Among the thousands of teachers who filled the streets of North Carolina's capital Wednesday, were hundreds of educators from Western North Carolina. Many who were unable to make the trip to Raleigh attended satellite rallies, including one in Asheville. “Thank you so much for coming today” Around 10 o’clock Wednesday morning, teachers and supporters who couldn’t make the rally in Raleigh, gathered in downtown Asheville to make posters and phone calls to lawmakers “This one in Asheville for

Every corner of the United States has its own special, niche ingredient that’s as much a part of the culture as it is of the cuisine. For Western North Carolina - love ‘em or hate ‘em – it’s ramps. Since at least 1930 – nobody seems to remember exactly – Haywood County’s been home to a small regional festival centered around ramps. No, these aren’t the kind for taking your bike off sweet jumps – the ramp is a type of wild onion that grows throughout eastern North America, but especially so

Two Buncombe County Democrats took the lead in laying out the Democratic agenda in one of 6 news conferences held across the state. BPR's Jeremy Loeb reports it primarily centered on expansion of Medicaid.

A one of a kind dog shelter has opened its doors in Buncombe County. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, ASPCA – unveiled its new Behavioral Rehabilitation Center in Weaverville. The Center is the first-ever permanent facility dedicated to the rehabilitation and study of fearful, anxious – often unadoptable dogs. Most are the victims of cruelty or neglect. BPR’s Helen Chickering reports. On the site of what once was cement plant in Weaverville, sits a cluster of plain

Commencement ceremonies take place this Saturday on the campus of UNC-Asheville. The school's interim chancellor Joe Urgo says this year's graduating class is the largest in recent memory, while the incoming class of freshman this fall is the largest in school history. Urgo sat down with BPR's Matt Bush to discuss news at the school, including the search for a full-time chancellor (expect something by the end of May). Urgo also discussed something he spoke about at a recent appearance in Western

Asheville police sergeant Quentin Miller easily outdistanced four others for the Democratic nomination for Buncombe County sheriff. Miller ended up winning the race by a wide margin – garnering more votes than his 4 opponents combined. Miller finished with almost 54% of the votes cast. His closest competitor was Randy Smart, who had the endorsement of retiring Sheriff Van Duncan. Miller’s campaign focused on building what he called a ‘community of we’, and trying to reverse the perception of law

John and Marcia continue their conversation with Purdue University professors Eric Nauman and Tom Talavadge about their research into micro concussion in sports. In this episode, they focus on how that research can be acted upon in football. (Music featured includes We Are Saved by Borrtex)

Just six months after the emergence of the #MeToo movement, change has begun to occur. In Western North Carolina, change showed up as a first-of-its-kind rally in Waynesville – where spectators said even though progress has been made, there’s still a long way to go. Someone is sexually assaulted in the United States every 98 seconds. Even more startling, less than one percent of offenders ever face jail time for their crimes, due in large part to the stigma of identifying as a victim. But thanks

If you visit a National Park, there’s a good chance you’ll cross the path of a ranger who was trained right here in Western North Carolina. Southwestern Community College in Sylva is one of only seven colleges in the nation that offers the National Park Service Seasonal Law Enforcement Training Academy. The program is one of the oldest in the country and just graduated its 100 th class. BPR’s Helen Chickering visited the academy while school was still in session. It’s a chilly sunny morning, and

The North Carolina Democratic Party filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission against Republican Senator Thom Tillis and the state Republican party over their involvement with data-collection company Cambridge Analytica. BPR's Jeremy Loeb spoke with North Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Goodwin about it.