Asheville

Opinion pieces in several North Carolina newspapers, including the Asheville Citizen Times, the Charlotte Observer and the News & Observer, are urging readers to remember Hurricane Helene while acknowledging climate change as a factor, regardless of political affiliation. The commentaries argue that recognizing the role of a warming climate in extreme weather should not be a partisan issue as communities continue recovering from the storm.

A bear broke into a residence in Asheville, North Carolina, prompting local wildlife officials to renew warnings that residents secure food, trash and other attractants. Officials say such break-ins become more common when bears can easily access human food, and they are asking the public to take precautions to avoid encouraging bears into neighborhoods.

Environmental Protection Agency officials held a roundtable meeting in Hendersonville, North Carolina, according to the Asheville Citizen Times. The gathering brought agency representatives together with local participants for discussion, though details of the topics and outcomes were not immediately available. It comes as communities across western North Carolina remain focused on environmental and recovery issues.