Transportation officials are hoping the project — one of the most expensive in state history — will lead the crucial highway to a more resilient future.

This weekend is the unofficial start of summer, and just in time for the Memorial Day holiday, Lake Lure is reopening. It had been closed since Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina almost two years ago. The Charlotte Ledger Business Newsletter looked at what the reopening means for the area, which is heavily dependent on tourism. The Ledger’s Tony Mecia joins WFAE's Marshall Terry for our segment BizWorthy.

Ahead of the start of this year’s hurricane season, we hear predictions for the number of likely storms and how to brace for whatever may come our way, plus an update on drought conditions and continued Helene recovery efforts.

The money is part of a massive backlog of funds that were held up by a policy implemented by former-Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Nearly two years ago, Hurricane Helene devastated portions of the Carolinas. Since then, a change in administrations in Washington and a budget standoff in Raleigh have led to confusion and frustration. Access to resources has often been difficult. Hear the conversation we had about that and resiliency during WFAEs Carolina’s Climate Summit.

The twisting, turning stretch of railway known as the Old Fort Loops runs about 13 miles between Old Fort and Swannanoa. It sustained heavy damage during Helene.

More than 150 households were waiting on the extension, which came two weeks before the program was slated to end.

Around 35 miles from Linville Gorge to Mount Mitchell State Park are still under construction.

State and federal money has been slow to arrive, but Madison County locals have been able to get things up and running with donations and volunteer labor. Now they're hoping tourists will return for what could be a make-or-break 2026.

In this latest release, the lion’s share went to North Carolina Emergency Management for the shower stations, water distribution and other emergency services deployed during Helene.

It is still unclear whether Markwayne Mullin will continue Kristi Noem’s policies. He still needs to be confirmed by the Senate before taking over DHS.

The state has extended the deadline for the Renew NC program to Jan. 31, citing a need to give residents more time during the holiday season.

In a three-part series exploring chronic absenteeism in the region, WFDD’s Amy Diaz spoke with the school social workers helping students get to class, and above all, recover from the storm.

One year after Helene, Asheville’s service industry contends with weaker tourism, fewer jobs and lingering storm trauma, all while trying to keep a happy face for customers.

In a new three-part series about chronic absenteeism in the region, WFDD’s Amy Diaz explores how schools are addressing the barriers that prevent students from coming to class, starting with a focus on mental health.

Over the last several decades, areas of North Carolina became news deserts where finding local news was difficult, if not impossible. Mostly, that happened in rural areas. During disasters, a lack of news can result in the spread of misinformation, making it harder to get help and increase distrust of those who really do help.

When Darlene Kurkendall closes her eyes, she imagines the walls of her house falling away. She sees the people in her community — friends, neighbors, family — swept out of sight by a horrendous heap of moving earth.

When Hurricane Helene flooded western North Carolina, nonprofits scrambled to help until more permanent relief could arrive. This “disaster rodeo” follows in the wake of catastrophes, providing essential services such as water, electricity and communications. Many of those groups gathered recently near Asheville to revisit the community they helped 10 months ago.

Officials from the Governor's Recovery Office for Western North Carolina and N.C. Emergency Management were speaking in front of a legislative hurricane recovery committee.

After Hurricane Helene hit last year, resource hubs popped up around western North Carolina to receive and distribute supplies. Many closed as donations slowed. But in Clyde, Camp Restore Hope is going strong. For now.