Press release from Buncombe County Schools: Here’s a look at the BCS Board Briefing for November 14, 2024. The full broadcast is on YouTube, and photos are posted in this Google Drive folder. In a Special Recognition segment, we honored: · Peggy Buchanan, Owen District Representative and Dr. Glenda Weinert, At-Large District Representative In our […]
News Bulletins
Progress at North Fork Reservoir, debris removal on private properties, water distribution
Press release from City of Asheville: Storm Debris Right of way removal: current debris removal has been focusing on the public right of way and in highly impacted areas including the eastern portion of the County. Storm debris should be separated into categories including large appliances, construction debris, vegetative debris, hazardous waste, and electronics, and […]
City of Asheville Helene recovery update for Friday, Nov. 15
Press release from City of Asheville: The City of Asheville continues to provide Tropical Storm Helene recovery resource updates on a daily basis. Focus Areas of Recovery Efforts City of Asheville staff are organizing an operational framework to respond to the short, medium, and long-term recovery needs of our community. This operational framework is intentionally […]
The Refuge emergency shelter shifts focus to long-term recovery
Press release from Western Carolina Rescue Missions: (Asheville, NC) On Sunday, November 10th, Western Carolina Rescue Ministries (WCRM) responded to an urgent call for help by stepping in to operate the Gold’s Gym Emergency Shelter for the next 8 weeks. This initiative is a collaborative effort with the Red Cross, FEMA, City of Asheville, Buncombe County, […]
Holiday Jamboree comes to Pack Square Park Nov. 23
Press release from City of Asheville: This year, Asheville’s Annual Holiday Parade will take on a fresh twist as it transforms into a vibrant Holiday Jamboree at Pack Square Park, presented by Bojangles! Produced by the Asheville Downtown Association in partnership with the City of Asheville, the Jamboree is a family-friendly celebration of holiday cheer and community spirit, […]
City disbands homelessness committee, transitions to Continuum of Care approach
Press release from City of Asheville: Homeless Initiative Advisory Committee has convened community members to respond to homelessness together as appointed by Asheville City Council and Buncombe County Commissioners. In January 2023, the community received a set of recommendations from the National Alliance to End Homelessness about how to improve outcomes for people experiencing homelessness. A […]
Craft futures fund surpasses $1 million
Press release from Center for Craft: ASHEVILLE, NC (November 14, 2024) – The Center for Craft is thrilled to announce that the Craft Futures Fund has raised over $1 million to support craft artists in Western North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene. Since reactivating the Fund, the Center for Craft has quickly mobilized resources, disbursing over […]
Asheville Police asking for public’s help locating missing woman
Press release from Asheville Police Department: Asheville, NC (November 15, 2024): The Asheville Police Department is requesting the public’s help in their continued efforts to locate a missing person. This week marks the third anniversary of the disappearance of Bethany Collins Buckles. Bethany Buckles, 50, failed to return to her residence on Ravencroft Lane in […]
UPDATE: NCDMV services restored; NCDIT to continue monitoring systems
Press release from North Carolina Department of Transportation: As of 3:15 p.m., NCDMV’s connection to the NCDIT mainframe was restored and NCDMV was able to resume processing transactions in-person, online and at its self-service kiosks. NCDIT will continue to monitor its systems. ROCKY MOUNT – N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles operations are being severely impacted by […]
Additional Western N.C. state parks to reopen Nov. 15, three state parks face long-term closures
Press release from North Carolina State Parks: Elk Knob, Lake James, New River, and Stone Mountain state parks will reopen at least partially on Nov. 15, the Division of Parks and Recreation announced. These parks have been closed entirely since Sept. 27 due to Hurricane Helene. Mount Jefferson State Natural Area is anticipated to reopen […]
Tropical Storm Helene water recovery updates
Press release from The City of Asheville: Water Resources launched an investigative sampling program focused on testing for lead and copper from 25 locations across the distribution system, in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Lead exposure is particularly hazardous to pregnant women, breastfeeding […]
Report finds $1,697 median Asheville rent, below national median
Press release from Construction Coverage: Inflation data released last month revealed that, while the Consumer Price Index overall was up 2.4% year-over-year, the index for shelter had risen 4.9% over the same span. Increasing rent prices have been a major reason why: limited supply and high demand have driven the national rental vacancy rate—a key […]
Asheville City scchools update on water quality testing
Press release from Asheville City Schools: This letter is to update you on recent water quality testing conducted at our elementary schools by the City of Asheville Water Resources Department. We understand the importance of clean drinking water, and we want to assure you that the health and safety of our students and staff is […]
NCDMV services being impacted by NCDIT mainframe issues
Press release from North Carolina Department of Transportation: Division of Motor Vehicles operations are being severely impacted by N.C. Department of Information Technology mainframe computer connection issues. After dealing with sporadic connections to the mainframe for the last 24 hours, NCDMV has stopped processing transactions at the state’s 112 driver license offices until the problem […]
Second Harvest Food Bank partners with groups to deliver Thanksgiving meals in Asheville
Press release from MANNA Foodbank: WHAT: Thanksgiving Meal Box Distribution Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, in partnership with 23XI Racing and The Bubba Wallace Live to Be Different Foundation will be delivering Thanksgiving meals for 1,500 families in Asheville, North Carolina. WHEN: Thursday, November 21st from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. WNC Farmers Market […]
Water treatment system returns safe drinking water to UNC Asheville campus
Press release from UNC Asheville: All testing to ensure the water is safe and free from contaminants is complete, and today the campus community was notified of the change. As reestablishing safe, drinkable water was quickly identified as a critical need, UNC Asheville began working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers roughly four weeks […]
Asheville Art Museum and Big Crafty collaborate for Artist Market
Press release from Asheville Art Museum: WHAT: The Asheville Art Museum partners with The Big Crafty and Horse & Hero to host Little Crafty at the Museum: Artist Relief Edition. This special artist market supports Western North Carolina (WNC) artists impacted by Tropical Storm Helene. The Museum invites visitors to browse and shop locally made […]
MANNA Foodbank receives truckload of fresh eggs
News release from MANNA Foodbank: Dutt & Wagner and Green Valley Poultry Farm have generously donated one full truckload of fresh eggs—equivalent to 21,600 dozen—to MANNA FoodBank in Asheville, N.C., as a direct response to the urgent need for nutritious food following recent hurricanes. This contribution is part of an ongoing effort to support communities […]
NCDOT’s flood warning system predicted highway flooding during Helene
News release from the N.C. Department of Transportation: As Hurricane Helene barreled toward the Southeast, Chad Franklin received a warning from his colleagues who specialize in stormwater and flooding management for the N.C. Department of Transportation. The NCDOT engineers with the agency’s Hydraulics Unit were poring over data, and they didn’t like what they saw. […]
Asheville City Board of Education announces closed meeting Friday, Nov. 15
At a regular Asheville City Board of Education meeting Tuesday, Nov. 12, Board Chair George Sieburg said the board would be discussing Superintendent Maggie Fehrman’s annual evaluation at a special closed meeting on Friday, Nov. 15. The below agenda was posted Nov. 13. News release from Asheville City Schools: NOTICE OF SPECIAL CALLED CLOSED MEETING […]
WNC Mountain Strong job & resource fair comes to Hendersonville Tuesday, Nov. 19
News release from the Mountain Area Workforce Development Board: WNC Mountain Strong Job & Resource Fair will be Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at the Blue Ridge Mall (1800 Four Seasons Boulevard) in Hendersonville, NC from 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm. This hiring event will continue until 6:00 pm to allow more job seekers to attend. […]