
Helen Chickering
Host and Reporter, WCQS-FM at Blue Ridge Public Radio
@BlueRidgePublicRadio #scicomm @aldacenter alum #publicradio announcer & reporter @BlueRidgePublicRadio (tweets are my own)
Articles
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2 weeks ago |
bpr.org | Helen Chickering
Just in time for Memorial Day weekend, the city of Asheville has reopened several popular parks and greenways along the French Broad River, offering residents renewed access to outdoor spaces nearly eight months after Hurricane Helene caused widespread flooding and infrastructure damage. According to a press release from the city, fully reopened areas now include Amboy Riverfront Park, Craven Street Trailhead Park, Jean Webb Park, and the Craven Street Bridge Boating Access Area.
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2 weeks ago |
bpr.org | Helen Chickering
More than 14,000 homes and businesses in North Carolina are one step closer to reliable internet access. Gov. Josh Stein has announced a $48 million investment in broadband expansion through the Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program. The funding will support projects in 22 counties, including Mitchell County, where 84 homes and businesses are set to have access to high-speed internet for the first time.
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1 month ago |
bpr.org | Helen Chickering
A new historical novel is drawing attention to a little-known post-Civil War community that once thrived in the mountains near Hendersonville. Happy Land, by Dolen Perkins-Valdez, is based on the real story of a settlement founded by formerly enslaved people in the 1870s. The Kingdom of the Happy Land was located along the North Carolina-South Carolina border. Its founders came from Cross Anchor, S.C., pooling their resources to buy land and build a self-sustaining community.
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2 months ago |
bpr.org | Helen Chickering
Today, April 7, is the final day for North Carolinians with uninsured damage or loss from Hurricane Helene to apply for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The agency has been involved in disaster recovery efforts across North Carolina since the storm struck in September 2024, providing aid for temporary housing, home repairs or replacement, and repairs to private roads and bridges. Applications must be submitted by the end of the day.
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2 months ago |
wunc.org | Helen Chickering
A key corridor in Asheville is back in service as of Friday afternoon, as Swannanoa River Road (N.C. 81) reopened between Biltmore Avenue and Bleachery Boulevard. The reopening follows six months of cleanup, restoration and construction after Hurricane Helene flooded the Swannanoa River and destroyed much more than just the road itself. The corridor was heavily damaged — including water lines, traffic signals, overhead cables and other infrastructure.
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RT @RaquelMartinTV: Happening Now: Hundreds rally outside the Capitol to protest the Trump administration’s effort to dismantle federal age…

RT @jjrennie: This is why I-40 is closed between Asheville and Knoxville #Helene #AMS2025 https://t.co/9bwKSBBGky