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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.

Balloon cluster tied to a post on a brick sidewalk beside a brick building, with a sign reading Asheville Recovers Together nearby.
Business
4 months ago
Asheville Recovers Together: How local businesses can apply for up to $75,000 in grant funding

Local business owners and city leaders gathered today to announce the launch of Asheville Recovers Together, a $14.6 million grant program intended to assist Asheville entrepreneurs with rebuilding after Tropical Storm Helene.

Life-size cow statue painted with white letters in a park, with the Museum of the Cherokee People sign visible across the street.
Crime & Safety
4 months ago
Cherokee police say ‘no imminent threat’ after mass violence threat

Earlier today, Cherokee, N.C., went into lockdown after Cherokee police received an anonymous call threatening mass violence. However, officials say there is no evidence of immediate danger.

Close-up of overlapping US dollar bills held in front of a blurred cityscape background.
Politics
4 months ago
Asheville City Council approves 2026-27 budget in split decision

Last night, Asheville City Council voted in a 4-3 decision in favor of adopting a $275.8 million budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, applicable from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

Intersection street signs reading River Hills and Ave, mounted on a post covered with ivy, surrounded by dense green trees; a Dollar General sign is visible below.
Housing
4 months ago
126 affordable housing units approved by Asheville City Council for $9.5 million

During the city council meeting last night, Tuesday, June 9, Asheville officials approved $9.5 million in disaster recovery funding to put the construction of Terrace at River Hills, a 126-unit affordable housing development, into motion.

Stone wall with a wooden welcome sign beside a shaded porch of a national forest visitor center, autumn trees in the background.
Outdoors
4 months ago
Local nonprofit awarded $5.6 million in funding for Pisgah trail restoration

Pisgah Area SORBA, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of over 150 miles of trails in the Pisgah Ranger District, has been awarded $5.6 million in disaster relief funding from the National Forest Foundation, a congressionally-charted nonprofit partner of the USDA Forest Service.

Exterior view of a nature center: a tall wooden sign with a circular logo and 'Nature Center' text, beside a mural-painted wall and visitors on a sunny walkway.
Community
4 months ago
WNC Nature Center announces death of red panda Phoenix

The Western North Carolina Nature Center shared sad news on social media today after Phoenix, a 14-year-old red panda, passed away after a recent decline in health.

Sports bar interior filled with football banners, flags, and jerseys hanging from the ceiling, with large TV screens showing a live match.
Sports
4 months ago
Where to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Asheville

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is just around the corner. Read our list of places to watch the World Cup in Asheville this June.

Triptych collage of three men: left bearded man in yellow-lit hallway looking up, center muscular armored warrior with a sword, right man with surprised expression.
Entertainment
5 months ago
‘Backrooms,’ He-Man and ‘Scary Movie’: New movies to see or skip in June 2026

Looking for a new movie to see as summer vacation starts? Check out our reviews of three major releases: the indie horror phenomenon “Backrooms,” the silly 80s throwback “Masters of the Universe” and the sixth installment of the long-running parody series “Scary Movie.”

Mobile exhibit trailer labeled Museum of Unnatural Disasters sits on a grassy park with trees and a distant neoclassical building in the background.
Community
5 months ago
Tropical Storm Helene, Asheville featured in Washington, D.C., museum exhibit

The “Museum of Unnatural Disasters” is an exhibit cataloguing the experiences of disaster survivors from across the United States over the last three years, including Tropical Storm Helene. The pop-up will be open in Washington, D.C., through mid-June.

Education
5 months ago
Buncombe County Schools superintendent announces retirement after 34 years

After 34 years serving in North Carolina public schools, Buncombe County Schools Superintendent Rob Jackson has announced his retirement, effective Aug. 31, 2026.

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