Death, it’s a subject that is often hard to think about, let alone talk about. A movement, called The Death Café is working to change the dialogue around the inevitable event. It’s a social gathering of sorts that started in Europe in 2011, spread quickly to the U.S. including Western North Carolina. WCQS’s Helen Chickering attended a recent Death Cafe at UNC-Asheville. It’s a Friday night, and more than fifty people are gathered in the atrium of the Reuter center on the UNC Asheville Campus.

Love has been the in the air in Buncombe County in recent years. The marriage rate in the county has increased as the national average has fallen. Two reasons are largely why - a marketing push showcasing Buncombe County as a wedding destination has led to a drastic rise in out of state marriages taking place here, as well as the legalization of same-sex weddings in North Carolina in 2014. Asheville Citizen-Times reporter Emily Patrick took a look at the marriage rates for a story in the

The need for stronger internet service in the Western North Carolina mountains has one national advocacy group pushing local governments in the region to take lead. Chris Mitchell is the director of community broadband internet initiatives at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance—a D.C.-based nonprofit that focuses on policy and advises local governments in matters of autonomy. He says rural municipalities are increasingly lacking in the realm of broadband internet connectivity. “There’s so much

Asheville’s tourism boom has brought a lot of attention to the region’s restaurants, bars, and craft breweries. That attention has led to more customers. That in turn is leading to workers at those places seeking out help in defending themselves from unruly patrons. Asheville Citizen-Times reporter Mackensy Lunsford wrote about self-defense classes being taught to restaurant industry workers at Pack Memorial Library in today’s edition of the paper. She sat down with WCQS news director Matt Bush

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein has joined with at least 16 other state attorneys general in opposing President Trump's executive order temporarily halting immigration from seven Muslim-majority nations. Stein, a Democrat, says the order is contrary to American values, undermines our standing in the world and weakens our national security. Stein says our nation was founded on the idea of religious liberty, and says "the ban, on its face, preferences religions that are not Islam."

With lawmakers back in Raleigh, we’re talking to some of the representatives from out west. Today, Josh Dobson, a Republican of Nebo who serves the 85 th district that spans Avery, McDowell and Mitchell Counties. He’s in his 3 rd term.

NPR will be in Asheville on Tuesday February 7th for the latest 'Going There' event. Weekend All Things Considered host Michel Martin will lead a night of performances and discussion on the topic 'What Happens When Your Hometown Gets Hot?' at the Diana Wortham Theater. Tickets for the event have sold out but there will be a live stream that night to watch. You can also join the conversation on Twitter by following @NPRMichel and @WCQS using the hashtag #HotHometown. In the week before the event,

NPR will be in Asheville on Tuesday February 7th for the latest 'Going There' event. Weekend All Things Considered host Michel Martin will lead a night of performances and discussion on the topic 'What Happens When Your Hometown Gets Hot?' at the Diana Wortham Theater. Tickets for the event have sold out but there will be a live stream that night to watch. You can also join the conversation on Twitter by following @NPRMichel and @WCQS using the hashtag #HotHometown. In the week before the event,

Thursday was quite the tumultuous day in Cherokee. The FBI raided the Qualla Housing Authority. In October, the U.S. Department of Justice sent a letter to the authority announcing it was investigating multiple claims of fraud. The authority serves the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The tribal council for the Cherokee on Thursday also announced impeachment proceedings will commence against Principal Chief Patrick Lambert. Reporter Holly Kays of the Smoky Mountain News spoke with WCQS to recap

Super Bowl LI is this Sunday between the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons. Hundreds of millions will watch, but if they aren't already fans of either team, who might they root for? A Western Carolina University professor thinks he knows. Seven years ago, David Tyler started researching sports rivalries with some academic colleagues. The assistant professor of sports management at Western Carolina University wanted to shed light on the perception of rivalries from the fans themselves. “We