In-depth story on the stunning extent and lasting impact of urban renewal in Asheville
How did the city become a place where ambitious young Black people want to leave? A lot of it has to do with the ravages of urban renewal.
Brevard NewsBeat
In-depth reporting on local politics, environment and land use.
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New Investigative Story about FEMA and an Inquiry about Interest in Asheville Watchdog
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First Watchdog Story: What We Should Learn from Cycling Tragedy
Though the deaths of two young cyclists in a head-on collision with a dump truck on July 1 highlights the reputation of the city as a dangerous and uninviting place to ride, despite marketing itself as a marketing paradise.
Why is Interstate 40 such a Mess? Because it Never Should Have Been Built There
The geography of I-40 along the Pigeon River helps creates serious landslides, including the one resulting in a long-term closure after Tropical Storm Helene. The risk was known from the start.
Nutrition, Hospital Funding in Jeopardy as State Faces "Big, Beautiful" Cuts to Medicaid and SNAP
When I took the job with Asheville Watchdog last week, I promised to let you know when it posted major stories relevant to Transylvania.
I'm Taking a New Job, but Budget Shows the Need to Keep an Eye on Transylvania
As excited as I am about my new post with Asheville Watchdog, an outstanding and inspired effort to revive local journalism, I worry about leaving my old one.
Helene, FEMA and the Long Wait for Home Fixes
The good news: The total number of flood-damaged homes that need to be rebuilt, elevated or demolished is less than it might have been. The bad news: it's going to take a long time.
Bigger Budget Not "Socialism," just Necessary, Commissioners Say
Most County Commissioners support a proposed budget funded by the first property tax increase in recent years and a bigger increase in the county's fire assessment.
More Housing on Steep Slopes: City Wants It, Neighbors Don’t
Changes to Brevard’s law on developing steep hillsides will allow both an affordable project and greater density in the biggest residential developments planned in the city in recent years.
Opinion: Larry Chapman and Blurred Line between Patriotism and Militarism
Let's honor soldiers and sailors, especially, of course, the ones who died in battle, while being aware that exalting their service above others' can lead to undemocratic and tragic results.
Market-Based Reassessment Means Higher Taxes for Residents, Big Cuts for Big Businesses
Transylvania County’s recent property reappraisal was conducted by the books, but in Brevard is leading to “unfair” tax burden on low-income residents, officials said.
Clarification in Column About River Clearance
I got things turned around in one section of the story.
Opinion: When it Comes to Clearing Storm Debris Clearance, Less is Better
Federal taxpayers could pay as much $66 million for removing debris from county rivers. Let’s think about trying to save money — and river habitat.
Opinion: Unlock SAFE. Nonprofit Needs to Open up to Restore Credibility. And I’ll Help
The domestic violence organization has made a good first step, hiring a new executive director. Now it needs to show it's serious about getting past its history of dysfunction.
Excess Debris Removal in County Rivers Created “Ecological Crisis,” Critics Say, and Could Cost as much as $66 Million
The clearance of rivers choked with deadfall from Helene is needed to protect bridges and prevent future flooding. But critics decry its bloated costs and habitat destruction.
Community "Hero" Ora Wells' Latest Mission, Preventing Alzheimer's
The beloved retired pediatrician looks back on the rewards of his long career and talks about using his Alzheimer's diagnosis to spread the word about the preventative benefits of diet and exercise.
Masters Golf and the Argument for Keeping Some Things as They Are
A highly satisfying weekend of watching televised sports got me thinking about the value of tradition.
The Fight Against the "Very Real" Threat of the Record-Breaking Table Rock Fire
The largest fire in Upstate South Carolina history also burned more than 500 acres in Transylvania County. If not for a shift in the weather and the work of fire crews, it could have been a lot worse.
“Transformative?” Not so much. New Pisgah Health Leader Talks Scaled-Back Plans
Previous spending and ongoing financial burdens have left Pisgah Health Foundation imagining a role much changed from when it was flush with the proceeds of the Mission Health sale.
Flames Slow and Protection Efforts Advance, Officials Say, While Urging Caution
Better weather helped slow the spread of the Table Rock Fire and allowed crews to bolster defenses, but “we’re not out of the woods yet,” a fire chief warned.