Features

Situado en las Montañas Blue Ridge de Carolina del Norte, el pequeño pueblo de Chimney Rock quedó devastado por el paso del huracán Helene, dejando decenas de casas en ruinas cerca del popular destino turístico del lago Lure. En los meses siguientes, iglesias, movidas por su fe, se unieron para apoyar al pueblo, proporcionándole alimentos […]

The city of Asheville is home to around 700 artists. Murals can be found throughout the city, showcasing different works from thousands of minds that have a shared love of art. Now, all of the businesses that were on the opposite side of the train tracks are gone without a trace. The flood waters left […]

Up in the residential neighborhoods of Swannanoa, North Carolina, a family-owned tire shop stands on the corner of North Avenue and Park Street. In the midst of dilapidated, flood-ravaged houses and flattened foundations, stacks of tires and jacked-up cars mark the neighborhood’s one reminder of how things used to be.  A modest town of 5,000 […]

Chimney Rock is a small village in Western North Carolina with around 150 residents, situated in a valley at the base of Chimney Rock State Park. The quaint downtown, lined with storefronts, was a stop for tourists visiting the state park and nearby Lake Lure. When Hurricane Helene hit the area, the downtown was devastated. […]

As Media Milwaukee reporters drive into Barnardsville, North Carolina on an overcast April afternoon, dark clouds roll over the sky and a slight wind picks up. It’s not raining right now, but it will be later. The Ivy Creek that runs through town rolls in the distance, and only grows louder as the reporters pull […]

Harper Leich spent two decades in Asheville, North Carolina, building her life around her passion for painting. Asheville, known for its thriving arts scene, draws creatives from across the country to its River Arts District, a vibrant neighborhood along the French Broad River known for converted warehouses and industrial buildings now housing artists’ studios, galleries, […]

Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and only 12 minutes from Asheville, North Carolina, the small town of Swannanoah faced the power of Hurricane Helene, not standing a chance against the flooded river that swept their homes. Hundreds of people were forced to flee their communities, and hundreds more are living in campers amidst the […]

There’s music in the mountains. With a rich history of folk, Americana and string band music set against the backdrop of the Appalachians, western North Carolina continues to serve as a breeding ground for young artists sustaining the traditions of Southern singer-songwriters.  Music and recreation journalist Grayson Haver Currin knows this better than anyone. A […]

After working out of a cramped apartment for eleven years, stepping into his own studio space was a dream for Colton Dion. Dion is an artist who was born and raised in the Asheville area. He focuses on sculptural painting and canvas work, with an emphasis on traditional landscapes and surrealism. He’s had a love […]

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, the small town of Chimney Rock was devastated as Hurricane Helene tore through, leaving dozens of homes in ruins near the popular tourist destination of Lake Lure. In the following months, churches driven by their faith came together to support the town, providing food and aiding […]

The road into Chimney Rock, a charming village nestled in the mountains of North Carolina known for breathtaking natural scenery and proximity to the iconic Chimney Rock State Park, was blocked by devastation. When a team of student journalists approached the entrance, a man guarding the road said nobody could enter without Mayor Peter O’Leary’s […]

It was a rainy Thursday morning when three curious journalism students set out to explore the wilderness with Asheville native Callie Warner. A born environmentalist with mud on her boots and mountains in her soul, Callie carried a quiet reverence for the land, the kind of understanding that reshapes how outsiders see the world. Her […]