North Carolina

How country music’s Eric Church is helping support Western North Carolina after Helene

Published

12 months ago

November 1, 2024

How country music’s Eric Church is helping support Western North Carolina after Helene

BANNER ELK – A few days after he performed at an epic concert that raised nearly $25 million for Western North Carolina, country music star Eric Church quietly toured Banner Elk with Gov. Roy Cooper, viewing Tropical Storm Helene damage and relief efforts.

“It’s the most special place in the world to me, the mountains of this area,” Church said.

Church grew up in Granite Falls and now spends about half the year in his Banner Elk home. He’s been helping support WNC since Helene hit, raising money and developing plans for long-term recovery.

Most notably, Church and fellow country singer/North Carolina native Luke Combs managed to quickly bring together acts like James Taylor, Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban and more for the “Concert for Carolina” on Oct. 26 in Charlotte. Over 80,000 people attended the Bank of America Stadium show, a news release said, which Church himself opened with “Hallelujah.”

“I’ve never played a show closer to my heart,” he told the audience.

The millions the concert raised will benefit Helene victims through nonprofits such as Samaritan’s Purse, Manna Food Bank and Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC, as well as Church’s own nonprofit, Chief Cares.

Eric Church announces ‘Blueprint for Blue Ridge’ homebuilding effort

At the concert, Church announced another effort to help Helene victims: a Chief Cares initiative called “A Blueprint for the Blue Ridge” that will build 100 homes for families in Avery County and the surrounding area. He spoke about it Oct. 31 in Banner Elk.

Chief Cares is partnering with Clayton Homes for the project, he said, and a team will be in Avery County next week to locate suitable land.

“Once we deliver the land to them, they’ll put 100 homes in Avery County in 100 days,” he said of Clayton Homes.

There’s no construction timeline yet, and Church did not yet know how families will be selected for the homes.

Other goals of “Blueprint for the Blue Ridge” include addressing “longer-term needs like creating jobs, rebuilding schools, and supporting local businesses,” the Chief Cares website says.

In another long-term effort, Church is signing over the publishing royalties from his song “Darkest Hour,” his first solo song in over three years, to “the people of North Carolina,” a news release said.

“We’ve been helping with boots on the ground efforts, but this is something that will live beyond just the immediate recovery,” he said. “This is not a quick thing to fix, so hopefully ‘Darkest Hour’ will be able to contribute to that for a long time to come. This song goes to my home, North Carolina, now and forever.”

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North Carolina

North Carolina man arrested for vandalism, trespassing at Lynchburg Regional Airport

Published

16 hours ago

October 23, 2025

Press Room

North Carolina man arrested for vandalism, trespassing at Lynchburg Regional Airport

CAMPBELL COUNTY, Va. – A man from North Carolina has been arrested and charged with damaging property at Lynchburg Regional Airport, according to the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office.

Shortly after midnight Thursday, deputies found the suspect on airport grounds attempting to break through the glass doors to enter the building. Deputies approached and took him into custody without incident.

The suspect has been identified as 20-year-old Landen Ray Hayden of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Investigators determined that Hayden, who was intoxicated at the time, unlawfully entered airport property and caused significant damage. This included overturning several drums containing cleaning fluid used by airport staff in daily operations.

Hayden faces the following charges:

Felony property damage
Trespassing
Underage possession of alcohol
Public intoxication
Contaminating waterways

The Campbell County Sheriff’s Office is working closely with Lynchburg Regional Airport officials as the investigation continues.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office at 434-332-9574, Central Virginia Crime Stoppers at 1-888-798-5900 or www.cvcrimestoppers.org, or submit a tip online at www.p3tips.com. Tips may remain anonymous, and information leading to an arrest could be eligible for a cash reward.

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North Carolina

Freeze watch issued for counties in Western North Carolina

Published

1 day ago

October 22, 2025

Press Room

Freeze watch issued for counties in Western North Carolina

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – A freeze watch was issued on Wednesday for counties in Western North Carolina.

Officials said that the freeze watch was issued for Ashe, Avery, and Watauga counties along with southwest and west central Virginia, southeast West Virginia, and the northern mountains of North Carolina.

The freeze watch was expected to last through Friday morning, according to officials.

Temperatures were expected to reach as low as 28 degrees for Ashe, Avery, and Watauga counties.

Forecast –> Charlotte Metro to remain cool and dry through the weekend

Thursday and Friday morning will start in the 30s and low 40s for most across the area. Temperatures in the upper 20s are even possible in our mountain communities on Friday morning, prompting a freeze watch for those locations.

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North Carolina

North Carolina loses three more players, including early season offensive line starter

Published

2 days ago

October 21, 2025

Press Room

North Carolina loses three more players, including early season offensive line starter

Three more players have left the North Carolina football team amid a tumultuous start to head coach Bill Belichick’s first season with the Tar Heels.

Offensive lineman William Boone, pass rusher Pryce Yates and tight end Yasir Smith are no longer with the team, a team spokesman confirmed to WRAL on Tuesday. Inside Carolina first reported the departures.

None of the players are listed on the team’s online roster. UNC (2-4 overall, 0-2 in the ACC) hosts No. 16 Virginia on Saturday.

Boone, a transfer from Prairie View A&M, started the first three games of the season. His agent posted on social media that Boone “will be pursuing a medical redshirt in hopes of having 2 years of eligibility remaining. He should be 100% for spring practice.”

Yates, a transfer from UConn, played in just one game for the Tar Heels after dealing with an injury in the early part of the season. Smith, a freshman tight end, didn’t appear in a game for the Tar Heels.

Previously, senior running back Caleb Hood announced his retirement after UNC’s fifth game of the season. Hood scored the first touchdown of the Belichick era in the season opener against TCU.

Wide receivers Paul Billups and Aziah Johnson and offensive tackle Treyvon Green also left the program earlier this season.

The most recent departures come two weeks after a WRAL report that players brought in by Belichick were receiving preferential treatment over those who were with the program before Belichick’s arrival. One assistant coach was suspended for NCAA violations tied to the report, though cornerbacks coach Armond Hawkins is back with the team.

Several sources who spoke to WRAL News, including high school football coaches, former UNC players and an NIL agent, said Belichick’s demeanor when it comes to recruiting and dealing with former players is starting to sour people from the program.

While the program has faced scrutiny and a call for an independent review for student leadership, Belichick refuted a report that he was looking for an early exit from the program and said he felt the reports of a divide in the locker room were unfounded.

“I don’t know what kind of perspective some of those people have that are saying that, but I think anybody that’s around it on a daily basis would see that,” Belichick said in an Oct. 13 press conference.

“I’m sure the players all see the improvement they’re making.”

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