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Entertainment

17 hours ago in Arts & Culture, Community, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Local, On The Town, Outdoors

State of Asheville stages: Montford Park Players

Outdoor wooden stage with a banner reading 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' against a backdrop of green trees and a clear blue sky.

Over a year and a half after the widespread devastation of Tropical Storm Helene, which hobbled business, tourism and the arts across Western North Carolina, 828newsNOW takes a look at how the theater community has recovered. First up, the Montford Park Players.

22 hours ago in Entertainment, Music

Taylor Swift and Bad Bunny top Spotify’s first all-time most streamed artists list

It's her, hi! Taylor Swift has topped Spotify's first ever list of the most streamed artists of all time, published Thursday morning. She's followed by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny. That comes as no surprise: In 2025 the artist born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio was named the streaming giant's most played artist of the year for a fourth time, dethroning Swift.

1 day ago in Arts & Culture, Entertainment, Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Local

Things to do in Asheville and WNC: April 24-26

Local favorites and seasonal events highlight a busy weekend across the 828.

2 days ago in Arts & Culture, Community, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Local, Perspectives

‘Venus in Fur’ at Attic Salt is meta, intense, intimate theater

Stage scene with two performers in historical costumes: a standing woman in a pink, ruffled dress and a kneeling person in a floral gown, on a dark backdrop with a green couch visible to the left.

"Venus in Fur," directed by Jeff Catanese and starring Kate McGunagle and Alex McDonald Villarreal, is an intimate, psychological two-hander about sadomasochism, 19th century literature and the power dynamics between actors and their directors.

2 days ago in Entertainment, Music

Alan Osmond, the eldest member of the Osmonds, has died at 76

Alan Osmond, the eldest member of the chart-topping family act The Osmonds, died Monday after decades with multiple sclerosis. He was 76.

2 days ago in Entertainment

An Instagram DM changed everything for Rachel Reid, Jacob Tierney and ‘Heated Rivalry’

To the cheers and applause of thousands of BookCon attendees, "Heated Rivalry" author Rachel Reid and director-screenwriter Jacob Tierney walked on to the main event stage at New York's Jacob Javits Convention Center. The two Canadians have been international celebrities for just a few months, and still find themselves wondering if all the noise is for someone else.

National

22 hours ago in National, Trending

Trump reclassifies state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug in a historic shift

President Donald Trump's acting attorney general on Thursday signed an order reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug, a major policy shift long sought by advocates who said cannabis should never have been treated like heroin by the federal government.

2 days ago in National

Rep. David Scott, a Georgia Democrat seeking his 13th term in Congress, dies at age 80

U.S. Rep. David Scott, a Georgia Democrat and the first Black chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, has died. He was 80.

2 days ago in National

Inside the Kennedy Center as it prepares for a 2-year renovation

Away from the political controversy that has consumed the iconic performing arts venue for the better part of President Donald Trump's second term, Matt Floca, the Kennedy Center's new executive director and chief operating officer, guided a group of journalists through the building Wednesday.

2 days ago in National, Trending

Wildfires across Georgia and Florida have destroyed nearly 50 homes and are forcing evacuations

Wildfires burning across the southeastern U.S. forced more people to flee Wednesday after destroying nearly 50 homes in Georgia and causing some schools closings as drought and winds fueled flames.

3 days ago in National

Pennsylvania high school history instructor named nation’s Teacher of the Year

A high school history teacher in Pennsylvania who helps students look inward to find their strengths and outward to find community inside and outside the classroom has been named the 2026 National Teacher of the Year.

4 days ago in National

And they’re off: Fastest Boston Marathon field ever has wind at its back as it starts the race

The fastest field in Boston Marathon history left Hopkinton on Monday morning for the 130th edition of the world's oldest and most prestigious annual marathon, riding cool weather and a tailwind on its 26.2-mile (42.1945-kilometer) journey to Copley Square.

World

3 days ago in Trending, World

Late Queen Elizabeth II’s legacy still looms over British monarchy 100 years after her birth

Queen Elizabeth II lives on at the Cool Britannia gift shop across the road from Buckingham Palace. Four years after the queen's death, the shop is doing a brisk business in mugs, tea towels and key rings bearing the likeness of Britain's longest-reigning monarch as the nation marks the centenary of her birth on Tuesday.

4 days ago in World

Japan warns of slightly increased risk of mega-quake after a 7.7-magnitude one

An earthquake registering a preliminary magnitude of 7.7 off northern Japan on Monday prompted a short-lived tsunami alert and the advisory of a higher risk of a possible mega-quake for coastal areas there.

1 week ago in World

Trump says Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, President Donald Trump announced Thursday, two days after the countries held their first direct diplomatic talks in decades in Washington.

2 weeks ago in World

Trump says US military has blockaded Iranian ports to pressure Tehran

U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that the American military had begun a blockade of Iranian ports as part of his effort to force Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz and accept a deal to end the war that has raged for more than six weeks.

2 weeks ago in World

Trump warns a ‘whole civilization will die tonight’ if a deal with Iran isn’t reached

Airstrikes hit two bridges and a train station in Iran on Tuesday, and Iranian officials urged young people to form human chains to protect power plants, as U.S. President Donald Trump warned that a "whole civilization will die tonight" if Tehran does not meet his latest deadline for the Islamic Republic to agree to a deal that includes reopening the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

3 weeks ago in Trending, World

Artemis II kicks off trip around the moon after surpassing Apollo 13’s distance record

With the moon now filling their windows, the Artemis II astronauts kicked off their lunar flyby Monday, taking in magnificent views of the far side never before witnessed while setting a new distance record for humanity.

Trending

22 hours ago in Sports, Trending

NFL teams are almost on the clock as draft night in the Steel City has arrived

Put aside the mock drafts because it's time for the real deal. The NFL draft is here in the Steel City.

22 hours ago in National, Trending

Trump reclassifies state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug in a historic shift

President Donald Trump's acting attorney general on Thursday signed an order reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug, a major policy shift long sought by advocates who said cannabis should never have been treated like heroin by the federal government.

News from 828NewsNOW

13 hours ago in Community, Education, Local

May 1 rally shifts Buncombe County Schools to teacher workday

Exterior view of Buncombe County Schools building with a circular logo and white lettering on red brick under a clear blue sky

Buncombe County Schools has announced that schools will close for a teacher workday on Friday, May 1, the date of a statewide educator rally in Raleigh, N.C., citing safety concerns.

17 hours ago in Arts & Culture, Community, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Local, On The Town, Outdoors

State of Asheville stages: Montford Park Players

Outdoor wooden stage with a banner reading 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' against a backdrop of green trees and a clear blue sky.

Over a year and a half after the widespread devastation of Tropical Storm Helene, which hobbled business, tourism and the arts across Western North Carolina, 828newsNOW takes a look at how the theater community has recovered. First up, the Montford Park Players.

18 hours ago in Local, Native Advertising

Ground broken on long-awaited I-26 Connector in Asheville

Group of professionals in suits and business attire shovel dirt at a construction site, with a large yellow excavator in the background.

$1.8B project aims to ease congestion, improve safety and link key regional corridors by 2031

22 hours ago in Local, Native Advertising, Outdoors

Drought persists across Asheville area as rain relief expected this weekend

Dry, cracked soil with small weeds and scattered leaves along a rough, rocky surface.

More than 238,000 in Buncombe County affected as state officials maintain burn ban amid dry, windy conditions

23 hours ago in Business, Local

Survey targets Western North Carolina business recovery after Helene

Third in series examines economic conditions 18 months after storm

23 hours ago in Food & Drink, Local

Fork & Dagger: That torta. That queso. Those fries.

Creamy pasta dish with shrimp, sliced chicken, onions, zucchini, and other vegetables on a pink plate.

Ay Caramba in North Asheville delivers way more than your typical Mexican menu -- and it’s worth branching out

News

17 hours ago in Arts & Culture, Community, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Local, On The Town, Outdoors

State of Asheville stages: Montford Park Players

Outdoor wooden stage with a banner reading 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' against a backdrop of green trees and a clear blue sky.

Over a year and a half after the widespread devastation of Tropical Storm Helene, which hobbled business, tourism and the arts across Western North Carolina, 828newsNOW takes a look at how the theater community has recovered. First up, the Montford Park Players.

22 hours ago in Entertainment, Music

Taylor Swift and Bad Bunny top Spotify’s first all-time most streamed artists list

It's her, hi! Taylor Swift has topped Spotify's first ever list of the most streamed artists of all time, published Thursday morning. She's followed by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny. That comes as no surprise: In 2025 the artist born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio was named the streaming giant's most played artist of the year for a fourth time, dethroning Swift.

1 day ago in Arts & Culture, Entertainment, Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Local

Things to do in Asheville and WNC: April 24-26

Local favorites and seasonal events highlight a busy weekend across the 828.

2 days ago in Arts & Culture, Community, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Local, Perspectives

‘Venus in Fur’ at Attic Salt is meta, intense, intimate theater

Stage scene with two performers in historical costumes: a standing woman in a pink, ruffled dress and a kneeling person in a floral gown, on a dark backdrop with a green couch visible to the left.

"Venus in Fur," directed by Jeff Catanese and starring Kate McGunagle and Alex McDonald Villarreal, is an intimate, psychological two-hander about sadomasochism, 19th century literature and the power dynamics between actors and their directors.

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Features

2 weeks ago in Features, Trending

Happy 69th birthday to Fatou, the world’s oldest gorilla living in captivity

Fatou, the world's oldest gorilla living in captivity, celebrated her 69th birthday with a feast Monday, munching on cherry tomatoes, beets, leeks and lettuce at the Berlin Zoo.

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