Blue Ridge Public Radio

10/20/2025

As reported by AVL Watchdog: Mission Hospital should again be put in immediate jeopardy, the worst sanction a hospital can face, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has recommended.

The finding, made by NCDHHS and reported to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, is a devastating blow to the largest healthcare provider in western North Carolina: For the second time in two years, and the third since for-profit HCA Healthcare bought the nonprofit Mission Health system in 2019, the hospital risks losing Medicare and Medicaid funding because of deficiencies in care so severe that state inspectors believe they pose imminent risk of serious injuries or death to patients.

FULL STORY IN THE COMMENTS 👇

10/16/2025

Four hospital systems are vying for state approval to expand their presence in Buncombe County — and the result could have big repercussions for the region’s health care landscape.

Wednesday was the deadline for applicants to submit their plans to the state Department of Health and Human Services for providing up to 129 more acute-care beds serving residents of Buncombe, Graham, Madison and Yancey counties.

The four hospital systems that have applied in the current round are Mission Health System, AdventHealth, Novant Health and UNC Health Pardee. Depending on which applicant is awarded the beds, the region’s health care market could become further consolidated – or it could see greater competition.

FULL STORY IN THE COMMENTS 👇

10/16/2025

A tenant rights activist’s car mysteriously burned last weekend as she met with residents living in an apartment complex in Asheville.

Jen Hampton, a lead organizer with the Asheville Area Tenants’ Union, was visiting the Evergreen Ridge Apartments on Riceville Road. She’s been working with residents since August and says many are concerned about alleged mold issues in their homes.

Hampton told BPR that during a previous visit at Evergreen Ridge, canvassers had accidentally knocked on a maintenance worker’s door, leading to a tense confrontation. On another visit, the employee took pictures of advocates’ vehicle license plates.

On Saturday afternoon, Oct. 11, Hampton and her colleagues were finishing visits with tenants when she walked out to find the burnt remains of her car.

FULL STORY IN THE COMMENTS 👇

10/14/2025

Ingles is taking the next step toward rebuilding its Swannanoa location.

The Buncombe County Board of Adjustment recently granted the grocery giant a special use permit for the site, which was devastated by Hurricane Helene.

The permit allows Ingles to demolish a strip mall on the property where their store once stood and construct a new, 105,000-square-foot building that will house the supermarket and two additional tenants.

The Buncombe County Board of Adjustment has granted the grocery chain a special use permit for the site which was devastated by Hurricane Helene.

10/13/2025

The City of Asheville’s transit survey, available until Oct. 26, is part of a larger planning process called the Comprehensive Operational Analysis.

Learn more about the survey and the future of the bus system at the link in our bio.

🎥 Video by Katie Myers and Stephanie Rogers

10/13/2025

The nation’s largest flood insurance program – managed by the federal government – has been expired for more than a week, possibly leaving thousands of homeowners in limbo.

The National Flood Insurance Program, or NFIP, which accounts for 88% of the country’s flood insurance policies, expired on Sept. 30 as the Senate failed to pass a continuing resolution to keep the federal government open.

The lapse in the program could delay thousands of home sales, according to the National Association of Realtors. Depending on the length of the government shutdown, thousands of current policyholders could also be left uninsured.

The National Flood Insurance Program expired after Congress and President Trump failed to reauthorize the program.

10/10/2025

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said an adult in the western part of the state died from flu complications during the first week of October. No other details were released to protect the family’s privacy.

Health officials also warned that flu, COVID-19 and RSV cases are expected to rise in the coming months. Vaccines are available for all three illnesses. Children without insurance can receive them at low or no cost through the state’s Vaccines for Children program.

FULL STORY IN THE COMMENTS 👇

10/10/2025

Richmond Hill Park, a rare oasis in Asheville’s city limits, will partially reopen for public use this weekend.

The majority of hiking trails will be open, with the exception of the “Brown Trail” and some of the creek and stream crossings. Richmond Hill’s disc golf course is expected to reopen next weekend, Saturday, Oct. 25, with 16 of the 18 holes returning.

Other park amenities, including the restrooms and bike course, are still undergoing repairs.

FULL STORY IN THE COMMENTS 👇

10/09/2025

Asheville’s temporary water pre-treatment system, set up by FEMA after Hurricane Helene, will be decommissioned at the end of the year, and officials say they’re working on a new, permanent solution.

FEMA will continue to fund the once-critical piece of water infrastructure in Asheville through the end of November, the City of Asheville announced this week.

In the meantime, public drinking water and municipal water services will function normally, city leaders told BPR in interviews.

🎥 Video by Stephanie Rogers and Laura Hackett for Blue Ridge Public Radio/BPR with additional drone footage provided by the City of Asheville

10/09/2025

Asheville’s temporary water pre-treatment system, set up by FEMA after Hurricane Helene, will be decommissioned at the end of the year, and officials say they’re working on a new, permanent solution.

FEMA will continue to fund the once-critical piece of water infrastructure in Asheville through the end of November, the City of Asheville announced on Tuesday.

In the meantime, public drinking water and municipal water services will function normally.

FULL STORY IN THE COMMENTS 👇

10/08/2025

There are a few bright spots for Buncombe County in the latest unemployment report.

The data from the North Carolina Department of Commerce shows the county’s jobless rate was 4.2% in August. That’s slightly higher than the statewide average of 4% – but far better than during the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

As it has for most of the past year, the hospitality sector continues to struggle. A July report by the Department of Commerce shows that 14,321 leisure and hospitality jobs – or 15.6% of the sector – were lost due to the storm.

But some other industries are growing, including education, government and – the big one – health care.

FULL STORY IN THE COMMENTS 👇

10/08/2025

On a dusty, warm day last October, nearly a month after Hurricane Helene tore across the southeastern United States, Donald Trump stood behind a podium in Swannanoa, North Carolina, to pledge funding and support to survivors of the disaster.

Trump was present to, among other things, deliver an update on a GoFundMe set up by his presidential campaign for those impacted by Helene. In three short weeks, the drive had raised $7.7 million from the pockets of ordinary Americans, prominent Republican political operatives, and some of the country’s most influential and wealthiest families.

A year after Helene, what exactly Trump’s GoFundMe campaign paid for remains unclear.

FULL STORY IN THE COMMENTS 👇