Blue Ridge Public Radio

Blue Ridge Public Radio BPR informs, inspires, connects, and reflects the people and places of Western North Carolina.

Blue Ridge Public Radio creates and curates content that informs, inspires, connects, and reflects the people and places of Western North Carolina. BPR cultivates a more engaged, curious, and empathetic public by listening deeply and embracing diversity.

07/24/2025

In the weeks after Hurricane Helene, Heather Maloy, the founder of Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance, made the tough choice to evacuate with her 12-year old son as the region struggled to access food, water, electricity and other essentials. When Maloy returned to Asheville, she was moved by what she saw.

All of the heroic actions inspired Maloy – and made her ask herself – what could she do As a longtime choreographer, dance felt like an intuitive way to pay tribute.

Her contemporary ballet, Appalachian Phoenix, translates the unspeakable moments of grief, loss and recovery in a two-hour long show that premieres at The Wortham Center for Performing Arts on Thursday, July 24 and runs through Saturday, July 26.

Read more: https://www.bpr.org/bpr-news/2025-07-24/appalachian-phoenix-a-new-ballet-performance-honors-helenes-unsung-heroes

Blue Ridge Public Radio’s news coverage and public service during Hurricane Helene has again been recognized with one of...
07/24/2025

Blue Ridge Public Radio’s news coverage and public service during Hurricane Helene has again been recognized with one of the industry's most prestigious awards: The Green Eyeshade.

Announced earlier this month, judges for the southeastern U.S. journalism competition – now in its 75th year – described BPR as being a “lifeline” for its listeners, readers, and the region broadly.

The top spot recognizes BPR’s coverage as the best among all media outlets that submitted work for the 2025 awards across 12 states – from Arkansas to West Virginia. The Green Eyeshade competition is hosted by the Southern chapters of the Society of Professional Journalism, one of the nation’s largest and oldest professional journalism associations.

Read more in the comments 👇

A long-vacant furniture factory in Robbinsville is getting a new lease on life — and bringing hundreds of jobs to Graham...
07/24/2025

A long-vacant furniture factory in Robbinsville is getting a new lease on life — and bringing hundreds of jobs to Graham County.

The announcement was made Tuesday afternoon in Robbinsville, where officials unveiled plans for EcoKing Solutions, a global packaging company based in China. The company will invest $80.5 million to renovate the former Stanley Furniture plant, which closed in 2014. The facility will produce biodegradable paper trays and dishware, and is the company’s first manufacturing site in North America.

FULL STORY IN THE COMMENTS 👇

Ingles said this week it plans to demolish and rebuild its supermarket in Swannanoa, nearly 10 months after Hurricane He...
07/23/2025

Ingles said this week it plans to demolish and rebuild its supermarket in Swannanoa, nearly 10 months after Hurricane Helene devastated the area.

For months, the grocery chain had declined to say whether it plans to rebuild its store in the heart of hard-hit Swannanoa. Community members have pushed the company for transparency, noting that the store had been a lifeline for many residents without access to a car. In the meantime, local nonprofits have been filling the gap.

FULL STORY IN THE COMMENTS 👇

To our Western North Carolina community:We are filled with gratitude for your show of support for Blue Ridge Public Radi...
07/22/2025

To our Western North Carolina community:

We are filled with gratitude for your show of support for Blue Ridge Public Radio. These past few days have been some of the hardest in public media, but your response has been incredible.

We’re moving fast to meet the moment: new ways to support BPR are in the works, along with some *very* cool merch coming soon. Nearly a third of our Summer Car Raffle tickets are gone already, so don’t wait to get yours!

Most importantly, BPR is not going anywhere.

We’re here to stay — and to grow — because of you. Your donations, your time, and your voice make this work possible.

Together, we’ll keep bringing vital news and music to the mountains.

Together, we move forward.

In a canine-crazed city like Asheville – with its dog menus at restaurants and craft dog ales – the city’s two public do...
07/22/2025

In a canine-crazed city like Asheville – with its dog menus at restaurants and craft dog ales – the city’s two public dog parks have been sorely missed since Hurricane Helene wiped them out last year.

French Broad River Park and Azalea Park have been closed since late September, with no reopening date in sight.

The city hopes to help fill that gap with Riverbend Dog Park, a pop-up site that held its grand opening recently in East Asheville. The park was launched in partnership with HCA Healthcare, which donated $35,000 to the city for the creation and maintenance of the park.

FULL STORY IN THE COMMENTS 👇

BPR’s Driven By Community Summer Car Raffle is on — and after last week's rescission vote, your support could not be mor...
07/21/2025

BPR’s Driven By Community Summer Car Raffle is on — and after last week's rescission vote, your support could not be more urgent.

Each $125 raffle ticket helps sustain BPR's independent journalism and music programming across Western North Carolina... and you could win a brand-new Subaru Forester Premium Hybrid!

Get all the details and enter below. ⬇️

The City of Asheville released a study last week on transforming the eastern end of Patton Avenue into a gateway to down...
07/21/2025

The City of Asheville released a study last week on transforming the eastern end of Patton Avenue into a gateway to downtown, in the latest step toward reimagining the area affected by the sprawling I-26 Connector project.

The study includes feedback from residents aimed at making the corridor safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

Among its recommendations is the creation of two new roundabouts where Clingman Avenue intersects with Hilliard and Patton Avenues. The city’s Department of Planning and Urban Design also suggests creating dedicated bike lanes, improving the area’s lighting, supporting mixed-use development and increasing tree canopy.

FULL STORY IN THE COMMENTS 👇

The House has approved a Trump administration plan to rescind $9 billion in previously allocated funds, including $1.1 b...
07/18/2025

The House has approved a Trump administration plan to rescind $9 billion in previously allocated funds, including $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) — a move that cuts all federal support for NPR, PBS and their member stations — and about $7 billion in foreign aid.

The vote of 216-to-213 included all but two Republicans in favor of the cuts. The bill goes next to President Trump for his signature.

Immediately after the vote, NPR CEO Katherine Maher issued a statement calling the cut an "irreversible loss" to the public radio system. She said the effect would be "an unwarranted dismantling of beloved local civic institutions, and an act of Congress that disregards the public will."

FULL STORY IN THE COMMENTS 👇

07/17/2025

We have devastating news. Today in a 51 to 48 vote, the U.S. Senate voted to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, rescinding $1.1 billion in previously approved funds. For Blue Ridge Public Radio, that could mean a loss of $330,000 annually.

WE URGENTLY NEED YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT. Link to donate and read more in the comments. 👇

In the wake of deadly floods in Texas, organizations that supplied locals during Hurricane Helene sprang into action to ...
07/17/2025

In the wake of deadly floods in Texas, organizations that supplied locals during Hurricane Helene sprang into action to send help.

Beloved Asheville Co-Director Gustavo “Ponkho” Bermejo says that he remembers feeling shock and devastation after Helene – but also how folks from across the country came to help.

“I remember…the first feeling that you start having is: we don't have cell phone signal, we don't have water, we don't have power - we were thinking there was no other hope,” Bermejo said.

FULL STORY IN THE COMMENTS 👇

As Buncombe County continues to reckon with debris left behind from Hurricane Helene, its Board of Commissioners unanimo...
07/16/2025

As Buncombe County continues to reckon with debris left behind from Hurricane Helene, its Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a nearly $2.1 million expansion of the county’s landfill in Alexander.

Read more tidbits from last night's meeting below.

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