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AP Photo/David Goldman, FileIn part one of this series, Asheville Police and the Spartanburg County Sheriff made the case for Flock Safety's license plate reader cameras — narrower in scope than critics suggest, they argued, and already tied to real arrests and recoveries. Part two is the pushback, and it ends with news: this week, Asheville City Council voted 5-2 to rip out every one of the city's 11 Flock cameras and terminate its contract with the company. -
Josh Bell/Asheville Citizen TimesThis week, Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer announced she's calling for a vote at Monday's city council meeting to remove all Flock Safety cameras from the city — ending the contract with the company entirely. She says she heard clearly from residents that a moratorium wasn't enough. That announcement is the backdrop for our report. In this More to the Story episode, WNCW's Dylan Henson sat down with two law enforcement officers who use Flock cameras, to hear the case they make for the technology. Chances are you've driven past one without knowing it — a small camera, mounted near a road or parking lot entrance, reading your license plate and logging the time. In the past two years, they've gone up across western North Carolina and the Upstate of South Carolina. Here's part one — with Asheville Police technology supervisor James Wingo and Spartanburg County Sheriff Bill Rhyne.
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This episode takes a deep dive into how climate change is affecting western North Carolina, featuring Dr. Baker Perry (professor of climatology and Nevada state climatologist, Haywood County native) and Sean Heuser (assistant state climatologist, NC State Climate Office). Dylan covers warming nighttime temperatures, Hurricane Helene's rainfall and infrastructure impacts, the region's swings between flood and drought, fire risk, public health, and what it all means for agriculture, tourism, and water management going forward. -
North Carolina's county jails are facing growing challenges, from overcrowding and staffing shortages to aging facilities built decades ago.In Part 1 of our special series, WNCW's Dylan Henson examined how those pressures are affecting detention centers across the state.This morning, in Part 2 of More to the Story, Dylan looks at how counties are responding through renovations, new construction, and modern jail design — and what officials say those changes could mean for the future of local detention centers. -
County jails across North Carolina are facing growing challenges — from overcrowding and staffing shortages to rising mental health and substance abuse concerns. For this week's More to the Story, WNCW's Dylan Henson takes a closer look at the pressures facing local detention centers and what some officials say needs to change. -
This week's episode features longtime Rutherford County journalist Jean Gordon, who discussed the importance of local journalism, the transition from print to digital media, covering tragedy in small communities, and the growing challenge of misinformation online. -
Jaclyn talked with Maria Dunlavey about the Appalachian wild leek, also known as ramps. They discussed why the plant is protected, conservation efforts, and poaching. -
WNCW's More to the Story features the Kudzu Project interview with Daniel Conway, Program Coordinator for Henderson County's Adult Recovery Court. It's a program designed to help people break the cycle of addiction and incarceration by providing structure, treatment, and accountability. -
Delays in promised FEMA reimbursements is putting a strain on small towns in Western North Carolina. Waynesville's City Manager talks about how those delays are impacting their budget and critical future projects. -
For this week's More to the Story, we're partnering with the Kudzu Project for an excerpt from their interview with Maj. Bob Johnson, Commander of the Hedrick-Rhodes VFW Post 5206 in Hendersonville. They talk about the post's efforts in locating missing WW2-era service members from the area and their success in identifying Luther Rhodes and bringing him home. To hear the full conversation, visit kudzuproject.com -
Ely Portillo of WFAE Public Radio, in Charlotte, discussed the comprehensive review of a major magnet schools overhaul. A review of student assignment policies is a key factor moving forward. In a second story, Ely shared details of his Eye In The Sky story about drones for police use and better public safety. Will additional funding be there at this time of policing growth in the Charlotte region? -
Carolina Public Press Reporter Sarah Michels shared that new registered voter data for the state shows an increase in unaffiliated voters, keeping them in 1st place, which has moved the GOP to 2nd place. That means Democrats are now ranked 3rd. Sarah says that while this change might seem like a victory for conservatives, it still comes down to which candidate and party receives the most votes.
