Before the pandemic, agricultural funding came North Carolina’s westernmost counties to help connect farmers and those in need of local food. BPR shares how during the pandemic, the program became even more important: Just a few miles outside of downtown Robbinsville sits Bob Wehr’s 27-acre farm. “It's in a little bit of a valley. It’s kind of pretty. It has a Southern exposure, so it's a lot of sunlight. It's just kind of fun and makes you feel good when you drive by and see the cattle out

Asheville City Council voted Tuesday evening to remove the Vance Monument from its spot in the city's main public space, taking away the 65-foot obelisk which has stood in what is now called Pack Square since 1898.

Asheville City Council is scheduled to take a vote Tuesday on whether to remove the 65-foot Vance Monument from downtown's Pack Square. The decision will culminate a years-long push to remove from Asheville's main public space the obelisk which is dedicated to North Carolina's Civil War Governor and U.S. Senator during Reconstruction, who fought against civil rights for Black Americans.

As COVID-19 shots go into arms across North Carolina, state health officials continue to focus on distributing vaccines quickly and equitably. A recent CDC report puts North Carolina among the top ten states in the nation for equitable vaccine distribution. But when it comes to access to care for COVID-19 patients, North Carolina’s plan for rationing care fell short, according to federal regulators. NC Health News editor Rose Hoban has been following the story and shared details during her

Businesses in Appalachia - like the rest of the country - have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. But some have found themselves uniquely suited to thrive over the last year. This week for BPR and Foxfire Museum's COVID-19 oral history project, we hear from a business owner who was able to carry on with a nostalgic outdoor entertainment that brought people together - safely - during the pandemic. Tom Major, owner of Tiger Drive In Theater was interviewed by Foxfire Museum fellow and Rabun

The town of Franklin lost one of its matriarchs this month. Vice Mayor of Franklin Barbara McRae passed away on March 2 nd after a long battle with cancer. Long before she entered politics, McRae had a career in a different public service: journalism. She worked as a reporter, columnist and editor for the Franklin Press for 10 years. Rachel Hoskins, now the publisher of the Press, worked with McRae for six years. “I watched her mentor, younger reporters. I watched her make an impact on their

The nonprofit that took control of the sacred Nikwasi Mound in Franklin two years ago is releasing more details about its plans for the site. The Nikwasi Initiative is made up of representatives from Macon County, the town of Franklin, Eastern Band of Cherokee(EBCI) and Mainspring Conservation Trust. Elaine Eisenbraun is its new director. She recently updated the Macon County Commissioners and the Franklin Town Council that the initiative wants to focus on the agricultural history of the site.

In this episode of BPR News Presents: The Porch, we talk with— Musician, poet and writer Chelsea Labate Mike Martinez of the ska-rock band Natural Born Leaders Autobiographical storyteller and actress Barbie Angell Melissa Hyman of the folk duo The Moon & You Psychologist and researcher Dr. Christa Taylor Psychologist and dance therapist Dr. Ilene Serlin (The BPR News Presents theme song is The Vibes by Audiobinger).

The founding members of Great Harvest Coop are busy tilling the soil and applying for an LLC. Once they get the business up and running, they plan to sell their produce at local farmer’s markets, CSAs, and restaurants.

History and Memory – and their intersections – are recurring topics on The Waters & Harvey Show. We live in a culture that prizes memory, but what is remembered and what is forgotten are the sources of great tension in American society. As Asheville deals with the fate of the Vance Monument, our hosts speak with a leader who faced a similar situation - former New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu. In this powerful episode, he discusses the very personal reasons that led him to order the removal