The state recovery agency has faced accusations of mismanagement as 1,600 people remain displaced from hurricanes Matthew and Florence.
Kate Sheppard
Kate Sheppard is the executive editor of The Assembly Network. She was previously a senior enterprise editor at HuffPost, a reporter at Mother Jones, and taught journalism and innovation at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Posted inNewsletters
Long Live Chimney Rock
Tight-knit mountain towns face hard decisions about rebuilding after Helene.Â
Posted inNewsletters
Mark Robinson and the Suspension of Disbelief
How pro-wrestling explains Mark Robinson. Plus, launching our voter guide.
Posted inNewsletters
Election Workers Under Fire
The Montgomery County elections chief’s job is in jeopardy after an online provocateur criticized her work.
Posted inFood & Drink
A Homegrown Grocery Giant Stumbles After Helene
In Western North Carolina, Ingles is the flagship supermarket. But Helene has dealt the brand a major blow.
Posted inPlace
In Junaluska, A Historic Church Gathers After the Storm
This historically Black community just outside of Boone has weathered quite a bit over its 200 years.
Posted inHealth
How North Carolina Made Its Hospitals Do Something About Medical Debt
State officials threatened to withhold public money from hospitals, pioneering a strategy that could become a national model.
Posted inElections
Helene Poses Big Problems for Mail Service in Western NC
From medication to ballots, the U.S. Postal Service is a critical delivery method.
Posted inNewsletters
Overcoming an Information Crisis
As many in Western North Carolina have learned this week, our communication systems are so much more fragile than we think.
Posted inEssay
A Disaster No One Saw Coming
We knew Hurricane Helene was going to bring rain. We didn’t foresee it delivering devastation so widespread its impact will be felt for years.
