ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Here’s a look at the top local news stories from 828newsNOW this week.
JCPenney store in Asheville Mall set to close: JCPenney is closing several stores — including the one in Asheville — by the middle of the year, according to several reports. READ MORE
I-26 Connector project gets $124 million price cut: The N.C. Department of Transportation shaved millions off the initial cost estimate for the northern section of the Asheville I-26 Connector. READ MORE
Explore Black history through the eyes of artists at Southside Center: An annual art gallery celebrating Black artists has returned to the Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center. READ MORE
Pactiv Evergreen to pay $6.25M in restitution, stop fight for property tax refund: Pactiv Evergreen has reached a settlement with state and local officials in the latest action surrounding the closed paper mill in Canton. READ MORE
Asheville area JOANN stores among 500 expected to close: If local JOANN stores are on your list of stops when working on a project, your shopping habits are about to take a hit. READ MORE
‘Save the woods’ is rallying cry for neighborhood around UNC Asheville: An Asheville Facebook group called Save the Woods has amassed nearly 2,800 members in support of preventing the development of a section of forest near University of North Carolina Asheville. READ MORE
‘Beautiful and weird and strange’: Comedian Rory Scovel to perform WNC benefit show: Nationally renowned comedian Rory Scovel is bringing his signature brand of oddball Southern charm to the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts next week. READ MORE
Plan would give more people access to state game lands: Want to use state game lands but don’t have a hunting, fishing or trapping license? A plan being floated by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission would create a Conservation Access Pass that would allow individuals to access and use NCWRC property without those licenses. READ MORE
Sustainability in action at West Village Market: We take sustainability seriously at West Village Market. From our sourcing to our operations, every decision is made with the planet in mind. We’re proud to lead by example and inspire our community to embrace eco-friendly practices for a healthier, greener future! Let’s dive into our best practices at the Market. READ MORE
February draws attention to matters of the heart: Besides celebrating Valentine’s Day, February is Heart Health Month, a time to raise awareness about heart disease, the leading cause of death in the country. READ MORE
I-40 in Pigeon River Gorge to reopen March 1, officials say: Interstate 40 in the Pigeon River Gorge near the Tennessee line is set to open by March 1, 2025. READ MORE
‘Body’ of work: UNCA professor Mildred Kiconco Barya wins literary prize: Asheville writer, poet, essayist and University of North Carolina Asheville professor Mildred Kinconco Barya was honored last week with the 2025 Jacobs/Jones African American Literary Prize. READ MORE
My bloody Valentines: ‘Heart Eyes,’ ‘Love Hurts’ – 828reviewsNOW: My girlfriend was recently explaining why she loves formulaic romantic comedies. It didn’t matter whether the movies were “good” or not, she told me. As long as romcoms follow the beats that are expected from them, there is a comfort in their sweet, trope-y predictability. READ MORE
Strangeville: The Flatiron flat iron: While wandering the streets of downtown Asheville, you may have come across a peculiar, larger-than-human-size flat iron standing on the corner of Wall Street and Battery Park Avenue. READ MORE
Tombstone Tales: Respected midwife and nurse of Asheville: Temperance “Tempie” Avery (?-1917) was born into slavery, serving in the Woodfin household for decades. After the American Civil War, N.W. Woodfin rewarded her faithful servitude with a plot of land where she could raise her family. READ MORE
‘Target for completion is June 1,’ says Corps of Engineers on river cleanup: Restoring Asheville to normal after the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene has been a long and laborious process, but the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers held a press conference today at an active cleanup site to update the public on their progress. READ MORE