Good morning Asheville! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Free Bra Fittings to Support Breast Cancer Awareness and 9 more events.
And lastly, we have a post from a neighbor, Davidson J.!
Today's riddle: Why did the girl pig break up with the boy pig? 🤔 (Answer below!)
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1. Answer Man: Speed limit boost on I-26? Airport parking price increases? • Asheville Watchdog (avlwatchdog.org) — Newly widened I-26 through Buncombe County will keep its 55 mph work-zone speed limit until construction, including the new interchange, is finished, despite plans for higher limits later. Asheville Regional Airport has also overhauled its parking system, adding new premium and standard lots with updated daily rates and revised traffic patterns that travelers should review before their next flight.
2. Federal SNAP funding shift leaves NC counties with millions in added costs (wlos.com) — Buncombe County taxpayers are now covering 75% of SNAP administrative costs, a shift that adds about $2.1 million to this year's county budget without reducing benefits for local recipients. Officials in Asheville and nearby Henderson County explain how this federal change, plus stricter error rules coming in 2027, could strain local finances even as MANNA FoodBank faces record demand for food assistance.
3. In North Carolina, a federal flood policy gap sent mobile home residents back to washed-away lots (thecooldown.com) — Asheville residents hit by Hurricane Helene's water crisis are part of a broader story about how outdated flood maps and federal policy gaps keep vulnerable families in dangerous mobile home parks. A new investigation details deadly flooding in nearby Haywood County, explains how buyout rules overlook mobile home communities, and points readers to deeper coverage of Helene's long-term fallout in Asheville and beyond.
4. The Biltmore Estate (southcountynews.org) — If you're planning a day out close to home, this detailed first-hand tour of Biltmore Estate in Asheville walks you through ticketing, the mansion's grand rooms, and the expansive gardens. You'll also learn some fascinating Vanderbilt family history and why many visitors feel the steep ticket price is worth it for a full day's exploring.
5. How the 'chainsaw brigades' during Hurricane Helene inspired a new wave of power tool users (bpr.org) — After Hurricane Helene, volunteers with chainsaws and the Asheville Tool Library played a key role in clearing roads and keeping tools powered around Western North Carolina. Their efforts have sparked a surge of interest in chainsaw safety classes, repair cafes, and tool-sharing programs that help Asheville-area residents prepare for future storms with practical skills and shared equipment.
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Ok Asheville! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "Why did the girl pig break up with the boy pig?" — Because he was such a boar! (Thank you Theresa H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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