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Prism Local News

Buncombe County, North Carolina
"Your Local News, Powered by AI Journalism"

About Buncombe, NC

Population
Approximately 269,452 residents
County Seat
Asheville, North Carolina
Coverage Area
660 square miles in western North Carolina

Local Updates

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Newsroom monitoring local Buncombe, NC developments. Next update cycle in 2 minutes.

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Early-Morning Shooting Near Granada Street Kills 27-Year-Old, Asheville's First Homicide of 2026
Government

Early-Morning Shooting Near Granada Street Kills 27-Year-Old, Asheville's First Homicide of 2026

Eric Lee Anderson Lordman Jr., 27, was found fatally shot near Granada Street after officers responded about 12:20 a.m. on Saturday, March 7, Asheville’s first homicide of 2026.

James Thompson2m read
Asheville Mayor Says Costco May Reconsider Withdrawn Exit 44 Proposal
Government

Asheville Mayor Says Costco May Reconsider Withdrawn Exit 44 Proposal

Mayor Esther Manheimer said there are “good indicators” Costco may re-engage on a withdrawn Exit 44 proposal after a March 2 meeting and her March 5 letter urging reconsideration.

Marcus Williams3m read
Weaverville posts March e-Focus; Main Street/Weaver Boulevard work March 2, 4
Government

Weaverville posts March e-Focus; Main Street/Weaver Boulevard work March 2, 4

The Town of Weaverville posted notice Feb. 26–27, 2026 about “short‑term roadway work” at the intersection of Main Street and Weaver Boulevard and published its March e‑Focus newsletter.

James Thompson3m read
Three Rear-End Crashes on I-26 Near Long Shoals Cause Major Delays
Government

Three Rear-End Crashes on I-26 Near Long Shoals Cause Major Delays

Three rear-end collisions involving seven vehicles on I-26 near Exit 37 snarled morning commutes, prompting multiple left-lane closures and long backups for Buncombe County drivers.

Marcus Williams2m read
Orange Peel to Open 6,000-Seat Hellbender Riverside Concert Venue July 2026
Business

Orange Peel to Open 6,000-Seat Hellbender Riverside Concert Venue July 2026

Hellbender by the Orange Peel will open a limited riverside season in July 2026 on a three-acre Swannanoa River parcel with roughly 6,000 seats, organizers announced March 3, 2026.

Sarah Chen2m read
Black Mountain reopens Lakeview Center upper level March 9, meal pickups end
Community

Black Mountain reopens Lakeview Center upper level March 9, meal pickups end

The Town of Black Mountain will reopen the Lakeview Center upper level at 401 Laurel Circle for congregate meals and programs on Monday, March 9, 2026; off-site meal pickups will end.

Lisa Park2m read
Asheville Launches Urban Forest Master Plan Engagement, Announces March 21 Workshop
Government

Asheville Launches Urban Forest Master Plan Engagement, Announces March 21 Workshop

Asheville has opened public engagement for its first Urban Forest Master Plan; an NC Arbor Day workshop will run two hours on Saturday, March 21, 2026, with free tree seedlings and the online survey closes March 27.

James Thompson3m read
Montreat College begins site preparation for 89-acre Black Mountain cybersecurity center
Education

Montreat College begins site preparation for 89-acre Black Mountain cybersecurity center

Montreat College began site preparation in February 2026 on an 89-acre Black Mountain site to ready a Carolina Cyber Center, with construction hoped to start in 2027 and opening targeted for fall 2028.

Marcus Williams3m read
Federal Hurricane Helene Aid Brings Millions to Buncombe County Recovery
Government

Federal Hurricane Helene Aid Brings Millions to Buncombe County Recovery

Nearly $70 million in FEMA grants will flow to Western North Carolina, including roughly $7.1 million for Asheville and about $1.6 million for Buncombe County, with additional reimbursements approved Feb. 27.

Marcus Williams3m read
City to Inspect Mountaineer Inn After Radify Asheville LLC Ignored Court Order
Government

City to Inspect Mountaineer Inn After Radify Asheville LLC Ignored Court Order

Asheville will send a code compliance team to the Mountaineer Inn on Tunnel Road after a Feb. 4 default judgment ordered Radify Asheville LLC to clean the property by March 5.

Marcus Williams2m read
Buncombe County outlines development overhaul, warns of property-value appeals after reappraisal
Government

Buncombe County outlines development overhaul, warns of property-value appeals after reappraisal

Commissioners unanimously approved an Aug. 5 change letting Beaverdam property owners build more than one home per lot; county staff presented a March 5 package to the board.

Marcus Williams3m read
New 24-hour food-scraps drop-off opens at North Asheville Community Center
Government

New 24-hour food-scraps drop-off opens at North Asheville Community Center

A 24-hour food-scrap drop-off opened at North Asheville Community Center, 37 E. Larchmont Road, with Bearicade Bins to block wildlife and online registration for program access.

Marcus Williams2m read
19-Year-Old Asheville Man Arrested on 25 Felony Charity and Rental Fraud Warrants
Community

19-Year-Old Asheville Man Arrested on 25 Felony Charity and Rental Fraud Warrants

Masieuh Dewayne Morgan, 19, was arrested March 2 and booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility on 25 new felony warrants alleging he bilked local charities and falsified rental applications.

Lisa Park2m read
How to Review and Appeal Buncombe County's 2026 Property Reappraisal
Government

How to Review and Appeal Buncombe County's 2026 Property Reappraisal

Value notices will be mailed to all Buncombe County property owners in January 2026; if you disagree you can appeal informally to the Assessor or formally to the Board of Equalization and Review.

James Thompson7m read
NAIA Track and Field Nationals headed to Karl Straus Track 2026
Community

NAIA Track and Field Nationals headed to Karl Straus Track 2026

The NAIA outdoor track and field nationals will be held at UNC Asheville’s Karl Straus Track May 20-22, 2026, with a second staging May 26-28, 2027, after a $4 million renovation.

Marcus Williams3m read
Black Mountain Tailgate Market expands to eight-week spring season, launches double-SNAP pilot
Community

Black Mountain Tailgate Market expands to eight-week spring season, launches double-SNAP pilot

The Black Mountain Tailgate Market will run eight spring Saturdays, March 7–April 25, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., at Old Town District and Foothills Grange and will pilot a double‑SNAP program.

Sarah Chen2m read
Inaugural Asheville Buskerfest to Fill Downtown and River Arts District May 2-3
Community

Inaugural Asheville Buskerfest to Fill Downtown and River Arts District May 2-3

Pack Square Park, Pritchard Park and the River Arts District will host the free, two-day Asheville Buskerfest May 2-3, 2026, a LEAF Global Arts benefit organized by musician Bryan Matheny.

Marcus Williams3m read
Lonnie Israel wins Buncombe County Commission District 2 Democratic primary
Government

Lonnie Israel wins Buncombe County Commission District 2 Democratic primary

Lonnie Israel won the District 2 Democratic primary with 5,697 votes to Terry Threadwell’s 4,171, unofficial results from the North Carolina State Board of Elections show.

Marcus Williams2m read
Martin Moore Wins Democratic Primary, Clinches Buncombe County District Attorney Seat
Government

Martin Moore Wins Democratic Primary, Clinches Buncombe County District Attorney Seat

Martin Moore is the projected winner of the March 3 Democratic primary for Buncombe County district attorney; no Republican filed, making the primary effectively decisive.

Marcus Williams3m read
Buncombe County Hospitals, Inexperienced Clinicians Confront Growing Measles Cluster
Healthcare

Buncombe County Hospitals, Inexperienced Clinicians Confront Growing Measles Cluster

Six to seven measles cases have been tracked in Buncombe County; a Jan. 4 Mission Hospital emergency department non‑isolation event federal surveyors say infected at least 26 people.

Lisa Park3m read
ArtsAVL launches $1.2M grants March 9, Cotton Mill Studios back in operation
Community

ArtsAVL launches $1.2M grants March 9, Cotton Mill Studios back in operation

ArtsAVL announced a $1.2 million recovery grant program opening March 9, 2026, to help nonprofit arts groups across 16 Western North Carolina counties; Cotton Mill Studios has reopened in Asheville's RAD.

Marcus Williams2m read
Deputies Find Deceased Near Elk Mountain Scenic Highway During Missing Man Search
Government

Deputies Find Deceased Near Elk Mountain Scenic Highway During Missing Man Search

BCSO deputies found a deceased person near Elk Mountain Scenic Highway on March 4 while searching for someone reported missing in February; identification is pending with the NC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Marcus Williams2m read
Asheville Police Officer Beau Baley Resigns After DWI, Child Abuse Arrest
Government

Asheville Police Officer Beau Baley Resigns After DWI, Child Abuse Arrest

Senior Police Officer Beauregard “Beau” Baley, 43, of Fairview, resigned Feb. 26 after a Feb. 7 arrest by Buncombe County deputies on DWI and child‑abuse related charges.

James Thompson2m read
Asheville Names Parkside Preferred Site for Downtown Performing Arts Center
Government

Asheville Names Parkside Preferred Site for Downtown Performing Arts Center

The city identified the Parkside parcel, reported as 2.4–2.43 acres adjacent to Pack Square Park, as the preferred site for a 2,500-seat hall and a proposed more-than-300-space parking garage.

James Thompson2m read
Buncombe County reports 54,875 ballots in March 3 primary; early voting majority
Government

Buncombe County reports 54,875 ballots in March 3 primary; early voting majority

Buncombe County reported 54,875 ballots cast in the March 3 primary, with 30,777 cast during early voting; results remain unofficial until a March 13 canvass.

Marcus Williams2m read
Asheville seeks $650K federal BUILD grant to study Hilliard Avenue safety
Government

Asheville seeks $650K federal BUILD grant to study Hilliard Avenue safety

Asheville City Council authorized a $650,000 BUILD grant application for a Hilliard Avenue safety study, with the city pledging a $65,000 local match.

James Thompson3m read
Buncombe County Approves Vannoy Contract for Hall Fletcher Renovations Starting Summer
Education

Buncombe County Approves Vannoy Contract for Hall Fletcher Renovations Starting Summer

Buncombe County included a $65,278 CMAR pre-construction contract with Vannoy Construction for the FY24 Hall Fletcher campus in its March 5, 2026 board packet, with Ronnie Lunsford listed as presenter.

Lisa Park3m read
Asheville Man Charged After Pepper‑Spray Attack During Silver Sale
Government

Asheville Man Charged After Pepper‑Spray Attack During Silver Sale

During a pre-arranged sale of silver on Rumbough Place, a buyer pepper-sprayed a man and escaped; detectives have charged 23-year-old James Russell Morrow, who remains at large.

Marcus Williams2m read
Gary Parris Wins Republican Primary, Will Challenge Sheriff Quentin Miller in November
Government

Gary Parris Wins Republican Primary, Will Challenge Sheriff Quentin Miller in November

Gary Parris won the Buncombe County Republican sheriff’s primary with 7,954 votes (74.9%), beating Vic Morman 7,954 to 2,669 with 100% of precincts reporting; he will face Sheriff Quentin Miller in November.

Marcus Williams2m read