New Stories
Letter: Don’t trade Rankin Avenue parking lot
“We need more trees, not less!”
Letter: School staffer doesn’t deserve ‘Best Of’ vilification
“I know from personal experience that she strives to create positive, inclusive and quality education for all Asheville City Schools students.”
Gardening with Xpress: On blueberries and plastics
This month we’re exploring best practices for growing blueberries and safe ways to use plastics as part of your gardening toolbox.
Buncombe to vote on conserving 590 acres Oct. 4
The county’s Agricultural Advisory Board and Land Conservation Advisory Board are seeking $384,000 to fund six easement projects. Five easements would protect farmland in Asheville, Barnardsville, Leicester and Weaverville. The remaining project would help Hendersonville-based nonprofit Conserving Carolina secure an easement for Camp Woodson in Black Mountain.
County commissioner candidates participate in AAAC’s Arts AVL Town Hall
Al Whitesides, Anthony Penland, Martin Moore, Amanda Edwards and Don Yelton participated in the second of three Town Hall events.
WNC’s hemp industry worries about ‘legal gray area’
On June 30, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 762 (the 2022 Farm Bill) with language distinguishing marijuana from hemp, and Governor Roy Cooper signed it. That might have seemed to be the end of the hemp industry’s woes. But local businesses say it would be premature to stop there.
How is Asheville addressing panhandling?
While current city ordinances place some restrictions on panhandling, in most instances it is a legal means of making money. Bill Davis, spokesperson for Asheville Police Department, says police had received 95 calls for panhandling this year as of Aug. 17, the majority of which were requests for wellness checks out of concern for those in need.
Asheville gets one-year update on noise ordinance
Before the noise ordinance was passed last September, most noise complaints were called in to the Asheville Police Department nonemergency line. While APD still handles nighttime noise complaints and those that might come with safety risks, the city’s Development Services Department resolved 71% of complaints over the past year.
Local voice-over artists find success in a challenging industry
Stephanie Morgan, Marisa Blake and Mike Capra discuss navigating the niche industry.
Best Medicine with Morgan Bost: Local comedians discuss bonds, bonding and festivals
This month local comedian Morgan Bost and friends discuss ideas for how they’d spend the proposed $70 million bond money, ways to avoid romantic partners during this leaf season and the quintessential WNC festival that is not currently being produced.
Beer Scout: Whaley Farm Brewery opens in Old Fort
The McDowell County town adds its second beer producer and CiderFest NC returns after a two-year hiatus.
WTF: Regional councils
This installment of WTF explains what regional councils are and what they do by exploring the impact of Western North Carolina’s Land of Sky Regional Council on the area.
Around Town: Music Video Asheville returns with first in-person event in three years
The Asheville Music Video awards will have an audience for the first time since 2019. Plus, a local authors looks back at his time with John Lennon, ColorFest returns to Dillsboro and Tyger Tyger Gallery highlights the sun in new show.
From CPP: Broadband boost planned for 1,000 Buncombe County homes
Rural northern Buncombe County is the first area in the county to see the result of the American Rescue Plan Act’s quest to expand reliable broadband access. Buncombe is one of 81 NC counties that have received state funding to improve internet service.