Wake Up, Asheville!

Friday, June 12: Property Tax Moratorium + Attorney Disobeys Court + City Retires Mascot Over Offensive Language

Today's Asheville newscast includes these stories: * Property tax moratorium faces final vote in NC House [https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/2026/06/11/nc-property-tax-moratorium-heads-for-final-vote/90495576007/] * Local GOP leader accuses state officials of pressuring polling location decisions [https://nclocal.org/2026/06/10/texts-show-local-leader-communications-with-board/] * Asheville attorney disobeys court custody rulings, at risk of fleeing to Nigeria, judge says [https://avlwatchdog.org/asheville-attorney-disobeys-court-custody-rulings-at-risk-of-fleeing-to-nigeria-judge-says/] * Asheville retires raccoon mascot over offensive T-shirt incident and cultural issues [https://www.bpr.org/politics-government/2026-06-11/a-raccoon-mascot-a-racially-offensive-t-shirt-and-a-cultural-problem-inside-asheville-parks-and-recreation] * GRINDfest celebrates Black entrepreneurship and culture in Asheville [https://wlos.com/news/local/grindfest-asheville-black-wall-street-avl-events-entrepreneurship-culture-music-business-summit-pitch-competition-business-owners-community-free-helene-damage-western-north-carolina-wnc]

Thursday, June 11: Narrow Budget Approval + Housing Development Approved + Family Seeks Justice

Today's Asheville newscast includes these stories: * Asheville City Council narrowly passes $275.8 million budget for fiscal year 2027 [https://mountainx.com/news/local-government/council-approves-275-8m-budget-in-4-3-vote/] * Affordable housing development approved to address Asheville's ongoing challenges [https://828newsnow.com/news/228822-126-affordable-housing-units-approved-by-asheville-city-council-for-9-5-million/] * FEMA allocates $172 million for Hurricane Helene recovery efforts [https://www.bpr.org/helene-recovery/2026-06-09/fema-releases-172-million-for-helene-recovery-including-29-million-for-buyouts-in-buncombe-county] * NC lawmakers push free college tuition to combat public safety worker shortage [https://ncnewsline.com/2026/06/10/nc-lawmakers-push-free-college-tuition-to-combat-public-safety-worker-shortage/] * Family seeks justice in shooting death of Eric Lordman in Asheville [https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/crime/2026/06/10/asheville-police-say-28-year-old-mans-shooting-death-likely-targeted/90420142007/]

Wednesday, June 10: Alleged Murder Confessions + Asheville Mall Property Rezoning + Red Panda Phoenix Dies

Today's Asheville newscast includes these stories: * Two charged in Fairview triple murder case allegedly made chilling confessions [https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/crime/2026/06/09/man-accused-fairview-triple-murders-admitted-shooting-stabbing/90476289007/] * Asheville planners split over rezoning bid tied to Asheville Mall property [https://828newsnow.com/news/228822-asheville-planners-split-over-rezoning-bid-tied-to-asheville-mall-property/] * Buncombe County extends permit fee relief for Helene repairs through 2027 [https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/2026/06/09/buncombe-county-extends-helene-permit-fee-waivers/90458120007/] * Local nonprofit awarded $5.6 million in funding for Pisgah trail restoration [https://828newsnow.com/news/228822-local-nonprofit-awarded-5-6-million-in-funding-for-pisgah-trail-restoration/] * Phoenix the red panda dies at Western North Carolina Nature Center [https://wlos.com/news/local/beloved-red-panda-phoenix-has-died-at-western-north-carolina-nature-center]

Tuesday, June 9: Police Shooting + Schools Leader Stepping Down + Public Pool Drought

Today's Asheville newscast includes these stories: * Asheville police shoot man armed with a knife at apartment complex [https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/crime/2026/06/08/asheville-police-shoot-man-armed-with-a-knife/90455037007/] * Buncombe County Superintendent Rob Jackson to step down [https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/education/2026/06/08/buncombe-county-schools-superintendent-retiring/90419659007/] * State auditor discusses early voting site controversy in Cullowhee [https://wlos.com/news/local/jackson-county-early-voting-site-debate-cullowhee-wcu-north-carolina-state-auditor-dave-boliek-election-board-chair-bill-thompson] * Before Hendersonville woman allegedly poisoned daughter, her life was filled with trouble [https://www.theassemblync.com/news/politics/justice/casper-leinenkugel-charged-murder-hendersonville/] * For second straight summer, only one public pool will be open in Asheville [https://www.bpr.org/growth-development/2026-06-04/for-second-year-in-a-row-only-one-public-pool-will-be-open-in-asheville-this-summer]

Monday, June 8: Pipe Litters French Broad + Data Center Moratorium + Opioid Settlement Plan

Today's Asheville newscast includes these stories: * Plastic pipe from Silver-Line factory continues to choke French Broad River [https://avlwatchdog.org/20-months-after-helene-plastic-pipe-from-silver-line-factory-in-woodfin-continues-to-choke-french-broad-river/] * Asheville City Council to consider moratorium on data center development [https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/2026/06/05/asheville-data-center-moratorium-may-soon-come-before-council/90406494007/] * NC Dems request transparency on GOP pressure regarding WCU voting site [https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/2026/06/05/nc-dems-want-more-information-about-gop-threats-over-wcu-voting-site/90405142007/] * Buncombe County seeks public input for opioid settlement spending plan [https://wlos.com/news/local/buncombe-county-seeks-public-input-fiscal-year-2028-2030-opioid-settlement-spending-plan-community-clinical-services-treatment-disorders-overdose-peer-support-specialists-economic-stability-narcan-vocational-programs-college-courses-naloxone] * What impacts do local nonprofits and government initiatives have on homelessness issues? [https://mountainx.com/news/community-news/what-impacts-do-nonprofits-and-government-initiatives-have-on-homelessness-issues-in-west-asheville/]