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Independent, community-focused journalism since 1994. Free every Wednesday. Contact us with tips at [email protected]. ✌🏼💜

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What does recovery from Tropical Storm Helene look like two years out? Xpress catches up with community members from some of the hardest hit places throughout Western North Carolina to find out.

In this issue, you'll also find:

Voter ID and tax rates on this year's ballot

Commissioners press for more answers concerning Helene recovery funds

Council holds hearing on amendments to its $4.7M homelessness aid program

Asheville Community Theatre celebrates 80 years by @mountainxpress

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3 days ago

Highlights from today's Blue Ridge Pride Festival.

The event, hosted by Blue Ridge Pride, a nonprofit organization that provides advocacy, support programs, community events and resource connections for the LGBTQIA+ community across 22 WNC counties, brought a full day of entertainment to Pack Square.

The festival featured everything from live folk music to glamorous drag performances.

“One day a year for us, we’re all visible. And we see each other,” said emcee Divine Holeburn. “We tend to live in a world that’s so compartmentalized that you see your people — but today, we see OUR people. And that really warms my heart.”

The festival ended with drag queen Calcutta Chambers being crowned Miss Blue Ridge Pride ’26.

📸 by Brionna Dallara by @mountainxpress

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6 days ago

Asheville and Buncombe County governments are already putting artificial intelligence to work. Candidates for mayor, Asheville City Council and the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners weigh how the technology should be used and where to draw the line — from safeguards and human oversight to the growing debate over data centers.

In this issue, you'll also find:

Asheville City Schools sues social media companies

Amount of Helene disaster recovery aid rankles Buncombe commissioners

Vice Mayor Antanette Mosley on gratitude, community engagement and the magic of Frankie Beverly

Opinion: Greed and poor management are greater forest threats by @mountainxpress

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9 days ago

Local business owners, please consider reaching out to reporter Justin McGuire. Thanks. by @mountainxpress

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14 days ago

In the two years since Tropical Storm Helene caused significant damage to many Western North Carolina farms, a number of local growers have reinvented their business models to include diverse new income streams. Pictured on the cover are Alicia and Kevin Stump, owners of Stump Farms in Hendersonville.

In this issue, you'll also find:

Public school advocates discuss voters' role in state tax rates

Asheville bars landlords from collecting rent on unsafe homes

Book reveals lost story of Transylvania County’s Johnstone Settlement

Documentary highlights rivercane’s cultural, environmental roles by @mountainxpress

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16 days ago

Two years after Hurricane Helene devastated WNC, communities are still adapting. What questions do you still have about rebuilding, funding and preparedness? We’re partnering with NC Local and others news partners to get you answers. by @mountainxpress

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18 days ago

Girls flag football is taking off across Western North Carolina, opening opportunities that barely existed a few years ago. As the YMCA launches a new league for girls ages 14-17 and local schools add teams, young players are finding new ways to compete — and a path to continue the sport into high school, college and beyond.

Pictured on the cover are, from left, Cayman Blenco, Abigail Livernois and Josie Blenco.

📸 by Caleb Johnson

In this issue, you'll also find:

Town of Woodfin seeks say in future of Craggy prison

West Asheville Garden Stroll returns

Asheville Downtown Association explores collaborative ways to address homelessness

Local filmmakers’ new documentary chronicles Camp Fire survivors by @mountainxpress

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24 days ago

As Election Day nears, neighborhood associations, political organizations and business groups are inviting local candidates to speak at forums to share their plans for the region’s future.

In this issue, you'll also find:

Should students be excused for religious instruction?

Carolina Mountains Literary Festival returns

Late summer and early fall are special times for birding

LEAF Global Arts closes by @mountainxpress

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a month ago

North Asheville Little League leaders and Norwood Park residents are pressing Asheville officials to address problems they say emerged from an $800,000 renovation of Weaver Park. Critics cite issues with the baseball field and playground and say regular users weren’t adequately involved in planning. City officials dispute that characterization but say they are evaluating the concerns and will work with community partners on possible improvements.

In this issue, you'll also find:

G20 finance meetings put global spotlight on WNC

Candidates discuss Hendersonville's future

Tips for managing water and preventing deer damage

Maggie Ullman on Paul Simon, political intimidation and the joys of elected office by @mountainxpress

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a month ago

This year’s Best of WNC celebrates many of the local businesses and individuals who continue to rebuild and recover from Tropical Storm Helene. It also offers a nod to our region’s wildlife. With almost 600 categories, join us in recognizing this year’s winners.

In this issue, you'll also find:

Buncombe County candidates discuss teacher play, property taxes and economics

Residents decry Asheville City Schools’ decision to eliminate orchestra program

New documentary chronicles 45 years of MLK Association

Local filmmaker Missy Bell premieres directorial debut by @mountainxpress

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a month ago

Hayes Bailey, a rising seventh grader at Asheville Middle School (AMS) who has been part of her school’s orchestra program since sixth grade, stood behind the lectern for public comment during the Asheville City Board of Education’s Aug. 10 meeting.

Bailey was one of more than 20 people to address the board about its decision to eliminate the program.

“S.O.S.” — an acronym for “Save our strings” — marked Bailey’s face. The same message was etched onto her shirt, as it was on those of several of her peers.

Bailey told the board she was “straight up not OK” with its decision and felt that the board had not taken her and her peers into account.

“Strings isn’t just music. It’s where you learn to keep going when you mess up. It’s where you sit in a room that smells like rosin and you can feel your heart pounding because you actually care about getting it right — and you do, slowly, together,” Bailey said.

“When you say you’re cutting [the program], I hear something way worse underneath. That our effort, our interests, our community, our own futures don’t matter. And that makes me mad. Not loud chaos kind of mad, but deeply hurt kind of mad. The kind of mad that makes me feel disrespected,” Bailey continued.

Despite her and other speakers’ pleas, the decision to eliminate the program stood.

For the full story, see link in bio.

📸 by Brionna Dallara by @mountainxpress

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2 months ago

Buncombe County Detention Facility’s average daily population has increased by roughly 55% from 2020-26. The overcrowding comes as new legislation, such as Iryna’s Law, coincides with several other pressures, including a backlog in the state prison system, slower court proceedings and staff shortages at state mental health facilities. How the county should address the issue depends on who you ask.

In this issue, you'll also find:

Asheville Art Museum hosts Appalachian textiles exhibit

One year after fire, Goodwill and neighbors say progress is real but unfinished

3 musicians strike authentic chords in WNC’s hip-hop scene

Kristin Entler’s debut poetry collection shines a light on long-term illness

Illustration by @brebr0 by @mountainxpress

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2 months ago