New LiDAR data shows Helene’s lasting impact on the mountains
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — In the days before Sept. 27, 2024, many mountain areas saw nearly 20 inches of rainfall before more intense rain came with Helene. That much rainfall will saturate the soil to the point where the soil becomes a liquid, sliding down mountainsides with a mass of forest material.
Fairview woman killed in hit-and-run crash, troopers say
FAIRVIEW, N.C. (WLOS) — A Fairview woman is dead after she was struck and killed by a vehicle that authorities said left the scene of the crash Monday, Sept. 21. The N.C. State Highway Patrol said the crash happened around 8:17 p.m. along Cane Creek Road. Troopers said a...
Buncombe Wins $786,000 for Swannanoa Sidewalk Repairs
Buncombe County has received a $786,000 grant to repair and extend sidewalks in Swannanoa’s commercial corridor as part of Helene recovery. The project will cover Railroad Street, Alexander Place and South Avenue, improving roughly 1,000 square yards of pedestrian infrastructure. The North Carolina Department of Transp
HIGHER GROUND — PART 1: THE NIGHT EVERYTHING CHANGED
SPINDALE, NC (WNCW) Two years after Hurricane Helene tore through western North Carolina, newly detailed accounts from the storm's first hours show how close a Lake Lure dam came to failing and how completely Buncombe County's 911 system broke down — details at the center of "Higher Ground", a three-part WNCW special r
Mountain State Fair attendance slightly down from ‘exceptional’ 2025
FLETCHER ― Heat and rain did little to dampen the fun at the 2026 NC Mountain State Fair, which wrapped up its 10-day run on Sunday, Sept. 20. The fair drew crowds that, while slightly smaller than last year's, beat 2024 attendance and were on par with typical numbers. The 2026 total of 153,260 was 7,800 fewer than las
Pack Memorial Library to debut soundproof study pods this winter
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Pack Memorial Library is about to get quiet, even by library standards. The downtown Asheville library has announced several upgrades coming to the library, including noise-cancelling personal study rooms. The personal study rooms, also known as pods, will be arriving this winter, where t
Asheville’s Flood Destroyed Dozens of Businesses and Priced Out the Artists Who Made It...
Asheville’s Artists Face a Post-Flood Housing Squeeze. the real estate market in Asheville North Carolina looks like for artists and...
For some Helene survivors, home is still out of reach two years later
ASHEVILLE - The floodwaters receded, but Western North Carolina’s affordable housing crisis has not. "It’s hard. It's super hard," Maryjo Tucker told the Citizen Times Sept. 9. "I have car problems, and it’s hard to save up for a deposit or even a down payment to buy a home. I have co-workers whose rent is more than th
Buncombe, Asheville school districts receive grants to support digital teaching, learning
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Asheville City Schools and Buncombe County Schools received grants to support innovative digital teaching and learning initiatives across North Carolina, according to the state Department of Public Instruction. The State Board of Education (SBE) approved the funding through North Carolina’s Dig
Black Mountain Magic at Trillium Table
A golden criss-cross pattern appears on the dining room floor of the Red Rocker Inn, shedding the room with a warm glow. As the sun slowly sinks behind Black Mountain, Maggie Willis adjusts silverware and flowers on tables, soaking in the brief time between stillness and the hum of guests arriving to their dinner at Tr
