Wake Up, Asheville!

Friday, May 22: Family Values + Buncombe Bond Proposals + State Lawmakers Getting Local

Today's Asheville newscast includes these stories: * Family defends mother accused of poisoning daughter at Thanksgiving dinner [https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/crime/2026/05/21/henderson-county-family-defends-woman-charged-with-poisoning-daugther/90181859007/] * Buncombe proposes $70 million bonds for affordable housing and land conservation [https://www.bpr.org/politics-government/2026-05-20/buncombe-november-bond-ballot] * Proposed tax bill raises concerns for Buncombe homeowners facing property value hikes [https://nclocal.org/2026/05/20/property-tax-legislation-pause-2026-revaluations-impact-county-budget/] * Swannanoa riverfront restoration, Rosman floodplain projects get state funding [https://828newsnow.com/news/228822-swannanoa-riverfront-restoration-rosman-floodplain-projects-get-state-funding/] * Six bears, including two cubs, euthanized after home break-ins in Haw Creek, Black Mountain [https://wlos.com/news/local/6-black-bears-2-cubs-euthanized-home-break-ins-haw-creek-black-mountain-western-north-carolina-wnc-nc-wildlife-officials-bearwise-food-sources]

Thursday, May 21: Housing Market + Mountain Xpress Protection Sale + No Bond in Poisoning Charge

Today's Asheville newscast includes these stories: * Asheville housing market stabilizes amid uncertainty from Iran conflict [https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/2026/05/20/asheville-2026-housing-market-iran-war/90035281007/] * Judge denies bond for woman charged with Thanksgiving poisoning death [https://wlos.com/news/local/judge-denies-bond-hendersonville-western-north-carolina-woman-charged-thanksgiving-poisoning-death-killing-daughter-ivnestigation-gudrun-casper-leinenkugel-first-degree-murder-cyanide] * Mountain Xpress to be sold to local nonprofit to ensure local ownership [https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2026/05/20/asheville-newspaper-mountain-xpress-nonprofit-sale/90164305007/] * Hendersonville housing summit to discuss 2,200 affordable units plan [https://mountainx.com/news/local-government/hendersonville-housing-summit-to-unveil-plan-that-includes-2200-affordable-units/] * Eliada opens counseling center to expand youth mental health care [https://828newsnow.com/news/228822-eliada-opens-counseling-center-to-expand-youth-mental-health-care/]

Wednesday, May 20: School Budgets + Water Upgrade + Affordable Housing Project Nixed

Today's Asheville newscast includes these stories: * School boards propose budget increases amid North Carolina funding uncertainties [https://mountainx.com/news/education/school-boards-grapple-with-budget-amid-uncertainties-tied-to-state-funding/] * FEMA approved a $25 million water upgrade. Asheville needs about $260 million more to prep for the next disaster. [https://www.bpr.org/helene-recovery/2026-05-18/fema-approved-a-25-million-water-upgrade-for-asheville-the-city-needs-about-260-million-more-to-prepare-for-the-next-disaster] * More residents join Asheville's community emergency response team program [https://wlos.com/news/local/city-asheville-first-community-emergency-response-team-cert-local-responders-fire-police-department-helene-wildfires-resources-north-carolina] * Asheville City Council rejects affordable housing project over gentrification concerns [https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/2026/05/19/shiloh-affordable-apartment-proposal-denied-asheville-city-council/90140433007/] * Florida entrepreneur's job promises for Yancey County looking like a mirage [https://carolinapublicpress.org/75626/florida-entrepreneurs-job-promises-for-nc-mountains-looking-like-a-mirage/]

Tuesday, May 19: HCA Chief Here or Not? + Ager's Rural Appeal + High Five Arson Motive?

Today's Asheville newscast includes these stories: * HCA CEO said he regularly visits with Asheville leaders. Elected officials say they haven’t met him [https://avlwatchdog.org/hca-ceo-sam-hazen-said-he-regularly-travels-to-asheville-to-visit-area-leaders-elected-officials-say-they-havent-met-him/] * Jamie Ager's grassroots campaign aims to bridge rural-urban divide in politics [https://wapo.st/3R7boNY]* * High Five Coffee arson suspect dated an employee, community raises funds [https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/crime/2026/05/18/high-five-alleged-arsonist-ex-boyfriend-of-employee-warrants-say/90079595007/]* * Biltmore Forest ticks show high Lyme disease prevalence [https://avlwatchdog.org/lyme-disease-is-here-biltmore-forests-ticks-prove-it-scientists-say/] * Community remembers Rorey Hipps, beloved local skateboarder and bartender [https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2026/05/18/asheville-remembers-rorey-hipps-skateboarder-bartender/90094633007/]*

Monday, May 18: Lake Lure Reopens + Craggy Prison to Close + No Jail Time in Fatal Collision

Today's Asheville newscast includes these stories: * Lake Lure reopens as Gov. Stein praises WNC recovery efforts [https://828newsnow.com/news/228822-lake-lure-reopens-as-gov-stein-praises-wnc-recovery-efforts/] * Craggy Correctional Center to shut down, citing Asheville's cost of living [https://wlos.com/news/local/craggy-correctional-center-closing-citing-high-living-cost-closure-prison-adult-asheville-staff-buncombe-county-western-north-carolina-department-commute-wnc-ncdac] * Housing authority leaders are praised, and slammed, for efforts to halt ‘financial free fall’ [https://avlwatchdog.org/asheville-housing-authority-leaders-are-praised-and-slammed-for-aggressive-efforts-to-halt-financial-free-fall/] * Marshall dump truck driver avoids jail time for collision that killed two [https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/madison/2026/05/15/driver-in-crash-that-killed-2-asheville-cyclists-to-serve-house-arrest-jail-involuntary-manslaughter/90078080007/]* * House Ethics Committee confirms investigation of Rep. Chuck Edwards [https://www.bpr.org/politics-government/2026-05-15/house-ethics-committee-confirms-its-investigating-rep-chuck-edwards-for-alleged-sexual-harassment]