Smoke spreads across WNC from brush fire, Pisgah burn
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Fire officials across Buncombe, Haywood and Transylvania counties warned residents Friday to expect smoke-filled skies as a brush fire and a large prescribed burn sent haze drifting across the region. The North Canton and Leicester fire departments said smoke was moving into their...
NC Governor Stein Visits Rebuilt Home in Fairview, Lauds Renew NC’s Rapid Hurricane Recovery...
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein recently paid a visit to a home in Fairview that has been rehabilitated under the Renew NC program, demonstrating the state's commitment to recovery after the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene. According to a release from the Governor's Office, the Renew NC Single-Family...
Smoke Seen Across Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina Linked to 1,000-Acre Prescribed...
UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA — Residents across Greenville, Spartanburg, and parts of western North Carolina may notice hazy skies and a smell of smoke this week — but officials say there’s no cause for alarm. The haze is coming from a 1,000-acre prescribed burn in Transylvania County, North Carolina, intended to reduce...
Whatever it takes: Helping older adults of all faiths
Editor’s note: As part of our Fall Nonprofit Issue, Xpress reached out to a number of local organizations for updates on their missions and future plans. The “Whatever it takes” series is available in this week’s and next week’s issues. Michael Barnett is executive director...
SNAP Funding to Fully Resume in Buncombe County
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is now funded until September 30, 2026, and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is working to fully fund all recipients. The more than 29,000 Buncombe County residents who rely on these benefits to purchase food will begin receiving all...
Asheville Hosts Historic North Carolina Awards Event, Raises $200K for Hurricane Helene Recovery
Asheville’s Grove Park Inn hosted this year’s North Carolina Awards, celebrating the state’s top civilian honorees and supporting Hurricane Helene recovery efforts. Governor Josh Stein and the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources raised nearly $200,000 for the North Carolina Community Foundation, according to...
The 1901 burning of the Cataloochee schoolhouse
It’s a question Asheville resident Steve Woody is known to raise when it comes to a tale he has regaled listeners with for decades. A story of whiskey, fire and a pact that three men made in 1901 — an account, as Woody tells it, that the trio agreed to keep secret until only one surviving member remained.
Urgent Plea for Safer Driving in Residential Areas
A recent social media post has sparked a heated discussion about the issue of speeding in residential areas. The original post, shared on Reddit, expresses frustration over drivers who speed excessively on residential streets, endangering pedestrians and pets. The user, who identifies as a resident of Asheville,...
Buncombe Co. advises against open-burning; Milk Sick Cove 100% contained, Fairview 90%
BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — The Grooms Road Fire in the Milk Sick Cove is officially 100% contained, according to the North Carolina Forest Service's fire map. The fire had reignited on Nov. 14 after being 100% contained on Nov. 13. The fire had initially reached 22 acres on...
Fire reported in McDowell County
MCDOWELL COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA) – Firefighters are currently on scene working to contain an outside fire, according to McDowell County Emergency Management. The Marion Fire Department, North Carolina Forest Service, Pleasant Gardens Fire Department, Glenwood Fire Department, and McDowell County Emergency Management are...
