NEWS
Asheville Botanical Garden And UNC Asheville Extend Partnership For 50 Years
Asheville Botanical Garden, a free-entry public garden, will remain rooted at UNC Asheville for decades to come under a new 50-year ground lease.
Rutherford tourism revenue trails last year as recovery projects move forward
Rutherford County tourism revenue remains below last year’s pace, but officials are pointing to stronger late spring lodging collections and continued investment in Chimney Rock recovery, outdoor recreation and destination marketing.
Permit regulation debate sharpens in western NC
Republican US Senate candidate Michael Whatley and state Rep. Jake Johnson (R, 113th District) are calling for faster, more predictable construction permitting as builders warn that delays are driving up costs across North Carolina.
UNC Asheville’s Toby King Named Chair Of UNC System Faculty Assembly
University of North Carolina Asheville Associate Professor of Music Toby King was named the new Chair of the UNC System Faculty Assembly. In his new role, King spoke to the first Board of Governor Meetings this week. This is a prestigious honor, King is one of only two members of the UNC Asheville faculty appointed to this leadership position. His tenure as Chair runs from 2026-2028.
Showtime’s BBQ Takes Top Honors At 2026 Got To Be NC Whole Hog Cookoff AT North Carolina Mountain State Fair
Showtime’s Legit BBQ of Benson, captained by Kevin Peterson, secured a first-place win and $2,000 grand prize at the 2026 Got to Be NC Whole Hog Cookoff at the N.C. Mountain State Fair.
HCA Healthcare Announces $32 Million Investment Into Facilities Across Western North Carolina
HCA Healthcare announced plans to invest more than $32 million in Mission Health facilities across Western North Carolina to strengthen patient safety, quality, and care capabilities throughout the region.
Forest City Gun Ordinance Draws Second Amendment Scrutiny
Proposed misdemeanor ordinance restricts firearm discharge, while state law expressly protects an exception for self-defense
Two Inducted Into Livestock Hall Of Fame At North Carolina Mountain State Fair
“The N.C. Mountain State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame is a prestigious group of folks who have given so much of their time and energy to support the Mountain State Fair livestock shows. Both Cameron Greene and Mark Mills are deserving of this honor,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.
HCA Healthcare Sam Hazen Discusses Healthcare With Western North Carolina Health Policy Initiative And Local Leaders
HCA CEO Sam Hazen joined a roundtable of WNC Healthcare leaders to discuss issues
North Carolina Forest Service Receives Nearly $65 Million To Restore National Forest And Surrounding Communities
This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and North Carolina’s Forest Service (NCFS) signed a nearly $65 million, 10-year Good Neighbor Agreement to support Helene recovery efforts. Under the agreement, NCFS will reduce hazardous fuels across areas of wildland-urban interface impacted by the storm and develop strategies to address non-native and invasive species that can thrive in the aftermath of landscape disturbance. The new agreement will increase the pace of forest restoration and bring new jobs to Western North Carolina.
Mission Health Partnership With Western Carolina University Promotes Healthcare Workforce Across Western North Carolina
Mission Health highlighted its continued partnership with Western Carolina University to strengthen the healthcare workforce across Western North Carolina.
Asheville Parks Announce Fall Classes, Sports, and Special Events
Fall Asheville Park Events And Classes
Guest Article: G20 security echoes Asheville’s extraordinary wartime diplomatic history
G20 calls back memory of Asheville’s history as diplomatic hotspot.
G20 Financial Ministers Meeting Expected To Generate $20 Million For Western North Carolina Economy And Show Off The Blue Ridge Mountains To The World
G20 meeting expected to generate $20 million in economic impact.
Catawba County Law Enforcement Leader Calls Out Cooper For Releasing At Least 170 Criminals Into Community
Cooper released criminals into Catawba County
National Nurses United Hold Protest To Pressure Companies To Stop Working With Federal Immigration Officials
Liberal union protests hospital for unrelated political issue
Guest Post: A WNC voting fight gets state unanimous approval
The North Carolina State Board of Elections finally settled the immediate dispute today over early voting in Jackson County, in western North Carolina, for the general election.
UNC Asheville Undergraduate Helps Identify Promising Research To Fight Drug-Resistant Staph
his week, the University of North Carolina Asheville announced that a new paper led by Associate Professor of Biology Melinda R Grosser, Ph.D. , and undergraduate student Jenna Vidaud was published today in the peer-reviewed Journal of Bacteriology by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM).identify a promising new target for fighting Staphylococcus aureus, a leading cause of antibiotic-resistant infections in the U.S.