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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.

Mountain ridge framed by tree branches with green and yellowing leaves against a blue sky behind it
Outdoors
2 months 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
2 months 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
2 months 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 months 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.

Smoky Mountain Cinema storefront with blue metal awning and promotional banners outside the entrance, under a blue sky.
Arts & Culture
2 months ago
Mountain movie palaces: Smoky Mountain Cinema, Waynesville, NC

Smoky Mountain Cinema is an independent, three-screen movie theater tucked in the corner of a Waynesville shopping center. Despite its modest size, the theater is run with a colossal amount of experience.

Pool deck with warning signs near the water edge, including 'No diving' and 'Too shallow' messages.
On The Town
2 months ago
6 public pools splash back to Asheville for Memorial Day weekend

Six public pools in Buncombe County will open for the season next weekend, just in time for the Memorial Day holiday.

Group of people crowd around a large ceremonial check with a green mascot in the center, balloons on both sides, and Burlington branding visible all around, celebrating a donation of $5,000 to Haw Creek Elementary School.
Business
2 months ago
Brand-new Burlington opens on Tunnel Road, donates to Haw Creek Elementary

Burlington, a national off-price retailer, has opened a new store on Tunnel Road in Asheville. During the ribbon cutting, store staff presented Haw Creek Elementary School with a check for $5,000.

Community
2 months ago
Lake Lure to lure over 800 visitors for Memorial Day beach reopening

Nearly 20 months after Tropical Storm Helene devastated the lakeside town, Lake Lure is poised to celebrate its grand reopening over Memorial Day.

Five volunteers in Mountain True shirts stand in front of a trailer loaded with metal pipes in a sunny outdoor lot.
Community
2 months ago
Public calls on PVC pipe manufacturer to clean up French Broad River

Concerned members of the community gathered at Riverside Rhapsody Beer Company last night to discuss the environmental impact PVC pipes from IPEX Inc. have had on the French Broad River after Tropical Storm Helene.

Smiling woman wearing a blue headscarf and striped shirt sits at a wooden picnic table; name tag reads Andrea.
Community
2 months ago
Annual arts brunch to present recovery plan, honor late photographer

ArtsAVL will honor Andrea Clark, the late photographer and historian, with an award at the event, which will also feature the presentation of the Asheville–Buncombe Arts Recovery Framework.

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