From Staff Reports 

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The economic impacts of Tropical Storm Helene are still lingering in Asheville, though the area is experiencing an uneven and gradual recovery.

 Recently released data highlights that, while infrastructure is mostly restored, small businesses and the critical hospitality sector continue to face deep financial strains.

Meanwhile, Western North Carolina’s recovery from Helene, which devastated the area on Sept. 27, 2025, could take 25 years, according to a prediction by Robert Hosford, the rural development director of state operations. (A separate story on Hosford’s projected timeline for the recovery of the area appears on Page A2.)

A breakdown of the current lingering economic indicators reflects the state of Asheville’s recovery. As for declining tourism and  visitor spending, tourism remains the primary driver of the local economy, but it has not fully returned to its historic peak, based on the following factors:

• Drop in spending: Visitor spending in Buncombe County dropped to $2.6 billion, showing a continued dip compared to the all-time high of $2.97 billion in 2023.

• Sluggish lodging performance: Hotel and vacation rental metrics remain soft. In early 2026, winter hotel occupancy was at 51 percent, marking an 11-point decrease from the previous year.

• Long-term slump: The county’s overall tourism spending levels are currently comparable to 2021, when the region was still trying to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Regarding small business financial gaps, independent businesses in WNC are carrying significant heavy debt and revenue shortfalls as follows:

• Operating at a loss: An Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce survey found that 32 percent of regional businesses are still operating below break-even levels.

• Widespread revenue hits: The same report noted that 76 percent of surveyed business owners estimated clear revenue losses directly tied to the storm.

From Staff Reports 

ASHEVILLE, N.C. —An adult female black bear, if and when she is caught, will be humanely put down after entering a North Asheville home and injuring a Buncombe County resident on Aug. 18.

However, the bear that injured a North Asheville resident remains at large. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission confirmed that, as of Aug. 28, its team still is actively monitoring the Spooks Branch Road area — and attempting to capture the animal. 

Because the bear has lost its fear of humans and repeatedly broken into homes, wildlife officials reiterated their plan to euthanize it once caught, citing her as a direct threat to human safety

The incident took place around 8:30 p.m. on Spooks Branch Road in North Asheville, with the key details as follows:

• The entry: The adult female black bear entered the home through an unlocked door.

• The attractant: The bear was drawn inside by pet food. She had a history of entering this specific home to get pet food and unsecured trash.

• The encounter: The resident encountered the bear inside while the bear’s three cubs were outside on the front porch. The resident sustained non-life-threatening injuries while attempting to give the bear an escape route.

• Medical response: The victim was treated at a local hospital and is currently recovering at home.