Educators, mental health professionals, and law enforcement are gathering in Asheville this weekend to tackle what has been dubbed “an unaddressed public health crisis.” BPR’s Helen Chickering talked with one of the conference organizers who is helping shine the spotlight on the issue here in Western North Carolina.

This week, the BPR news team has been looking at mayor’s races in three very different Western North Carolina communities, including Franklin and Waynesville. The final installment takes us to one of the region’s major centers for tourism – Maggie Valley.

A change in North Carolina law means moved many municipal elections in Buncombe County to next year, but there are still some important contests in the state’s western counties in 2019. The BPR News team is looking at three of them this week, including in the town of Waynesville.

This week marks the celebration of a traditional Mexican holiday with ancient Aztec origins.

Current mayor Bob Scott ran unopposed for his last two terms in office. The 17-year veteran of public service says he’s using the same signs as years past and took zero campaign contributions this time around. Here’s why: “To much money in elections. The worst thing that ever happened to this country was Citizens United,” says Scott, referring to the famous U.S. Supreme Court case. This election is different in that he has a challenger. His own Vice Mayor Barbara McRae. Both are longtime

The US Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments next month in a case that could determine the fate of the nearly 700,000 individuals protected by Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.

A Challenge To Advancement - Access to capital is critical in order to participate in the American ideal of upward mobility. For historically marginalized groups, this is a problem. More about this challenge from today’s guest, Jane Hatley, the Regional Director of the Self-Help Credit Union.

As the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority sets a new course on how it will dole out revenue it takes in from the hotel occupancy tax, a report it commissioned shows average wages are higher in the county for tourism jobs than in the rest of North Carolina. But some common jobs within the industry still have a pay rate beneath what's considered a living wage for the area.

California's Senate Bill 206 - which allows college athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness while in school - could be the legislation that breaks the NCAA prohibition on player compensation. It passed both chambers of the California State Legislature unanimously in September, before being signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. Given their history in fighting for player's rights, both of our hosts are quite excited by this. In this episode, John and Marcia talk with Ramogi

It's been a month since health officials announced the Legionnaires' outbreak linked to the Mountain State Fair.