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

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/]

Friday, June 5: Vote Against Home Repairs + Jail Safety Crisis + Homeless Along Tunnel Road

Today's Asheville newscast includes these stories: * Advisory board rejects plan to redirect millions for Helene home repairs [https://828newsnow.com/news/228822-asheville-board-rejects-plan-to-redirect-millions-for-helene-home-repairs/] * Buncombe County sheriff warns of safety crisis due to jail overcrowding [https://wlos.com/news/local/overcrowding-jail-buncombe-county-detention-facility-irynas-law-inmates-mattresses-cells-violence-population-mental-illness-staff-sheriff-quentin-miller-court-system-criminal-cases-western-north-carolina-wnc] * Light, and dark, at ends of Tunnel Road: Hope for the homeless, but also drugs, squalor and crime [https://avlwatchdog.org/light-and-dark-at-ends-of-tunnel-road-hope-for-the-homeless-but-also-drugs-squalor-and-crime/] * Family of Bent Creek suspect says he's needed mental health care [https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/crime/2026/06/04/bent-creek-suspect-family-says-system-failed-him/90297758007/] * Water quality monitoring begins for WNC rivers this summer [https://www.bpr.org/climate-environment/2026-06-03/water-quality-monitoring-gets-underway-for-wnc-rivers]

Thursday, June 4: County Approves Budget + Edwards Distancing From Trump? + GOP Pressures

Today's Asheville newscast includes these stories: * Buncombe County approves $484M budget [https://mountainx.com/news/local-government/commission-approves-484-4m-budget/] * Ghosting story: Is Chuck Edwards distancing himself from Trump, or is it the other way around? [https://avlwatchdog.org/ghost-story-is-chuck-edwards-distancing-himself-from-trump-or-is-it-the-other-way-around/] * Buncombe County purchases JCPenney site for new emergency operations center [https://wlos.com/news/local/buncombe-county-commissioner-jcpenney-store-asheville-mall-emergency-operations-center-resolution-approve] * $25 million for recycling improvements in WNC after Hurricane Helene [https://www.bpr.org/helene-recovery/2026-06-02/25m-awarded-for-recycling-infrastructure-in-post-helene-wnc] * Jackson County Elections Chair alleges GOP pressured his early voting plan vote [https://nclocal.org/2026/06/03/jackson-county-board-of-elections-chair-alleges-raleigh-pressure-forced-his-vote/]