A temporary restraining order is being requested today to keep the N.C. Department of Transportation from permitting vegetation removal—primarily trees—under new state rules that allow larger zones and clear-cutting in the public right-of-way by outdoor advertising agencies.
Opponents of the state’s new billboard law prepared a complaint and temporary restraining order request Feb. 29, 2012, in Wake County Superior Court. The legal action by Scenic NC, Inc., is aimed at keeping the N.C. Department of Transportation from permitting vegetation removal – primarily trees – in front of billboards and other outdoor advertising under new temporary rules set to take effect March 1.
The city of Asheville, at the Sierra Club’s request, may file an amicus brief supporting a lawsuit against new state rules that allow clear-cutting around billboards. Asheville City Council also approved a rezoning necessary for a Lenoir-Rhyne University satellite campus in the chamber of commerce building. Photo of future campus site by Max Cooper.
There are 8,000 billboards along North Carolina’s highways, and the rules just changed for cutting trees that affect the “viewing zone.” (photo by G. Pace)
On the air for the past decade, “Our Southern Community” posted what could be its last show on WWNC 88.7 — or will it live on, perhaps in another form? Creator and environmentalist Ned Doyle asks for your feedback.
ECO will offer a backyard orchard class to anyone interested in growing an orchard from the ground up. Photo by Bill Rhodes.
Many of us woke up Thursday morning to widespread fog across the French Broad River Valley, thanks to rains overnight that caused the layer of air at ground-level to become saturated – producing a cloud on the ground – or fog. Big changes are on the way with a strong cold front bringing an end to the mild weather on Friday.
A North Carolina House Select Committee has issued subpoenas to compel key EPA officials, including Superfund Branch Chief Don Rigger, to testify in a hearing in Raleigh next month, even as Mills Gap Road-area residents file a formal complaint of criminal negligence against the agency in the case of the former CTS of Asheville, and another Mills Gap home receives an emergency supply of bottled water from the EPA. Photo by Susan Andrew.
Locus and UNCA’s National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center signed a letter of cooperation to establish a working relationship that will leverage both organizations’ resources in applied research, web development activities, cloud computing, and science delivery collaborations.
In this edition of Warren Wilson College’s “Swannanoa Journal,”, Melody Miller talks about Asheville-based permaculturist Zev Friedman.
Snowflakes were flying earlier this week, as Valentine’s Day started off white at the higher elevations.
Snowflakes were flying earlier this week, as Valentine’s Day started off white at the higher elevations. This image of Max Patch in western Madison County shows the short-lived snow. So – what has happened to this winter? Why has it been so different than the last two years?
Greenpeace activists breached Progress Energy security this morning, Feb. 13. First, they unfurled a banner to a coal conveyor, then they scaled one of the facility’s three smoke towers, where they hung a banner that read, “The climate needs real progress.”
Greenpeace activists supplied this shot of their morning mission to climb a coal-supply ramp and hoist a banner calling for Progress and Duke Energy to “stop destroying mountains.”
Coming down the stairs of Ramsey Library, students and faculty faced the unmistakable smell of UNC Asheville’s trash. Despite the cold, grounds workers and the recycling coordinator, Zig, searched for recyclable and compostable items discarded in trashcans and sorted them on a large blue tarp on the quad. The demonstration was part of Recyclemania, an international competition to increase recycling and reduce waste.
The Shady Grove courtyard was demolished Feb. 6, reportedly in order to make room for a new walkway connecting Lexington and Rankin avenues. (Photo by Max Cooper)
The cloud of acid rain that's been hovering over Western North Carolina for decades may turn out to have a silver lining after all. A seven-year lawsuit against the Tennessee Valley Authority ended in a negotiated settlement last June. In 2004, North Carolina joined Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee in suing TVA over air pollution […]
North Carolina Rep. Patrick McHenry received a low score for his environmental votes by the League of Conservation Voters. The Republican represents the 10th District, which was redrawn last year to encompass most of the city of Asheville.
As we head into February, Western North Carolina continues to see plentiful rain as a steady stream of weather systems spread rainfall across the southern plains and into our area.
Less than a year after the annual Southern Energy & Environment Expo (S.E.E.) announced the end of its 10 year-run, organizers are already planning a similar event for this fall: The Southern Green Living Expo.
In this edition of Warren Wilson College’s Swannanoa Journal, Joshua Carpenter profiles John Casey, professor of environmental ethics at WWC.
From the first full image of our planet shot by Apollo astronauts to the latest full disk image produced by NASA’s Suomi NPP satellite — we continue to marvel at the beauty of our unique planet as we gather critical data about its weather and climate.
