North Carolina Students Walk to Vote as Campus Polling Changes Spark Marches and Transportation Efforts
Marge Farrington•October 17, 2026News
View AllNewsNorth Carolina Students Walk to Vote as Campus Polling Changes Spark Marches and Transportation Efforts
North Carolina -- October 17, 2026: North Carolina university students are responding to changes in campus voting access by organizing marches, walking groups and transportation to the polls—a response that has drawn attention as early voting begins for the November election.
Opening-Day Early Voting Jumps 31% Across Western North Carolina
WNC News -- October 17. 2026: Western North Carolina voters cast nearly 30,000 in-person early ballots on the opening day of the 2026 general election, a 31.4% increase over opening-day turnout in the 2022 midterms, according to WNC Times calculations of North Carolina State Board of Elections data.
October 17, 2026
Asheville and Buncombe County Host First Free Halloween Costume Swap and Creative Reuse Workshop
Asheville/Buncombe -- October 16, 2026: Finding the right Halloween costume this season does not have to strain household budgets or fill up mountain landfills.
October 16, 2026
NC AG Jackson, Gov. Stein Respond to Duke Energy’s Data Center Tariff Proposal, Warn Gaps Remain for Ratepayers
Raleigh -- October 16, 2026: North Carolina state leaders are responding to a landmark proposal from Duke Energy that would establish the state’s first-ever large load tariff, creating specific rules for data centers and massive industrial electricity users
October 16, 2026
What to Expect This Winter in Western North Carolina: The Fearless Forecast
WNC -- October 16, 2026: Every autumn, generalized seasonal climate maps make the rounds on regional television news, attempting to sum up entire multi-state regions with broad temperature and precipitation colors. For the mountains of Western North Carolina, however, flat national maps tell you almost nothing about what is actually headed our way.
October 16, 2026Sports
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SportsBeyond Friday Night Lights: WNC Fall Sports Head Into Championship Stretch
WNC Sports -- October 17, 2026: October brings conference titles, standout performances and postseason opportunities across Western North Carolina.
WNC High School Football Scores Week 9
WNC Sports -- October 17, 2026: Week 9 of Friday Night Football brought another thrilling night of gridiron action under the lights across Western North Carolina. Teams across the mountains battled through key conference clashes, statement shutouts, and high-scoring showdowns.
October 17, 2026
WNC Gridiron Shocks: Week 6 Delivers Unexpected Upsets
WNC Sports -- October 10, 2026: Western North Carolina high school football brought another action-packed slate of Friday night matchups across the region, featuring crucial conference battles, rivalry showdowns, and high-scoring finishes.
October 10, 2026
Dominance on Display: WNC's Top Teams Light Up Friday Night
WNC Sports -- October 4,2026: Friday night's Week 7 high school football slate across Western North Carolina featured a series of dominant performances and high-scoring contests, with several teams asserting their authority on the field. T
October 4, 2026
WNC HIgh School Football Scores Week 6
Many WNC high school football teams showcased overwhelming dominance in Week 6, with several games ending in significant point differentials. From Robbinsville's 42-0 shutout to North Henderson's 42-6 win, Friday night lights saw powerful performances.
September 26, 2026Business
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BusinessNC Governor Stein Announces Catawba County to Gain 105 Jobs With Utili-Serve’s $24.8 Million Expansion
Catawba County -- October 15, 2026: Catawba County will gain 105 new jobs as Utili-Serve LLC invests more than $24.8 million to expand its Conover headquarters and construct a 25,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, Gov. Josh Stein’s office announced Oct. 14.
Former Industrial Hub Finds New Life: Ballcrank Pickleball Club to Open in Weaverville
WNC Business -- October 12, 2026: A prominent manufacturing property in northern Buncombe County has officially completed its initial transformation from an industrial production plant into a commercial recreation and hospitality destination.
October 12, 2026
Digital Price Tags vs. Corporate Pledges: Inside Walmart’s Dynamic Pricing Debate
WNC Business -- October 12, 2026: As major retailers transition from paper shelf tags to digital displays, consumer watchdogs and retail leadership are clashing over the future of in-store pricing.
October 12, 2026
WNCSource Secures $3.36M Grant for Rutherford Child Center
WNC Business -- October 10, 2026: In a major development for Western North Carolina’s early childhood infrastructure and local workforce support, community action agency WNCSource has been awarded a $3.36 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Administration for Children and Families
October 10, 2026
Crucial Hearing for Enka Costco Rezoning Set for Wednesday
The Asheville Planning and Zoning Commission holds a vital public hearing this Wednesday on the conditional rezoning for the proposed Enka Costco. This meeting is a critical next step for the significant retail and fuel services project.
October 4, 2026Entertainment
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EntertainmentHaywood County Fall Events: Festivals, Crafts, Bluegrass and Halloween Fun
Haywood County -- October 7, 2026: Autumn is underway across Western North Carolina, bringing arts and crafts festivals, harvest celebrations, live bluegrass and Halloween activities to Waynesville, Maggie Valley and Canton.
Autumn in the High Country: The WNC Fall Mountain Festival Circuit
When the ridgelines shift from lush green to brilliant amber and scarlet, Western North Carolina enters its most spirited season. Autumn in the mountains isn’t just a scenic backdrop; it is a full sensory experience defined by bubbling copper apple butter kettles, the rhythmic resonance of bluegrass banjos, and town streets lined with generational craft traditions.
September 23, 2026
Weekend Highlights: Fairs, Festivals, and Mountain Fun Across Western North Carolina
WNC Entertainment -- September 18, 2026: Western North Carolina comes alive this weekend with outdoor festivities for all ages. Whether you are looki...
September 18, 2026
Raising Cane': New Documentary Explores the Cultural and Ecological Power of Cherokee Rivercane
WNC Entertainment News -- September 16, 2026: For centuries across the American Southeast, native rivercane formed vast, unbroken canebrakes along ri...
September 16, 2026
Cheetah Chrome, Legendary Dead Boys Guitarist and Punk Architect, Dead at 71
Music Entertainment News -- September 14, 2026: Cheetah Chrome, the pioneering guitarist whose feral riffs and raw stage presence helped define first...
September 14, 2026Lifestyle
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LifestyleFall in the Mountains: Asheville Parks & Recreation Unveils Autumn Events, Seasonal Sports, and Halloween Fun
Asheville -- October 11, 2026: Autumn across Western North Carolina brings crisp mountain air, rich fall foliage, and a bustling slate of community gatherings.
The Late-Fall Reset: Using Warm Light, Earthy Scents, and Autumn Color to Ease Into November
WNC Lifestyle -- October 10, 2026: Right around the middle of October, it always hits. One day you’re enjoying the afternoon sun, and what feels like five minutes later, it’s pitch-black outside before the supper dishes are even in the sink.
October 10, 2026
Effortless Autumn Color: Easy Container Plants to Brighten Mountain Outdoor Spaces
WNC Lifestyle -- September 23, 2026: With October just around the corner, Western North Carolina is settling into that sweet spot of crisp mornings, warm sunny afternoons, and cooling mountain breezes.
September 23, 2026
Embracing Simple Autumn Warmth Across Western North Carolina
WNC Lifestyle -- September 12, 2026: There is a subtle, unmistakable shift in Western North Carolina when mid-September arrives. Down along the cree...
September 12, 2026
Permaculture for WNC: Design a Thriving, Resilient Backyard
WNC Lifestyle -- September 10, 2026: Western North Carolina homeowners are exploring advanced, accessible permaculture techniques to transform their backyards into thriving, resilient ecosystems. This approach adapts micro-scale permaculture principles to the region's unique terrain, including varied slopes and sun exposure, to create self-sustaining, food-producing landscapes that work with the local environment.
September 10, 2026Outdoors
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OutdoorsCity of Asheville Announces Playable Sound Sculpture to be Unveiled on Reed Creek Greenway
Asheville -- October 11, 2026: The City of Asheville is excited to announce the installation of a new, interactive piece of public art where the Reed...
Fall Air and Full Calendars: Outdoor Weekend Adventures Across WNC (Oct. 2–4)
WNC Outdoors -- October 1, 2026: Cooler mountain air and early traces of autumn color are setting the stage for a busy weekend across Western North Carolina. From open-air heritage gatherings and street celebrations to working orchard trails and athletic matches, outdoor opportunities span the region from the high plateau to the valley towns.
October 1, 2026
Welcome October Outdoors: Simple Mountain Activities to Savor the Season
WNC Outdoors -- September 23, 2026: As October arrives across Western North Carolina, the mountains settle into that classic autumn rhythm.
September 23, 2026
Eliada Corn Maze Hits New Note with Live Music in Fall 2026
Asheville -- August 30, 2026: The Eliada Corn Maze is set to introduce a new feature for its 2026 season, adding live music to its popular fall attractions and transforming the event into a vibrant fall festival destination. Located at Eliada Home in Asheville, the maze will open on Sept. 26, 2026, offering a unique blend of agricultural fun and entertainment for all ages.
August 30, 2026
Gentle Outdoor Adventures: Easy, Family-Friendly Outings Across Western North Carolina
WNC Outdoors -- August 28, 2026: You don’t need to climb steep summits or navigate rocky terrain to experience the best of the Blue Ridge. Western North Carolina is filled with scenic spots featuring flat walking paths, paved loops, shady resting benches, and gentle activities tailored for older adults, grandparents, and families with young children.
August 28, 2026