Jessica Wakeman

Asheville, New York

Reporter at Mountain Xpress

freelance journalist in Asheville, NC | ⛰ via of Brooklyn via Connecticut | NYU '05 | creampuff in a knife fight

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Articles

Still Recovering From Hurricane Helene, Western North Carolina Braces for Federal Cuts

3 weeks ago | progressive.org | Jessica Wakeman

On March 13, residents of Western North Carolina made national news at a raucous town hall hosted by Republican Congressman Chuck Edwards in Asheville, during which one man was removed by police after shouting “I’m a veteran and you don’t give a fuck about me! . . .
If You Rebuild It: Asheville Tourists take the field amid construction

3 weeks ago | mountainx.com | Gina Smith |Kay West |Jessica Wakeman |Brionna Dallara

If You Rebuild It: Asheville Tourists take the field amid construction Volume / Issue April 2, 2025 Cover Design Credit: Scott Southwick Cover Photography Credit: Asheville Tourists McCormick Field, Asheville’s venerable minor-league baseball stadium, is in the midst of an 18-month, $38.5 million renovation that will bring it up to standards required by Major League Baseball. Asheville Tourists officials say they are up to the challenge of hosting 66 games this season at a ballpark that’s...
2025 PIT count shows increase in unsheltered homelessness

3 weeks ago | mountainx.com | Jessica Wakeman

2025 PIT count shows increase in unsheltered homelessness TAKEAWAYS: City of Asheville homeless strategy specialist Debbie Alford, left, discusses key takeaways from the 2025 Point-in-Time count, which gathers data on the number of homeless people in the county. Photo by Jessica Wakeman According to the 2025 Point-In-Time Count (PIT), unsheltered homelessness increased by 50% in Buncombe County year-over-year.
'Of Course People are Yelling': Rep. Chuck Edwards Faces Protesters at Asheville Town Hall

1 month ago | theassemblync.com | Jessica Wakeman

At a raucous townhall on Thursday night, Rep. Chuck Edwards told constituents he supports abolishing the U.S. Department of Education and defunding USAID, believes Elon Musk has “brought a lot of smart people” to the federal government, and can get behind “a deal” with Ukraine to “recoup” the cost of U.S. military support.
Techniques to address anxiety in kids, post-Helene

1 month ago | mountainx.com | Jessica Wakeman

The Tingleys rode out Tropical Storm Helene like many families in Western North Carolina. They sheltered in their house in North Asheville with their children, listening as trees fell around them. When the storm passed, they ventured outside to explore the damage. Thankfully, neither they nor their property were harmed. The days following Helene were full of unknowns for the family.
Debut novel examines the lasting impact of sexual assault

2 months ago | mountainx.com | Jessica Wakeman

Debut novel examines the lasting impact of sexual assault BACK AND FORTH: Author Melissa Connelly's debut novel, What Was Last, tells the story of Marti Farrell in two parts — as a young teen navigating sexual abuse in the 1970s and later as an adult still coping with the trauma of her past.
FEMA Extends Temporary Hotel Stays, But Not Without Widespread Confusion

2 months ago | theassemblync.com | Jessica Wakeman

Standing at Asheville Regional Airport last month, President Trump suggested eliminating the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has so far contributed $316 million torecovery from last fall’s devastating Hurricane Helene. The following week, the Trump administration said it would freeze all federal grants, loans, and other funds, though a judge hit pause on that plan.
‘Hard times on top of hard times’: Lessons learned from families and child care providers following Helene

Jan 13, 2025 | ednc.org | Jessica Wakeman

Editor’s Note: This story was produced by the WNC Helene Hub, a project of the NC Local News Workshop made possible with funding from the Knight Foundation and Center for Disaster Philanthropy. Three weeks after Helene hit Western North Carolina, Marcia Whitney thought she was close to a breakthrough. The president of Verner Center for Early Learning was desperate to reopen and help their families and children return to at least some of their routines.
Unwanted livestock find homes at rescue farms

Jan 12, 2025 | mountainx.com | Jessica Wakeman

Editor’s note: This story was reported and written before Tropical Storm Helene. Xpress followed up with sources after the storm for updates. A few years ago, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) asked Don Collins to come to a house in Woodfin. Collins arrived with one of his trailers, and he met Otis, a potbellied pig, living inside a yard with a chain-link fence. Otis’ owner had bought the pig for his grandchildren.
‘Hard times on top of hard times’: lessons learned from families and child care providers following Helene

Jan 7, 2025 | biltmorebeacon.com | Jessica Wakeman

Three weeks after Helene hit Western North Carolina, Marcia Whitney thought she was close to a breakthrough. The president of Verner Center for Early Learning, desperate to reopen and help their families and children return to at least some of their routines, spent five weeks after Helene jumping through hoops to get a temporary water system approved. This “water saga,” as Whitney calls it, is one example of early childhood centers’ challenging path to reopening after Helene.