BPR News

Pack Square Plaza has a winding, checkered history. City planners want to center the coming redesign around the stories and concerns of Black residents.

The BPR news team marks the two-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, and talks in-depth about Western North Carolina politics

Incumbent Republicans will face each other in both state senate district 47 and state house district 113 thanks to redistricting

Nature has been a solace for folks in Western North Carolina long before COVID-19. But during the pandemic, local trails and forests saw record-breaking numbers of visitors who wanted to find a quiet place to safely escape the masked reality of crowded public spaces.

Advocates on the right and left say this year's school board campaigns will be ground zero in America's culture wars. The conservative North Carolina Values Coalition prepared people for that battle this week by holding training sessions for prospective school board candidates in Raleigh and Mooresville. Tami Fitzgerald, executive director of the Raleigh-based group, says the issues that have led to heated protests at board meetings are fueling intense interest in running for office. "Parents are upset about what their kids have been learning in school," she said. "They're upset about the mask mandates that still perpetuate around the state. And it just seems like there's been a great awakening among parents." Reporters weren't allowed into the "school board boot camps." In an interview after Thursday's session at Trinity Baptist Church in Mooresville Fitzgerald said attendance for the two sessions was about 200, with about 100 saying they plan to run. In the Charlotte area, she said

UNC Charlotte will start a new program with the goal of helping to predict and fight future pandemics.

Duke Energy says it expects to reduce energy generated by coal to just 5% of its total by 2030 and to eliminate coal entirely by 2035.

A trial court panel will name an outside remapping expert to help them determine whether upcoming replacement redistricting maps comply with partisan limits required by the North Carolina Supreme Court.

Oral arguments are scheduled to begin Wednesday at the North Carolina Supreme Court over lawsuit s that will define this year's election in the state - and potentially for the whole decade.

The new Angel Medical Center in Franklin is starting to take shape. BPR took a tour of the construction site. David Sibilio is the superintendent of the project. "This right here is our biggest OR for you guys to see," said Sibilio. Bigger rooms - both for operations and for care - are one of the highlights that Angel's CEO Clint Kendall wants the community to see. "Normal rooms, you have more than enough room right now. It's about the size of a two bedroom room at the current hospital," said Kendall. Kendall, who began his job last summer, says despite some community skepticism the hospital will provide all of the current services. But there are no current plans to resume labor and delivery services - which were discontinued at Angel Medical Center back in 2017 . "Is it the same, yes, only better. Is it smaller yes, only in square footage. We're going from around 180,000 down to 80,000," said Kendall. Kendall says this is because extra space at the former location was for needs

The pandemic, over 10,000 public comments and more have all had a hand in delaying the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan. Here's the latest on the strategic plan that will manage over 1 million acres of national forest in Western North Carolina. James Melonas is the forest supervisor of the National Forests in North Carolina. Here's how he describes how close the plan is to being completed: "So it's kind of like we have the house under contract. We're moving toward closing. We haven't gone to closing to sign all the papers but that's where we are right now," said Melonas. There is still a final 60-day period when those who have previously commented on the plan can share objections. The Forest Service will resolve those objections during a 5-month objections period and can amend the plan. There are very specific rules on how to object which you can find online. Michelle Aldridge is planning team leader for the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan. Work on the plan started around 2012, with the last

On January 13th, 2021, Ricky Hurtado made history as the first Latino Democrat to be elected and sworn in to the North Carolina General Assembly. "For many years, I have felt, leading up to this moment," Ricky noted, "que no soy de aqui ni de alla." (I'm neither from here nor there.) As the son of immigrant parents fleeing the civil war in El Salvador, this was more than a political victory. Ricky Hurtado sees it as a watershed moment where he began to understand his Latinidad as a strength. "My rise as a Representative, a politician in North Carolina, is directly tied to our story as a family," Ricky said. "The good fortune that we've had, the struggles and sacrifices that we've made as a family-- and that this is a natural next step in terms of everything I've been working for, everything they've sacrificed for me to get an education. I'll pass on those lessons and those opportunities to more people in the community and across North Carolina... ." Dreaming las Americas: the journey

A Planned Parenthood clinic in Knoxville, Tennessee burned down on New Year's Eve, and investigators have confirmed arson was the cause. The clinic was one of the few near Western North Carolina. Here's how this impacts the region. Molly Rivera is a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood. She says healthcare is connected - even across state lines. "I can't speak to really how many more patients will come to Asheville, but you know healthcare is a system and you know any time you lose a location in one place it has a rippling effect on the surrounding communities," said Rivera. Only nine counties in North Carolina have clinics that offer abortion services, according to Planned Parenthood. The Knoxville clinic had been under construction and was nearing completion on a $2.2 million dollar renovation when it was burned down. The building has now been declared a complete loss. There currently aren't any suspects. "It is always a surprise to me to learn of acts of violence at a health center.

The pandemic is showing no sign of letting up in North Carolina. The state set another COVID daily case record with 29,069 new cases on Sunday (1/9). For perspective, BPR's Helen Chickering checked in with North Carolina Health News editor Rose Hoban . (and check out the NC Health News look ahead for health in 2022 here )

It's been four months since Tropical Storm Fred devastated Haywood County - leaving six dead and a long cleanup ahead. BPR takes us to Canton, one of the hardest hit areas, for a look at how the town is doing as the year ends. Caroline Ponton is the curator at the Canton Area Historical Museum in downtown Canton. Five months after the storm the museum still doesn't have power. "This is the basement. The first time I came here everything was decimated," said Ponton . Ponton shows around the bare basement where dry wall had to be torn out. She says 70 percent of the historical materials in the basement were lost but almost everything upstairs has been salvaged. Some of the prize pieces in the museum are Champion Paper Mill memorabilia. The mill - now Evergreen Packaging - is the main industry in the town. "After everything when I was allowed to come back the plastic tubs were floating in the water but everything on the inside was dry," said Ponton. Ponton thanked the volunteers who were

Virginia-born musician Tony Rice isn't well-known commercially, but his influence on bluegrass guitar is undeniable. While playing with some of the biggest groups of the 1970s Rice helped transform the scene. But his timing and precision later lent itself to other genres.

Nestled on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee is a bald in the Pisgah National Forest called Max Patch. The grassy bald made national headlines last year when a photo made it look like a music festival - not a hiking trail. While the photo portrayed a habitat on the brink of destruction, it might have ended up saving the beloved slice of the Appalachian trail.

Nurses at Mission Hospital have been calling out dangerous levels of staffing shortages since HCA purchased Mission Health System in 2019. Mission says there is a nationwide nursing shortage. BPR dug into both sides of the story. Since the nurses joined the National Nurses United Union in September 2020 calls about unsafe staffing levels have become louder in the form on community actions, federal and state complaints and more. In October , dozens of nurses gathered outside of Mission Hospital calling for solutions to staffing problems. A Mission Health spokesperson said at the time she was unaware of any documentation to support any of the union's staffing shortage claims and said that these claims haven't been reported to Mission leadership beyond the almost 600 nurses positions open across the hospital system. Lori Hedrick has been a nurse at Mission Hospital since 2014. In October, Hedrick posted a photo of a bed covered in Assignment Despite Objection Forms. "Basically, that means

Mayor Joe Slaton spoke with BPR's Lilly Knoepp about his plans to improve tourism, housing and bike access in Hayesville. "We're working on a pedestrian and bike lane, a trail that would connect the assets that we have in town," said Slaton. Slaton ran unopposed to win the position of mayor with just 21 votes - 91 percent of the total votes cast. Sixty-three people voted in the town council election. Hayesville is in Clay County. Slaton was previously on the town council for 5 years. He says he has a tough first job ahead - he needs to find a replacement for the beloved town clerk and finance officer, Susan Morgan. Morgan unexpectedly passed away at the end of November. "She was the first person you see in town hall, she was the greeter and she was very friendly," said Slaton. As town council member, Slaton said he learned a lot how the town is run. Earlier this year, the Town Council offered all residents who were vaccinated against COVID-19 a check for $100. They had given out over

The story of the deed transfer of the Nikwasi Mound in Franklin will now be part of a Smithsonian traveling exhibit. The story of the creation of the Nikwasi Initiative and the transfer of the mounds ownership will be a part of "SPARK! Places of Innovation" traveling museum. Bob McCollum is co-chair of the board for the Nikwasi Initiative, the non-profit that the deed of the Eastern Band of Cherokee sacred site was transferred to. "I think the main thing that I feel right now is pride in our community for working together on this project at a time when so many other communities are struggling with similar issues," said McCollum. The Initiative is made up of representatives from Franklin, Macon County, the Eastern Band of Cherokee and Main Spring Conservation Trust. The mound is sacred to the Cherokee but the land was taken by settlers in an 1817 treaty. In 1946, the mound was purchased by the community to protect it and it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

A bipartisan group of Western North Carolina leaders hailed the recently passed federal infrastructure bill as a way to make significant progress on one of the region's most pressing problems - internet access.

12/10 Exciting update! Alisa Hove is advancing to the Jeopardy! semifinals: Heads-up Jeopardy! fans: A college professor from Western North Carolina is putting her skills to the test as a competitor on the brain bending quiz show. BPR's Helen Chickering reports.

Maureen Copelof won the city of Brevard with 47 percent of the vote. She was previously a member of city council for four years. Copelof says that time on city council has given her a deep understanding of the regional issues facing Brevard and its neighbors across Western North Carolina. She tells BPR's Lilly Knoepp that healthcare, housing, development and the environment are all at the top of her list of goals as mayor. The former U.S. Navy captain served for 30 years before retiring to Brevard. "[The military] taught me, you know, that you get involved. You want to see something happen, you get out there and you work to make it happen," said Copelof. Copelof has been vocal about the need for quality healthcare as city council member by working Transylvania Regional Hospital and Mission Health/HCA Healthcare after Mission's 2019 sale to HCA. She says she will continue to be an advocate as mayor. "My role is really to be an advocate for the community. Healthcare is so critical for

The Supreme Court heard a case Wednesday from Mississippi challenging Roe vs. Wade. BPR looks at the level of abortion access currently in Western North Carolina. Planned Parenthood spokesperson Molly Rivera says there isn't access to abortion in the majority of North Carolina. "In North Carolina, 91 percent of counties in our state do not have an abortion provider," said Rivera. The only abortion provider in Western North Carolina is a Planned Parenthood location in Asheville. "And we know that there is a lot more of our state west of Asheville and folks who need healthcare out there," said Rivera. Rivera says that if people seeking care can't make an appointment there, then they have to travel hours away to Charlotte, Winston Salem or to Greenville, South Carolina. "Depending on what the U.S. Supreme Court decides in this case out of Mississippi if they decide that states are able to restrict or completely ban abortions, we expect South Carolina to be one of the first states to do so

Henderson County Republican state senator Chuck Edwards' entry into North Carolina's 14 th Congressional district race is the latest turn in the soap opera that is Western North Carolina's politics.

Patrick Fitzsimmons first took office as mayor of Weaverville in August of 2021. Three months later, he was elected to a full-term representing the town of just over 4,000 people in Buncombe County.

Jack Horton has been involved in local Western North Carolina politics since the 1970s. In November, he ran unopposed to become Franklin's new Mayor. BRP's Lilly Knoepp spoke with Horton about his career and what he hopes to achieve in his new role. Here are some of the highlights of Horton's career in the region: Horton was the first appointed Swain County manager in 1978. He then served as county manager in Macon County from 1985 to 1991 before becoming the first appointed Haywood County manager in 1991. He stayed in that position for 15 years . Horton then managed nearby Caldwell County before heading back to manage Macon County in 2007 until his retirement in 2013. Horton says that switch to the county manager form of government has changed the way that local governments are run in the region. Beyond that shift, counties have grown and developed. Now Horton says it's the job of local government to improve infrastructure and community opportunities so that more young people can

The inaugural cycle of StoryCraft, a partnership between BPR and Asheville Writers In The Schools and Community, used an exploration of the senses as our north star during a series of six youth storytelling workshops at the Grant Center. Our goal was to facilitate a genuine experience of identity exploration at a variety of levels through: Simplicity: making sure their experiences and voices are captured without concerns of format, right or wrong. Emotional engagement of the senses: allowing the inner landscape to be voiced through it. Allowing students to ground on their past, present and future in exploring roots and wings. In Part 4 of our series - we bring you to some of those workshops to experience the profound impact of this collaboration between artist mentors and local middle school youth. We also share 12-year-old Clement Davidson's rhythmic and empowering poem "Who I Am." Clement developed his piece over the course of several weeks, and play a key role in encouraging his

What happens when you put a microphone and camera in the hands of youth? When you guide them through an exploration of the senses and encourage their creative expression? When you make space for youth and adults to collaborate, using a model that works to disrupt power dynamics and involve young people in shaping the programming? We are pleased to bring you Part 3 of StoryCraft, a youth storytelling initiative from Asheville Writers In The Schools and Community (AWITSC) and Blue Ridge Public Radio (BPR). In this segment, we feature Liam Burton, an 8th grader at Montford North Star Academy who shares a vibrant and comforting sensory exploration of summer in his poem "Where I'm From" and a thought-provoking meditation on existence in "Who Am I?" We also hear from Emily Jumpp, a 9th grader at Immaculate Conception High School- in Kingston, Jamaica who we met over the summer while she was staying with her Aunt in Asheville. Emily's piece uses vibrant and contemplative language on her

In the second part of StoryCraft, artist mentors Elizabeth Garland and Micah Mackenzie introduce us to 15-year-old Tori Stinson. During our series of summer storytelling workshops at the Grant Center, Tori used the writing prompt "Who am I?" to examine how dance defines her as a person, how she calls on dance to help her through difficult times. Here's an excerpt: Dance makes me calm. Dance is who I am, I am freestyle dance. Dance is my escape, it's my escape from negative energy and bad things. Dance is my superpower. Tori kept building on her poem, writing about how dance was a constant through painful experiences. She said the StoryCraft workshops gave her the opportunity to "get the pain out of her body." "I'll give some friendly advice -- be yourself! You don't have to change yourself for anybody. Be yourself, if you have pain, let it out, share it with somebody. Or what I just did, write it out on paper. It makes you feel so much better." --Tori Stinson Click the audio above to

It hasn't even been a week since Congressman Madison Cawthorn announced he would run in North Carolina's newly drawn 13 th district. In his current district, the political consequences of his decision are only just beginning to emerge.

In the first part of StoryCraft, we learn about the origins of the partnership with BPR and Asheville Writers In The Schools and Community, and we introduce you to one of the youth poets - 15-year-old Antonio Stinson, now in the 9th grade at Asheville High School. During StoryCraft's summer 2021 storytelling workshops, Antonio used the writing prompt "Who am I?" to develop a powerful poem that uses musical structure and composition to explore the role music plays in his life. "I want people to think about good times, when things were good, because that is what it is for me - music helps me be free, and it helps me have fun." --Antonio Stinson Click the audio above to hear StoryCraft Part 1: I am music Learn more about StoryCraft here . StoryCraft is featured in AWITSC's annual El Arte de la Abundancia (The Art of Abundance) virtual showcase Saturday November 20th at 8:00 PM and in-person exhibit at the Arthur R. Edington Education & Career Center November 19-21. Reserve your free

Preston Blakely is in his first term as a city council member for the town of Fletcher. But by the end of the year, the 27-year-old will be mayor of the town of over 8-thousand in Henderson County.

1898 was a violent year in North Carolina. The white supremacist coup that took place in Wilmington that year is getting more and more attention as history is re-examined. Similar racist violence took place across the state that year, including an incident in the mountains that can still be felt today. History teacher John deVille convened a group of marchers in Franklin on a cold Saturday evening. "We are here tonight to remember Mitchell Mozeley, who was killed illegally by a mob 123 years ago tonight," said deVille. Mozeley, a Black man, was being held at the Franklin jail for his alleged crimes of burglary and assault of two white women. He was lynched just two days before the 1898 state election. That year, white Democrats worked to scare those who didn't support their white supremacy agenda to not vote in the election. The old Franklin jail sits across the street from the courthouse, next to the town's monument to Confederate soldiers at Rankin Square. The group moved to the jail

Veteran's Day celebrates the service of members of the armed forces. For some of those veterans, their service never stops, even years after they take off that uniform for the last time. For the Haywood County chapter of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, that service means a little something extra.

Cherokee County's former Department of Social Services director pleaded guilty to felony obstruction of justice at the end of October. The charge focuses on Cindy Palmer's use of an illegal custody agreement which could have unlawfully removed as many as 50 children from their homes in the county. Carolina Public Press' lead investigative reporter Kate Martin has been covering the trails of those families for two years and spoke with BPR's Lilly Knoepp about ongoing litigation. Lilly Knoepp: This case has revolved around a DSS policy using a custody and visitation agreement to remove children from their parents without court oversight is how you explain it. Can you please explain the policy a little bit for our listeners before we get into the recent updates in the current federal civil case? Kate Martin: Absolutely. So what I'm about to say is outlined in some court documents and also was in testimony during a May civil trial. Basically, what would happen is social services when they

A news report released this month showed a Western North Carolina state representative is a member of one of the largest anti-government groups in the country. Republican Mike Clampitt told BPR that he wasn't trying to hide his affiliation: Clampitt doesn't see what was newsworthy about his name on a list of members of the Oath Keepers. "No, it's not new information. I feel like it's been very open and out there," said Clampitt. He's been an open member since 2014. Non-profit news organization ProPublica released a hacked list of Oath Keepers , an organization defined as mostly former police, firefighters and military who pledge their allegiance to the constitution - with a focus on anti-government overreach. The list included some of those arrested in the Jan. 6 th insurrection along with Clampitt and North Carolina House deputy majority whip Keith Kidwell. Clampitt says the Oath Keepers have sworn to uphold the constitution - even when that doesn't align with federal law. "If you

The 2018 murder conviction of a Haywood County man charged with selling narcotics linked to a deadly overdose has caught the attention of public health researchers. They've published a paper that raises questions about the harsh punishment. BPR's Helen Chickering talked with the researchers over Zoom about the behind the scenes work that led to the findings.

Fans of puns and cleaning up trash have an opportunity to help out in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this weekend. Saturday is the 4 th year of the Deep Creep Smokies Service Day. Sheridan Roberts is the volunteer coordinator for the park. "We thought it would just be really fun to do a costumed clean-up at Deep Creep, Deep Creek - and call it the Deep Creep," said Roberts. Volunteers meet up in costume at Deep Creek in Swain County to clean up the area and do activities. "Probably some treats, maybe a trick or two. It's the Deep Creep," said Roberts. During the pandemic, the Great Smokies were the most visited national park in the country with over 12 million visitors. Meanwhile there were far fewer volunteers - Roberts says the numbers dipped a bit from the previous year. "We developed a parkwide litter

An article in Rolling Stone magazine reports that two people who planned the rallies ahead of the January 6 th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. - both whom are now cooperating with Congressional investigators - have said they talked with seven Republican members of the House of Representatives or their offices ahead of the day about attempts to overturn former President Donald Trump's election loss. Among them is Western North Carolina's Madison Cawthorn.

Members of the National Nurses United Union at Mission Hospital marched outside the building Thursday morning, asking for a solution to a staff shortage across departments. Dozens of nurses gathered including a person dressed in a death costume with a sign reading "Unsafe staffing is good for business." Others were dressed in scrubs, coats and masks. Elizabeth Binzel is a nurse from the cardiac unit. She says she worked two 15 hours shifts last week - both without a break. "That is in no way safe for our patients to have nurses that exhausted," said Binzel. She's been with Mission since March 2017 and says conditions have gotten worse at the hospital since HCA purchased Mission Health System in 2019. "Staffing has continued to plummet. We also do not have the supplies that we need," said Binzel, adding that part of the reason for her long shifts were to make sure her patients were bathed, cleaned and fed. "We're just being expected to wear all of the hats on top of our own short

Outside of Old Fort, the Western North Carolina railroad bends around Andrews Geyser. The man-made fountain is named after the vice president of the company that owned the railroad, built in the 1870's. Now, the thousands of laborers who did the work are finally memorialized at the site too.

Recently, social media swirled with reports that a Great Smoky Mountains Railroad train had derailed.

A memorial to the incarcerated laborers that built the railroad into Western North Carolina in the late 1800's will be dedicated this weekend - culminating an effort by historians and community leaders to bring attention to a crucial piece of history in the region that had long been ignored or forgotten.

North Carolina lawmakers hope to have redistricting completed by the end of this month. There are plenty of proposed maps floating about right now, but Western Carolina University Dr. Chris Cooper urges people not to overreact to any of them - because the only map that matters is the final one.

The last decade saw significant population growth in Asheville. But that didn't lead to similar growth in the city of the principle driver of climate change.

Western Carolina University is looking for feedback as the school updates its future land use plan. This year's student population at Western Carolina University surpassed the predictions which estimated there would be just over 11,000 students in the year 2023. Mike Beyers is chief financial officer of the school. "As we work on this update we don't plan to project the growth to be quite as great over last 8 years. We expect it to slow a bit," said Beyers. The Cullowhee campus of Western Carolina University is about 600 acres. Beyers says the updates will likely focus on upgrading older facilities. "The master plan isn't looking so much at how many square ft to accommodate growth but rather how will we deal with aging facilities that we currently have," said Beyers. Many included in the previous master plan from 2014 have already taken place. That includes new student housing, a new parking deck and the $110.5 million Apodaca science building, which opened in August. "The Apodaca

Earlier this month, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Tribal Council upheld its ban on same-sex marriage . BPR looked into how widespread these bans are in Native American Tribal governments across the United States:

Several health departments and vaccine providers across Western North Carolina are rolling out the Pfizer COVID-19 booster shot to people 65 and older and others now eligible . Buncombe , Henderson , and Haywood Jackson , Madison , and McDowell counties are among those offering the booster shot. Meantime, there are lots of questions about just who is qualified to get the extra dose.

The Nantahala Health Foundation and Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation hope to address the region's housing crisis by helping homeowners keep their homes livable. Lori Bailey, executive director of nonprofit Nantahala Health Foundation explains their new Healthy Homes Initiative. "If you're a family that is really struggling to get by already then you need a little assistance just to keep it in good repair going forward and so that you are able to keep living there," said Bailey. Keeping up homes already built would cut down on construction material costs according to Robin Tindall, the executive director of Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation. "Relatively small repairs such as damaged floors or windows all the way to roof replacement or HVAC systems. Repairs like this can mean the difference for an elderly couple to stay in the home or have to leave the home," said Tindall. "So we consider this a very critical important initiative for healthy homes in our region." The Nantahala and

Downtown Sylva has a new addition - a sculpture of Harriet Tubman. Meet the local woman behind the sculpture. The 9-ft bronze sculpture called "Journey to Freedom" sits in Bridge Park. "Looking at the sculpture, I'm like that's not my face but those are my hands, those are my feet, that's my body. Like I am Harriet Tubman too." That's Jada Bryson. She's a dance teacher in Franklin where her family has lived for as long as they have records. She was dancing at a Macon County Women's History Trail event when she was approached by Cashiers sculptor Wesley Wofford. One of the reasons why he asked me to do it is because as a dancer and I have the stamina and flexibility to hold a position for a significant amount of time," said Bryson, who runs the Dance Arts Co-Op at Cowee School . "Most people think, oh, you just go and you stand there and someone takes your picture and that's it. It's not like that at all," said Bryson. "Each muscle has to do something. You have to be in movement, but