UNCA Foundation appoints new members to Board of Directors

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com (John North) — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:32:55 GMT

Buncombe Co. OKs budget with property tax increase

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com (John North) — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:24:01 GMT

From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners on June 2 adopted its proposed 2026-27 budget of $484.4 million — billed as a “structurally balanced budget” — that includes a 3.98-cent property tax rate increase.

Etowah man held without bond after attack on female runner at Bent Creek trail

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com (John North) — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:22:50 GMT

From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE, N.C. —A judge ordered Dillon James Curtis held without bond — under Iryna’s Law (North Carolina House Bill 307), legislation enacted to keep individuals accused of violent, repeat offenses in jail — during

Asheville’s mayoral candidates agree that housing and affordability rank as a ‘crisis’

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com (John North) — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:20:37 GMT

From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — “They agree on where they are going, but they disagree on how to get there,” the Asheville Citizen Times reported on May 28

Asheville housing market shows steady strength as inventory rises across region

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com (John North) — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:18:28 GMT

From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The Asheville housing market continues to show signs of strength, with more homes hitting the market and inventory on the rise across the area, Asheville television station WLOS (News 13) reported on May

Rising Greenville, S.C., eclipses rival Asheville, with No. 267 rating in U.S. — and No. ...

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com (John North) — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:17:13 GMT

From Staff Reports

WASHINGTON, D.C — Greenville, S.C., recently was ranked No. 267 nationally on the U.S. News & World Report “Best Places to Live” list.

Within the

Asheville rated No. 648 nationally — and No. 24 in N.C. — on 2026 U.S. ...

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com (John North) — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:15:53 GMT

From Staff Reports

WASHINGTON, D.C — Asheville ranked No. 648 nationally in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report “Best Places to Live” list, released on May 19.

In statewide and regional breakdowns, it

30-day Ecusta Trail closures needed for U.S. 64 modernization, NCDOT says. ...

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com (John North) — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:14:56 GMT

From Staff Reports

LAUREL PARK, N.C. — The N.C. Department of Transportation, in coordination with Henderson County and the Town of Laurel Park, “will implement two Ecusta Trail closures this year as part of a

Henderson County Schools’ launch summer Meals on the Bus program

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com (John North) — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:14:10 GMT

From Staff Reports

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. — The Henderson County Public Schools’ “Meals on the Bus” program, which began June 1, is providing free to-go breakfast and lunch to all children ages 2-18 on weekdays through July 29, excluding July

Free and/or affordable housing?

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com (John North) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 23:59:32 GMT

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following letter to the editor appears after a back-and-forth between letter-writer Richard D. Pope of Hendersonville, N.C., who raised the idea of free housing, and other letter-writers — all of whom strongly opposed Pope’s proposal.

The Daily Planet's Opinion... 'Kill switch' controversy: Let's not let the government require ...

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com (John North) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 23:56:45 GMT

We agree with the critics who view the proposed government mandate for “impaired driving prevention technology” as an overreach of federal power.

While the proposed law does not — technically — create a remote government-controlled kill switch,

Donald Trump is helping to turn Texas blue

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com (John North) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 23:54:32 GMT

By BILL PRESS

Syndicated Columnist

It was a Texas-size blowout.

In the Texas Republican runoff on May 26, scandal-plagued, Trump-endorsed Ken

America: The real crouching tiger, hidden dragon

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com (John North) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 23:50:19 GMT

By VICTOR DAVIS HANSON

Syndicated Columnist

One American view of China —now increasingly popular on the Left and the Right alike, especially among the hate-Trump crowd — is

Here’s more good advice Democrats will not take

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com (John North) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 23:48:34 GMT

By TED RALL

Syndicated Columnist

As with the weather, everyone complains about the Democrats, but no one does anything

The Candid Conservative: We have a maturity problem...

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com (John North) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 23:46:03 GMT

“The problem with some of our noisier exponents of ‘American exceptionalism’ is that they lack Reagan’s moral maturity.”

— Pat Buchanan

•

BY CARL
Read more...

Despite long ceasefire, let’s stay the course with Trump’s ability to win in Iran with Iran

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com (John North) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 23:42:50 GMT

By ROGER BUCKNER

Special to the Daily Planet

Llike everybody else, I am frustrated with the seven-week ceasefire — and the direction of the war in Iran.

Read more...

Spartanburg County councilman’s charges to be dismissed by judge. ...

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com (John North) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 23:27:33 GMT

From Staff Reports

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — The assault case against Spartanburg County Councilman Monier “Mo” Abusaft was dismissed by a judge who ruled he was acting in self-defense under South Carolina’s “Stand Your Ground” law,
Read more...

Craggy Correctional Center recommended for sale, not a transfer to Buncombe County

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com (John North) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 23:25:37 GMT

From Staff Reports

WOODFIN, N.C. — State officials “recommend putting the Craggy Correctional Center property in Woodfin up for sale on the open market, a move that would rule out transferring the site to Buncombe County,” Asheville television station WLOS (News 13) reported
Read more...

ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS: Little Chicago? It’s truly part of Upstate folklore

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com (John North) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 23:22:40 GMT

By DREW HINES

Special to the Daily Planet

GREER, S.C. — I first came across Little Chicago quite by accident in the mid-1970s.

I can’t remember if I was
Read more...

‘Footloose’ to be staged June 12-July 5 at FRP

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com (John North) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 23:21:29 GMT

From Staff Reports

FLAT ROCK, N.C. — The musical “Footloose,” presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals, will open at 7:30 p.m. June 12 on the mainstage at Flat Rock Playhouse, 2661 Greenville Highway, her

Read more...

Castellows to feature 3-part (country) harmony

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com (John North) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 23:20:45 GMT

From Staff Reports

WALHALLA, S.C. — The Castellows, a country music sister trio, will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m. June 13 in the Walhalla Performing Arts Center, 101 East North Broad Street, here.

Read more...

The Tams to perform Carolina beach music on June 12

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com (John North) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 23:19:47 GMT

From Staff Reports

MAULDIN, S.C. — The Tams, an iconic Carolina beach music band, will perform from 6:30 to 9 p.m. June 12 in the amphitheater adjoining the Mauldin Cultural Center, 101 East Butler Road, here.

Read more...

Asheville Daily Planet

UNCA Foundation appoints new members to Board of Directors

Buncombe Co. OKs budget with property tax increase

Etowah man held without bond after attack on female runner at Bent Creek trail

Asheville’s mayoral candidates agree that housing and affordability rank as a ‘crisis’

Asheville housing market shows steady strength as inventory rises across region

Rising Greenville, S.C., eclipses rival Asheville, with No. 267 rating in U.S. — and No. ...

Asheville rated No. 648 nationally — and No. 24 in N.C. — on 2026 U.S. ...

30-day Ecusta Trail closures needed for U.S. 64 modernization, NCDOT says. ...

Henderson County Schools’ launch summer Meals on the Bus program

Free and/or affordable housing?

The Daily Planet's Opinion... 'Kill switch' controversy: Let's not let the government require ...

Donald Trump is helping to turn Texas blue

America: The real crouching tiger, hidden dragon

Here’s more good advice Democrats will not take

The Candid Conservative: We have a maturity problem...

Despite long ceasefire, let’s stay the course with Trump’s ability to win in Iran with Iran

Spartanburg County councilman’s charges to be dismissed by judge. ...

Craggy Correctional Center recommended for sale, not a transfer to Buncombe County

ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS: Little Chicago? It’s truly part of Upstate folklore

‘Footloose’ to be staged June 12-July 5 at FRP

Castellows to feature 3-part (country) harmony

The Tams to perform Carolina beach music on June 12