Mountain Xpress

06/18/2026

David Buckley, left, and Alicia Buckley own The Pied Piper smoke shops in Sylva, Waynesville and Franklin. Alicia fears a federal crackdown on h**p-derived products would force their business to significantly reduce operating hours and likely cut staff. "We're pretty nervous about it," she says. 

Grab this week’s issue for more. 

Photo by Mac Essiambre

06/17/2026

Nearly two years after Tropical Storm Helene ravaged Chimney Rock Village, local leaders and shopkeepers are hopeful the summer tourist season will help stabilize the region’s local economy, which has experienced roughly a 50% decline in revenue since the storm hit. Local residents Diana Melton, left, and Jody Sankey dine at RiverWatch Bar & Grill. 

In this issue, you'll also find:

H**p industry braces for federal THC restrictions

City narrowly passes nearly $276M budget

AMOS expansion plans reflect demand, collaboration among family-focused groups

WNC FoodWorks, Blue Ridge Food Ventures mark milestone for local food economy

📸 by Samuel Caleb Johnson

06/17/2026

Local readers: Please consider sharing your story.

06/11/2026

Calling all readers!

06/11/2026

To the untrained eye, it might look like any other tailgate market booth — a cloth-covered folding table stacked with fresh produce and other farm products. But the Aggregate Table that debuted this season at the Leicester Farmers Market has a monumental mission: to begin building a sustainable network for rural food resilience. 

Featured is project manager Nicole Thoennes. 

Grab this week’s issue of Xpress for more.

06/10/2026

As UNC Asheville’s Millennial Campus Development Advisory Committee prepares to release recommendations that could shape the university’s future for decades, critics say the process remains anything but transparent, with meeting summaries arriving weeks after the fact and key deliberations occurring behind closed doors. Featured on this week's cover are members of Save the Woods, an organization opposed to UNCA's development of its urban forest. Starting left: Dennis Ash, Elizabeth Pritchitt, Anne Walch, David Clarke and Chris Cotteta. Xpress reached out to UNCA to invite committee members to the photo shoot, but a scheduling conflict prevented their participation.

In this issue, you'll also find:

A deeper conversation about natural disasters

What do downtown businesses need?

Tips for avoiding a toxic relationship

Marisa Cristina Blake and Spaceman Jones release new albums

06/09/2026

Please tag WNC-based veterans who might be interested to speak with our reporter Justin McGuire.

06/06/2026

The Mermaid Parade is underway in the Town of Marshall.

📸 by .calder

06/03/2026

06/03/2026

Are you employed in Western North Carolina's h**p industry? As federal restrictions on THC-infused h**p products approach a Nov. 12 deadline, Mountain Xpress wants to hear how employees are preparing for the potential impact on jobs, operations and customers. Contact Justin McGuire at [email protected].