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Pruett Norris

Pruett Norris is a staff reporter and film critic for 828newsNOW. He is a member of the North Carolina Film Critics Association (NCFCA) and graduated from Appalachian State University with degrees in English and Electronic Media/Broadcasting. He enjoys vampire movies, Scrabble and hanging out with his cat, Tommy Chainsaw. Contact him at pruett@828newsNOW.com.

LED variable-message sign on a trailer with a solar panel top in a construction zone.
Crime & Safety
2 days ago
Citations surpass 15 at former Patton Avenue U-turn

The Asheville Police Department has reported double digit numbers for citations and warnings issued to motorists who have attempted a now-illegal U-turn at the intersection of Patton Avenue and Regent Park Boulevard.

Mountain valley with green forest, rolling hills, and a blue sky framed by pine branches in the foreground.
Outdoors
3 days ago
Hikes of WNC: Lookout Trail

As peak hiking season hits Western North Carolina, trek out to Montreat outside of Black Mountain, N.C. for a climb up Lookout Trail. The technical route requires stamina and some rock scrambling, but its views of the Swannanoa Valley are unmatched.

Three men stand side by side in a garden with orange lilies, mountains in the background.
Community
4 days ago
Sunshine, stories and sweet music fill Black Mountain Memorial Day ceremony

Veterans, their families and community members gathered at Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery today for a Memorial Day ceremony.

Hands holding several green macarons in front of a circular Mills River Brewing Co. logo on a window.
Food & Drink
5 days ago
Rain or brine: Mills River Cheese and Pickle Festival draws 100s, despite bad weather

Cheese-crazed crowds and pickle-passionate people flocked through heavy rain to Mills River Brewing Company this weekend for the brewery’s second annual Cheese and Pickle Festival. The event featured a pickle-bobbing contest, an abundance of fried cheese and vendors hawking pickle wares of all kinds.

Grogu (Baby Yoda) statue sits on a mossy log in a sunlit, misty forest.
Entertainment
6 days ago
‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ is cute, copy-and-paste ‘Star Wars’

The first new “Star Wars” movie in seven years is here! While far, far away from the galaxy’s best “Star Wars” flick, “The Mandalorian and Grogu” offers up cuteness in overdrive.

Rainy city intersection with multiple red lights, cars in traffic, and orange construction cones on the wet road.
Crime & Safety
7 days ago
Crashes spike at Patton Avenue intersection after U-turn removal

As recent traffic changes continue to reverberate across Asheville, N.C., one alteration has proven to be a more difficult adjustment than others: the removal of the U-turn at the intersection of Patton Avenue and Regent Park Boulevard.

Mountain ridge framed by tree branches with green and yellowing leaves against a blue sky behind it
Outdoors
1 week ago
Pisgah View State Park: Opening timeline, history and key details

Pisgah View State Park, located in the lap of Mount Pisgah just 18 miles outside of Asheville, N.C., will provide Western North Carolina with over 1,500 acres of hiking, recreation and outdoor community when it opens. Learn all about it.

American flag waving on a tall flagpole along a highway with a clear blue sky and streetlights nearby.
On The Town
1 week ago
Memorial Day 2026: Where to attend official ceremonies in WNC

This year, Memorial Day will be held on Monday, May 25, 2026, with several official ceremonies honoring fallen soldiers to be held in Western North Carolina. Find the best location for you.

A man and woman sit on outdoor concrete steps, smiling at the camera, with a colorful map and a white water bottle nearby, greenery behind them.
Perspectives
1 week ago
Biltmore, arts, hiking: Tourists explain what brings them to Asheville

Following Tropical Storm Helene, Asheville has struggled to regain its reputation as a premiere tourist destination. Nonetheless, tourists have kept coming. 828newsNOW asked a few visitors what inspired their visits to the Land of the Sky.

Graffiti-covered building wall with bright colors seen through foreground branches and cars nearby, urban scene.
Arts & Culture
2 weeks ago
Supporting southern artists: Local LGBTQ+ nonprofit plans collaborative fundraiser

The Campaign for Southern Equality has planned a multi-disciplinary, interactive community arts fundraiser at the Grey Eagle. Proceeds from the June 25 event will go to support LGBTQ+ artists.

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