Articles: 41
30 Jul 2025, 16:50
News
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15 Jul 2025, 14:32
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.
14 Jul 2025, 14:11
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.
11 Jul 2025, 13:40
When I took the job with Asheville Watchdog last week, I promised to let you know when it posted major stories relevant to Transylvania.
03 Jul 2025, 15:06
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.
01 Jul 2025, 12:32
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.
20 Jun 2025, 13:30
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.
06 Jun 2025, 15:55
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.
29 May 2025, 16:45
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.
23 May 2025, 11:38
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.
16 May 2025, 23:49
I got things turned around in one section of the story.
16 May 2025, 17:43
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.
10 May 2025, 21:06
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.
02 May 2025, 18:01
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.
21 Apr 2025, 16:25
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.
16 Apr 2025, 14:08
A highly satisfying weekend of watching televised sports got me thinking about the value of tradition.
10 Apr 2025, 16:58
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.
03 Apr 2025, 17:52
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.
29 Mar 2025, 19:30
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.
27 Mar 2025, 16:33
In January, when I cut back on publishing and paused payments, I pledged to let you know when I resumed writing and charging. That's what's happening now -- unless our house burns down.
25 Mar 2025, 17:23
Residents of Pickens County, South Carolina, voted for Donald Trump by the largest margin in the state. Times are good there. Will that continue under Trump?
04 Feb 2025, 22:09
An outspoken supporter of Donald Trump agreed to sit down for a discussion about his presidency. We found some common ground on policy, but more on the need to keep talking.
23 Jan 2025, 15:51
Acclaimed historian and Brevard resident Dan Carter has tracked the causes of President Donald Trump's rise to power and identified his main threat to democracy: public acceptance.
11 Jan 2025, 15:15
This is a brief announcement to let you know I'm temporarily pausing paid subscriptions to recharge and explore new approaches to reporting and writing.
19 Dec 2024, 12:48
After 10 years on the job, County Manager Jaime Laughter has become known for her hard work and expertise. But too often, critics say, she uses these qualities to obscure county deficiencies.
06 Dec 2024, 15:59
The proposed healthcare center at remodeled College Plaza will bring investment, jobs and expanded medical services, while most of the Plaza's former tenants have found new locations.
26 Nov 2024, 15:20
About 200 North Carolina towns and cities rely on county sheriff's offices to patrol streets and investigate crimes. But Brevard wants to improve its troubled Police Department, not disband it.
15 Nov 2024, 15:17
The proposed agreement would fulfill several previous requests from the School Board, including the creation of a joint committee to discuss and monitor bond projects.
13 Nov 2024, 18:51
Nonprofits, businesses and governments have teamed up to secure campers and rentals as interim homes for displaced families. But the storm has made local long-term housing needs even more acute.
01 Nov 2024, 18:41
Drawing investment is tough in a county with a shortage of land and industrial buildings. But the Transylvania Economic Alliance is working to make the most of available opportunities.
25 Oct 2024, 12:36
Jackson, the outgoing chair of the Transylvania County School Board, looks back on his history of public service and his experience as the oldest school board member in the state.
17 Oct 2024, 14:13
The race for Transylvania County Commission features four incumbents who strongly back the status quo and four challengers who say the county has neglected key duties such as fixing schools.