Blue Ridge Public Radio

Blue Ridge Public Radio (WCQS 88.1 FM) is the main National Public Radio station for Asheville and the surrounding areas in Western North Carolina. Owned by Western North Carolina Public Radio, Inc., the station offers a blend of programming that includes news and entertainment from NPR and the BBC World Service, along with locally produced talk shows and music. To effectively serve its audience across 11 counties in the hilly landscape of Western North Carolina, Blue Ridge Public Radio utilizes several sister stations and translators. Additionally, listeners can enjoy its broadcasts online through the Blue Ridge Public Radio app and the station's website.

Local

English

Radio

Outlet metrics

Domain Authority

Ranking

Global

#353149

United States

#85390

News and Media

#3317

Traffic sources

Monthly visitors

Articles

What's next for Kilmar Abrego Garcia?

2 days ago | bpr.org | Marianna Bacallao |Steve Inskeep

A federal judge has ordered the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man the government wrongly deported to El Salvador. The government's next move could be for ICE to detain him.
Morning news brief

2 days ago | bpr.org | Steve Inskeep |A Martínez

President Trump is back after a NATO summit in the Netherlands, what's next for Kilmar Abrego Garcia? The man who was wrongly deported to El Salvador, Senate Republicans rush to pass President Trump's signature policy bill. Copyright 2025 NPR
Jackson officials pepper library board with questions during joint meeting

1 week ago | bpr.org | Lilly Knoepp

Jackson County Commissioners peppered Fontana Regional Library board members with questions but took no vote about leaving the regional system during a special joint meeting on Thursday. Fontana Regional Library Board Acting Chair Cynthia Womble told BPR before the meeting that she had not received any questions or concerns from the county commissioners in previous months – despite the fact the commissioners have publicly debated whether to break away from the three-county library system.
State’s investigation into 35 complaints at Mission finds no deficiencies in care

1 week ago | bpr.org | Andrew Jones

A state investigation into 35 complaints about patient care and management at Mission Hospital found it’s in compliance with federal standards, according to documents obtained by Asheville Watchdog.
Special joint Fontana Regional Library and Jackson County Commissioners meeting Thursday

1 week ago | bpr.org | Lilly Knoepp

The Jackson County Board of Commissioners is holding a special joint meeting with the Fontana Regional Library (FRL) Board to discuss library operations as local leaders have floated the idea of breaking away from the library system. The Fontana Regional Library System is made up of three counties. Discussions about the library system – which includes six libraries in Macon, Jackson and Swain counties – have been fierce since 2022.
I-40 closed after rock slide and flooding in Tennessee

1 week ago | bpr.org | Lilly Knoepp

Heads up to drivers: A rock slide and flooding on I-40 West in Tennessee have closed a stretch of the highway near the North Carolina and the Tennessee State Line. 🎥 And fresh video from about 7:30pm📍 I-40 in Tennessee📲 Detour & More: https://t.co/ow6udr9YWp pic.twitter.com/vHr7qC6I2d— NCDOT I-40 (@NCDOT_I40) June 18, 2025The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NC DOT) is advising motorists to use caution in the area.
Transylvania deputies assigned overnight patrol amid Brevard police shortage

1 week ago | bpr.org | Gerard Albert III

Transylvania County Sheriff deputies will patrol Brevard overnight as the city works to fill vacant officer positions in its police department. Two deputies will perform law enforcement duties within city limits for half of an overnight shift – between midnight and 6 a.m. – for the next six months, according to a contract between the city and county that began this week. The total cost to the city will be about $186,000, according to a contract reviewed by BPR News.
Home still damaged by Helene? NC's new $800 million repair program could help

1 week ago | bpr.org | Laura Hackett

North Carolina will use $807 million in federal funding to repair and rebuild the thousands of homes damaged by Hurricane Helene. Renew NC is now accepting applications from single-family homeowners who make low-to-moderate income and had their home damaged by the storm. The program takes a major slice from the $1.4 billion Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery grant allocated to the state by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Western Carolina University closes intercultural office after viral video, amid federal review

1 week ago | bpr.org | Lilly Knoepp

Western Carolina University announced Friday that its Office of Intercultural Affairs (ICA) is closed “effective immediately.”A statement from Chancellor Kelli Brown explained that the decision was a “restructuring of student support services to better align with the UNC System Policy on Equality.”The Office of Intercultural Affairs has been a part of WCU for a decade.
What if being Mr 305 was a state of mind?

2 weeks ago | bpr.org | Mia Venkat