrics for Jan. 1 and Jan. 2, 2021. On Jan. 1, 2021, North Carolina reported its highest one-day number of COVID-19 cases with 9,527 new cases reported, exceeding […]