2 years after Helene: French Broad River cleanup continues as crews remove IPEX pipe
WOODFIN, N.C. (WLOS) — Nearly two years after Helene sent debris into the French Broad River, cleanup crews are still pulling millions of pounds of material from the water, including PVC pipe swept from IPEX's Woodfin facility. MountainTrue says it has spent roughly $1.5 million on cleanup efforts so...
As anniversary of Helene approaches, Biltmore Village is focused on the future
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — In September 2024, Biltmore Village, the historic Asheville district located just outside of the Biltmore Estate, was flooded by Tropical Storm Helene. Damage was catastrophic. However, two years later, the neighborhood has reopened, changed but recovering. Visitors to Biltmore Village wi
Luxury hotel and condo project in Hendersonville could be foreclosed
HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — There are new developments on Fairmont Heritage Place The Cedars, the luxury hotel and condo complex project in downtown Hendersonville. On Tuesday, Sept. 22, North Carolina Business Court Judge A. Graham Shirley, based in Raleigh, held a hearing involving the lender and defendant Cedars L
Shots of the Week from Biltmore Championship Asheville
Check out the best shots of the week from the 2026 Biltmore Championship Asheville, including a hole-out birdie from the bunker from Neal Shipley, chip-ins from Jackson Koivun and Haotong Li, plus a near hole-out eagle from Ben Kohles.
Henderson County sees 270% rise in student vaping and drug use: officials
HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Henderson County health leaders and law enforcement are raising concerns about an increase in vaping and drug use among students. The Henderson County Sheriff's Office presented information on the issue during a Board of Health meeting, including examples of vapes and other substances that
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
