Press release from North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Light rain didn’t halt the expansion of drought across the state, with the North Carolina’s Drought Management Advisory Council (DMAC) expanding the Extreme Drought (D3) designation to parts of four additional counties in southwestern North Carolina, and classifying 10 more counties in the Piedmont as in […]
News Bulletins
Commissioners approve funding for Asheville High baseball lights, put Waste Pro contract out to bid
Press release from Buncombe County: The Cherokee were the first people to inhabit what is now known as Buncombe County before its official incorporation in 1792. During their meeting on Nov. 21, Commissioners declared November as Native American Heritage Month. The proclamation reads in part: “The area currently known as Buncombe County rests on land that […]
Attorney General Stein honors six Western North Carolinians with Dogwood Awards
Press release from the office of Attorney General Josh Stein: Attorney General Josh Stein today honored six North Carolinians in western North Carolina with the Attorney General’s Dogwood Award. These awards are given out annually to recognize people who are working to improve the health, safety, and well-being of their fellow North Carolinians. Recipients in western […]
APD seeking community assistance on West Asheville pedestrian fatality
Press release from Asheville Police Department: The Asheville Police Department is investigating a motor vehicle collision in West Asheville that claimed the life of a pedestrian early Tuesday morning. APD Patrol officers responded to the scene of the collision on I-240 West near the interchange of Haywood Road around 4:59 a.m. on November 21. The preliminary […]
Winners announced in Omni Grove Park Inn’s 31st annual National Gingerbread House Competition
Press release from Omni Grove Park Inn: The Omni Grove Park Inn held its highly anticipated Annual National Gingerbread House Competition™, on Nov. 20, which included 200 entries from over 22 states and Guatemala. Contestants spanned across adult, teen, youth and children categories all competing for a chance to win a piece of more than $40,000 […]
Buncombe Sheriff’s Office attempting to locate missing child from the Weaverville area
Press release from Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office: The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office is attempting to locate a missing child from the Weaverville area of Buncombe County. Joseph Lamb is a 16-year-old white male. He is approximately 5’ 6” and 145 pounds with shoulder-length red hair. He was last seen wearing a hoodie, jeans, and hiking boots […]
New Race modifications available for American Indians on birth and death certificates in N.C.
News release from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services: The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is taking steps to modify the representation of tribal affiliation on birth and death certificates. “The department is committed to presenting the accurate representation of all people on vital records,” said NCDHHS Chief Health Equity Officer […]
New report shows Asheville is 20th-most expensive midsize metro area for renters
New release from Lattice Newswire: As fast-rising real estate values during the COVID-19 pandemic priced more people out of home buying, rental markets became more competitive among consumers. On the supply side, inflation in the cost of materials, rising interest rates, and tightness in the labor market have all contributed to difficulties in developing new […]
Code Purple in affect for Wednesday, Nov. 22
News release from the Asheville-Buncombe Homeless Coalition: Code Purple for Wednesday, 11/22/23.Additional weather information found at weather.gov Purpose of Code Purple:Code Purple is a coordinated effort among Asheville and Buncombe County shelters and other organizations to provide emergency overflow shelter to people experiencing homelessness during extremely cold weather (at or below 32 degrees, including wind […]
Community Foundation of Western North Carolina doles out $1.5 million in grants
News release from the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina: (November 2023) The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC) approved grants totaling $1,477,690 to nonprofits across the region. The awards were made in CFWNC’s Early Childhood Development, Food & Farming and Human Services focus areas. Seventy-three Human Services grants totaling $1,373,190 were awarded to […]
Buncombe County offices to close for Thanksgiving
News release from Buncombe County: Buncombe County Government offices will be closed Thursday, Nov. 23, and Friday, Nov. 24, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Please see below for additional schedule information. Board of Elections The Board of Elections will be closed Nov. 23-24. Buncombe County Courthouse Buncombe County courts observe the North Carolina Judicial Branch […]
Buncombe air quality forecast is green and yellow, burn ban in effect
News release from the Asheville-Buncombe Air Quality Agency: Monday, November 20, 2023, is a code GREEN air quality forecast day for the valleys and northern ridge tops of Asheville and Buncombe County. No health impacts are expected when air quality is in this range. For the southern ridge tops, it is a code YELLOW air […]
NC Fire Service update: Two fires still burning in WNC
News release from the North Carolina Fire Service: The Poplar Drive Fire in Henderson County has reached 100% containment. The fire will continue to be monitored by N.C. Forest Service personnel. The fire footprint was 434 acres, and the cause was determined to be a debris burn. The Collett Ridge Fire, burning in Cherokee and […]
Air Quality Forecast – Green, Yellow and Orange NO BURNING
Press release from Asheville-Buncombe Air Quality Agency: Saturday, November 18, 2023, 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 northern ridge tops, it is a code YELLOW air quality forecast day. Unusually sensitive people should consider limiting […]
Buncombe County Board of Elections certifies municipal election results
Press release from Buncombe County Board of Elections: In accordance with NCGS § 163-182.5, the Buncombe County Board of Elections met today to complete the certification of votes cast in the Nov. 7, 2023 municipal election. Canvass is the official process of determining whether the votes have been counted and tabulated correctly, resulting in the […]
ABCCM receives 2023 Hire Vets Gold Medallion Award from U.S. Department of Labor
Press release from Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry: ASHEVILLE, NC, NOVEMBER 2023 – U.S. Acting Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su recognized ABCCM as one of 859 recipients of the 2023 HIRE Vets Medallion Award during a virtual award ceremony presented by U.S. Department of Labor. ABCCM earned the Gold Award. The Honoring Investments in Recruiting […]
Reject Raytheon AVL and Party for Socialism and Liberation plan demonstration near Pratt & Whitney plant
Press release from Reject Raytheon AVL and Party for Socialism and Liberation: Local groups Reject Raytheon AVL and Party for Socialism and Liberation are sponsoring a demonstration near the site of the Pratt & Whitney plant in Buncombe County. The demonstration will take place at the Bent Creek River Park at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, […]
U.S. Rep. Edwards announces second run for Congress
Press releae from the office of Congressman Chuck Edwards: U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards, a Henderson County Republican representing North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, announced his candidacy for a second term in the U.S. House of Representatives today. Edwards, a Western North Carolina native and businessman, was elected to his first congressional term in 2022 after […]
Pair of I-26 overnight closures scheduled
Press release from NCDOT: Contractors for the N.C. Department of Transportation will close two sections of Interstate 26 East tonight necessitating two detours for drivers between Asheville and Hendersonville. In Buncombe County, I-26 East will close no earlier than 7 p.m. from Brevard Road (Exit 33) to Long Shoals Road. Drivers will be detoured onto […]
Sheriff’s Office Attempting to Locate Missing Man from the Candler area of Buncombe County
Press release from the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office: The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office is attempting to locate a missing man from the Candler area of Buncombe County. Edwards Hicks is age 29, a white male, approximately 5’ 6”. He has brown hair and blue eyes. Mr. Hicks was last seen at the residence he was […]
APD investigating early morning shooting into an occupied home, seeks public’s help
Press release from APD The Asheville Police Department is actively investigating the shooting that occurred in the early hours of Tuesday morning Thankfully, no one was injured; only property damage has been reported at this time. While on routine patrol on Nov. 14, around 1:44 a.m., officers in the vicinity of Hanover Street observed two […]