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.

When Hurricane Helene struck Western North Carolina last fall, our community experienced firsthand just how essential pu...
09/02/2025

When Hurricane Helene struck Western North Carolina last fall, our community experienced firsthand just how essential public radio truly is. For days — or even weeks — we were the only voices that some could hear after the storm.

And we heard the same phrase over and over again: “BPR was a lifeline.”

This summer we lost federal funding, permanently stripping us of support we relied on for decades.

We need to build a new foundation of community support to sustain BPR’s award-winning journalism, music and cultural programming and emergency coverage.

That’s why we’re launching “Be the Lifeline,” a new campaign so BPR can continue to thrive. We’re kicking off the campaign with a Sustainer challenge and a benefit concert at Highland Brewing Company featuring BJ Leiderman.

Tons of cool things are on the way and it all starts today — head to our website to get involved.

Art advocates in Asheville have long pushed for the city to build a new performing arts center – or to rebuild the exist...
08/29/2025

Art advocates in Asheville have long pushed for the city to build a new performing arts center – or to rebuild the existing civic center downtown, which has struggled with major structural issues over the last few decades.

This week, Asheville officials announced a budding public-private partnership with international developer and theater producer, ATG Entertainment. The city signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the international company, which operates more than 70 venues worldwide.

FULL STORY IN THE COMMENTS 👇

Get your cleats ready – Asheville will host the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) track and field...
08/28/2025

Get your cleats ready – Asheville will host the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) track and field spring championships in 2026 and 2027.

At a press conference Wednesday morning Vic Isley, president and CEO of Explore Asheville said the events highlights the Asheville area as a sports destination.

“ In the Southeast, our combination of outstanding athletic venues, weather, vibrant downtown and unmatched outdoor recreation makes Asheville a fitting home for championships of this caliber.”

FULL STORY IN THE COMMENTS 👇

Asheville has new restrictions on panhandling designed to keep solicitors from talking to passersby or drivers in downto...
08/27/2025

Asheville has new restrictions on panhandling designed to keep solicitors from talking to passersby or drivers in downtown and other areas of the city.

At City Council’s Aug. 26 meeting, members voted to ban verbal panhandling along Patton Avenue, Haywood Road, the South Slope, and part of Merrimon Avenue. In these “high traffic zones,” solicitation with “gestures or spoken words” will now be punishable by a misdemeanor and a fine of up to $50. Such restrictions are already in place across Biltmore Village and most of downtown Asheville.

FULL STORY IN THE COMMENTS 👇

A contentious 2024 Hurricane Helene relief bill shifted the balance of power in the regulatory body that oversees Duke E...
08/27/2025

A contentious 2024 Hurricane Helene relief bill shifted the balance of power in the regulatory body that oversees Duke Energy’s carbon plan — giving Republicans greater influence over the commission. State Treasurer Brad Briner appointed commissioner Donald van der Vaart, a vocal proponent of fossil fuel expansion, to replace one of the commissioners whose term expired this June.

FULL STORY IN THE COMMENTS 👇

Sunday’s drag pageant at Jackson County Public Library dovetailed with debate over whether some counties will break away...
08/26/2025

Sunday’s drag pageant at Jackson County Public Library dovetailed with debate over whether some counties will break away from the regional library system.

For the third year running, local drag performers competed in a pageant, part of Sylva Pride, in the library’s community room. About 40 people attended the pageant, with an additional 125 additional people sitting on blankets and chairs on the library lawn for a "read-in" in support of the pageant.

The event is a flashpoint of the current debate about the Fontana Regional Library System.

FULL STORY IN THE COMMENTS 👇

As many North Carolina students return to school, they'll have to get used to putting away their phones. A new state law...
08/26/2025

As many North Carolina students return to school, they'll have to get used to putting away their phones. A new state law aims to restrict cell phone use in schools statewide by requiring students to turn off their phones during class time.

Many individual schools and school districts have already tried various tactics to limit students' phone use. That ranges from putting charging stations at the back of a classroom where students can choose to leave their phone, to strict bans on use from bell-to-bell, to investing in expensive magnetic pouches that lock up phones throughout the day.

Last year, Durham School of the Arts required students to put their phones in plastic bags on hooks in front of their desks during class, so teachers could see that phones were put away. But eleventh-grader Noah Young says that didn't last long.

FULL STORY IN THE COMMENTS 👇

Well, this is an exciting way to start the week... we've been named a finalist in three award categories by the Online N...
08/25/2025

Well, this is an exciting way to start the week... we've been named a finalist in three award categories by the Online News Association!

All three honors – in public service, breaking news and public engagement on social media – pertain to BPR’s coverage of Hurricane Helene, starting in September 2024.

Fingers crossed! This is huge honor for our small but mighty station; we're over the moon. 😍

READ MORE IN THE COMMENTS 👇

After more than a month of waiting for a single approval from the Trump administration, Gov. Josh Stein announced this w...
08/25/2025

After more than a month of waiting for a single approval from the Trump administration, Gov. Josh Stein announced this week the release of millions of dollars from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that will go towards road repair projects and Hurricane Helene recovery.

During a Wednesday visit to Henderson County, Stein called on the federal government to provide more funding to help the area recover from the storm.

FULL STORY IN THE COMMENTS 👇

Our Regional Murrow awards came in the mail today, so obviously we selfied with them.
08/22/2025

Our Regional Murrow awards came in the mail today, so obviously we selfied with them.

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