4 weeks ago in Arts & Culture, Business, Community, Crime & Safety, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Local, Politics, ZZZ App Top Stories

828newsNOW Wrapped: A look back at the news of 2025

As we wrap up our first full calendar year of 828newsNOW, we wanted to take a look back at the stories that mattered to our community most in 2025. From all of us on the 828newsNOW team, thank you for reading, sharing and supporting our local journalism. Here's to continuing to tell your stories in 2026!

4 weeks ago in Ask The Expert, Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Business, Housing, Local, Native Advertising, Perspectives, ZZZ App Top Stories

5 signs you’ve found the right general contractor

Hunter Ward, the Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains’ 2025 Builder of the Year, explains how homeowners can evaluate general contractors before beginning a project.

4 weeks ago in Local, Outdoors, ZZZ App Top Stories

Rain in forecast could aid firefighters battling WNC wildfires

Lytle Cove fire reaches full containment as crews continue work on Shumont Mountain blaze

4 weeks ago in Arts & Culture, Community, Entertainment, Outdoors

The Dambo Trolls of WNC

The Handcrafted Dambo Trolls are watching—and they want to learn about you at the North Carolina Arboretum’s Trolls: A Field Study.

4 weeks ago in Community, Crime & Safety, Local, Native Advertising, ZZZ App Top Stories

Rapid weather changes make emergency alerts vital in WNC

Buncombe, Asheville, Black Mountain and other areas provide free text, email and phone notifications about severe weather, road closures and more

4 weeks ago in Local, Outdoors, ZZZ App Top Stories

Wildfire near Swannanoa 70 percent contained

Crews report 4.5 acres burned off Lytle Cove Road; no structures threatened

4 weeks ago in Ask The Expert, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle, Local, Native Advertising, Yoga Fitness Expert, ZZZ App Top Stories

Why your body needs more heat in a winter yoga practice

Heated yoga offers a purposeful way to introduce warmth into the body. Heated classes create an environment that supports movement, circulation and recovery during colder months.

4 weeks ago in Arts & Culture, Community, Entertainment, Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Local, Music, On The Town, Outdoors, ZZZ App Top Stories

Things to do in Asheville & WNC: Jan. 2-4

The new year has arrived, and with it, another list of things to do in the Asheville area this weekend. Read our guide and discover ways to spend the first weekend of 2026.

4 weeks ago in Local, Outdoors, ZZZ App Top Stories

Woods fire burns in Shumont area of Rutherford County

Blaze burning near Bald Mountain Road is more than 50% contained; no homes threatened

4 weeks ago in Local, ZZZ App Top Stories

Marshall family welcomes first baby of new year at Mission Hospital

Jonah Thomas Roberts born at 3:46 a.m., hospital officials say

4 weeks ago in Lifestyle, Local, ZZZ App Top Stories

From Pope Francis to Charlie Kirk, many deaths in 2025 had a wide impact

Flack, Osbourne and Giuffre’s deaths resonated beyond their immediate circles, sparking conversations about art, activism and social justice

4 weeks ago in Local, ZZZ App Top Stories

828newsNOW reflects on the features, series that anchored the year’s coverage

Legends, local history and food took center stage in 2025

4 weeks ago in Local, Native Advertising, Outdoors, ZZZ App Top Stories

Strong winds to sweep mountain ridges overnight

Gusts up to 55 mph expected overnight in Buncombe, Mitchell and Yancey counties

4 weeks ago in Local, Native Advertising, Outdoors, ZZZ App Top Stories

Breezy New Year’s Eve brings elevated fire risk to Asheville area

North Carolina Forest Service discourages outdoor burning amid New Year’s weather

4 weeks ago in Health & Wellness, Local, ZZZ App Top Stories

Mission Health limits visitors as flu cases surge in Asheville area

Hospitals restrict visits to protect vulnerable patients amid increasing influenza activity

4 weeks ago in Arts & Culture, Business, Community, Lifestyle, Local, Music, ZZZ App Top Stories

Echo Mountain Recording to reopen under new leadership in 2026

After previously sharing they would close their doors at the end of 2025, Echo Mountain Recording has announced its echo hasn't died out after all. The Asheville-based recording company will reopen their Church studio space on Feb. 1, 2026.

4 weeks ago in Arts & Culture, Community, Lifestyle, Local, ZZZ App Top Stories

Pack Memorial Library reveals community favorites from 2025

Pack Memorial Library has released lists of the six most frequently checked-out books, movies and music from 2025. The selections reflect a wide variety of taste among the Buncombe County library community.

4 weeks ago in Arts & Culture, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Local, ZZZ App Top Stories

Wortham Center welcomes Tony-winning theater company for January shows

The Acting Company, a New York-based and Tony Award-winning theater troupe, will perform productions of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "Great Expectations" next month at the Diana Wortham Theatre in downtown Asheville.

4 weeks ago in Crime & Safety, Local, ZZZ App Top Stories

Transformer fire reported at Biltmore Winery

Asheville Fire Department says blaze was quickly controlled; no injuries reported

4 weeks ago in Sports

In the NBA, 2025 might go down as the year of the injured. Nikola Jokic joined that club at the end

Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton is going to miss the entire season because of the torn Achilles he suffered in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Boston's Jayson Tatum — who hopes otherwise — might also miss the whole season after tearing his Achilles in the playoffs last spring.