Child exploitation investigation in WNC leads to arrest
HAYWOOD COUNTY, N.C. (FOX Carolina) - A man is behind bars after a child exploitation investigation, according to the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office said Waynesville resident Toby James Moorefield, 22, was arrested on charges of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and indecent liberties...
Hearing set on whether District Attorney Ted Bell will be removed from office
RUTHERFORD COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — District Attorney Ted Bell, who serves the counties of Rutherford and McDowell, is facing a hearing later this month on whether or not he could be removed from office. If Bell is removed, he will be the first district attorney to be removed in...
Foggy start gives way to mild, sunny week in Asheville
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Morning fog reduced visibility on some roads across the Asheville area Monday, but forecasters say the region is headed for a mostly sunny and mild stretch of weather through midweek. The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg warned of low visibility early Monday across...
Town Council Appoints Richard Hicks as Interim Town Manager
Black Mountain Town Council Names Richard N. Hicks as Interim Town Manager. Black Mountain, NC — The Town Council has unanimously voted to appoint Richard N. Hicks as Interim Town Manager for the Town of Black Mountain. Mr. Hicks brings more than four decades of experience in local government...
Opinion: Asheville’s crowded City Council primary field likely indicates dissatisfaction with the status quo
Sign up for free email updates from The Watchdog. You’ll be notified whenever we publish our latest award-winning investigative reporting, John Boyle’s Answer Man and Opinion columns, Tom Fiedler’s Democracy Watch, and more!. If you didn’t know better, you might think being on Asheville City Council is...
Some WNC communities are still grappling with Helene-related road closures
Tangie Morgan is the mayor of the small town of Saluda in Polk County. She’s also the owner and manager of the M. A. Pace General Store, which she says is one of the oldest stores in North Carolina. “See, this is my family’s business,” Morgan told BPR on...
Letter: Let Costco build at Enka site
I read with interest the Asheville Watchdog article by John Boyle citing Clark Duncan’s opposition to the proposed Costco site in Enka due to the “wages, tax base and land use” issues [“Proposed Costco Location in Enka Opposed by Economic Development Coalition,” Dec. 10]. It seems to me that the Planning and Zoning...
More than 1,000 without power in Swannanoa
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Duke Energy reported 24 active power outages in Buncombe County late Monday morning, including more than 1,000 customers without electricity in the Swannanoa area. According to the Duke Energy outage map, several outages with unknown causes were reported about 10:30 a.m. One outage...
WNC man denied bond after traffic stop leads to felony drug charges
MCDOWELL COUNTY, N.C. (FOX Carolina) - A Marion man was denied bond after being arrested on felony drug charges. The McDowell County Sheriff’s Office arrested Ronnie Dean Stevenson, 59, on a felony charge of possession of methamphetamine, the office said in a release. Officials said deputies conducted a traffic...
Asheville, North Carolina’s 5 Best Sit-Down Cafes, According To Locals
There are many words one can use to describe Asheville. The city is artsy, outdoorsy, and, notably, cozy (especially in the fall and winter). You can thank Asheville's mountain town charm and natural splendor for that. Located in North Carolina's Buncombe County, officially a top place to go in 2026, the city's...
