Asheville NC

The inaugural cohort of the University of North Carolina Asheville’s new master’s program in environmental resilience arrived on campus at a fraught and fortuitous moment. The university’s announcement of the program last April came amid growing uproar over its plan to develop 45 acres of wooded campus. By the time...

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — A new approach to solar energy and recycling could soon change the way food is grown. At UNC Asheville, researchers are developing lightweight solar panels that can be built directly into greenhouses. “Traditionally, plastics have a pretty bad rep for their role in the environment...

Authorities in Buncombe County, North Carolina, say the death of 18-year-old Joseph Rose is now being investigated as a homicide after preliminary autopsy findings prompted investigators to change how the case is classified. In an update posted Dec. 16, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office said early autopsy results...

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (FOX Carolina) - Officials with the Asheville Fire Department said crews and hazmat are responding to a gasoline spill at a gas station on Friday. Officials report crews responded to an Exxon gas station on Charlotte Street around 2 p.m. A car drove away with the pump nozzle...

WEAVERVILLE, NC — Tommy’s Restaurant is under new ownership at 247 N Main St, Weaverville, NC 28787, where new owner Martin Ramirez said he is keeping the restaurant open while remodeling the kitchen. Ramirez told Business Debut he is focused on upgrading the back-of-house without interrupting service. Ramirez,...

When you walk into Pleasant Gardens Elementary School, usually, the first person you meet is Brenda Holsombach, who works in the front office as a secretary and teacher’s assistant. After twenty-eight years on the job, she is about to retire, leaving behind a full heart and plenty who will miss her.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Rental property owners whose buildings were damaged by Tropical Storm Helene may now apply for assistance through the Renew NC Small Rental Rehabilitation Program, state officials said. The program is designed to help eligible landlords repair, reconstruct or replace small rental...

Western North Carolina homeowners now have an additional month to apply for state-funded disaster recovery assistance. Gov. Josh Stein announced Friday that the deadline for the Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program has been extended to Jan. 31, 2026. The extension comes in response to requests from local...

FLETCHER – The chill and drizzle on a recent December afternoon didn’t seem to slow down the volunteers, wearing Santa hats and reindeer antlers, as they waved thousands of cars zigzagging through a vast parking lot with flashing red batons. MANNA Food Bank held a holiday food distribution drive-through Dec. 18,...

This coverage is made possible through a partnership between BPR and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization. During Hurricane Helene, the Asheville bookstore and co-op Firestorm Books served as a community hub, where people dropped off and picked up supplies. But for almost a week after the storm, the...