Some Asheville-area groups and companies are providing assistance after parts of Louisiana received over 21 inches of rain in two days earlier this month. From cash donations to volunteering on the ground, here are a few ways that Asheville residents can participate in relief efforts for flood victims. Flood relief benefit at the Double Crown Maddy […]
Stream erosion is a growing problem in Western North Carolina. When a stream bank on your property erodes, more sediment enters the waterway and the area and appearance of your land is diminished. Government publications and agencies offer guidance for property owners hoping to stabilize their banks and promote healthy stream ecology.
In an upcoming issue Xpress will feature 12 people who are making Asheville, and the surrounding area, a better place to live. However, these won’t be the typical names associated with influencing the city. We’re seeking the overlooked, and need your nominations.
The river was filled with colorful and creative float inventions. Spectators lined the river’s edge to take in the sights.
While tractors and mechanized farm equipment have now largely replaced draft animals, a small but passionate contingent of farmers in Western North Carolina continues to rely on them to help with the daily work around their farms and as a source of extra income at times.
Asheville may be a top dream destination for many folks, but for an increasing number of newcomers and old-timers alike, the No. 1 dream destination may be just down the road a ways. With the challenges of urbanization besetting Asheville, newcomers and locals alike are turning to surrounding towns and communities in search of cheaper […]
To meet growing power demand, Duke Energy says it will need to build three new electrical substations close to downtown over the next ten years. The city is rushing to put an ordinance establishing requirements for substation screening in place while residents are banding together to oppose substations in their neighborhoods.
Funding from Buncombe County and the state is going toward the continuing fight against the hemlock woolly adelgid. As part of the effort new predator beetles are being released and a combination of biological and chemical tactics are being deployed in Western North Carolina.
The national tour celebrating — and raising funds for — National Parks and National Heritage Areas rolls into Asheville for a two-day event.
The Nutty Buddy Collective is pioneering new models of sustainable, perennial agriculture by establishing long-term leasehold agreements with conservation-minded landowners. Once the use of the land has been secured, the collective plants fruit and nut crops that take several years to reach maturity.
With the close of the 2016 session of the North Carolina General Assembly, homeowners and environmental advocates are scrambling to make sense of new legislation on coal ash ponds. How will the new rules affect the cleanup of coal ash ponds at Duke Energy’s Lake Julian plant, as well as homeowners who believe their wells have been contaminated by the ponds?
On Monday, July 11, the Western North Carolina Air Quality Agency renewed Duke Energy Progress’ Title V permit for its Lake Julian coal plant facility. This type of operating permit is regulated under the federal Clean Air Act and must be renewed every five years by most businesses whose facilities emit hazardous air pollutants, whether […]
Heritage livestock breeds have a lot to offer WNC’s small farmers. Fiber animals that evolved on small farmsteads are hardier and easier to manage than breeds developed for high yields and consistent characteristics. WNC farmers are exploring the advantages these heritage breeds offer, protecting them from possible extinction along the way.
Natural gas will dethrone coal as the fossil fuel generating most of WNC’s electricity when Duke Energy’s new Lake Julian plant goes online in 2020. But how does natural gas get to this area, and where does it come from? Though tracing the gas molecules to their source is tricky, Xpress found that much of the area’s gas supply comes from hydraulic fracturing, and new pipeline projects are in the works to bring more fracked gas into the region.
North Carolina Waterfalls by Waynesville travel and nature writer/photographer Kevin Adams features 1,000 waterfall excursions, more than enough such attractions to keep weekend adventurers occupied for years to come.
With the Great Flood’s centennial approaching, filmmaker David Weintraub has produced a documentary, Come Hell or High Water, exploring the catastrophe through descendants’ memories, historical photos and contemporary accounts. Xpress sat down with Weintraub to talk about the film, the flood’s impact on the region and the lessons to be learned.
The second meeting of the Buncombe County Energy Innovation Task Force focused on setting up working groups that will focus on four key areas: community programs, technical solutions, community engagement and communication and peak demand reduction.
On Sunday, June 19, MountainTrue, French Broad Chocolates and Asheville Greenworks will host a Father’s Day River Cleanup that combines paddling and trash gathering with chocolate and beer.
Toxic legacy: CTS site breeds heartache for residents
