A rural development program of the USDA helps rural communities and individuals by providing loans and grants for housing and community facilities. Carolina Public Press asked the WNC area director what the program can offer residents across the area, including loans for low-income households.

Asheville Police Chief William Anderson said Thursday that the department will conduct a nationwide search for a new evidence-room manager, but added he had not asked to review the audit sparked by the discovery that guns, drugs and weapons had gone missing.

The Asheville Police Department’s new chief, William Anderson, plans to speak to media representatives about the evidence-room audit on Thursday, a day after the city manager told Carolina Public Press that he has yet to see the document.

As Election Day unfolded, more and more conversations happened across the Web about Amendment One. Here’s a slice of the story leading into the vote and into this morning, as conversations on Twitter, Facebook and other social networking tools heat up.

Conservative U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry appeared headed to a landslide win Tuesday and will now likely face a November challenger from one of the state’s most liberal enclaves.

Overall, Asheville City Council members appear to have little consensus on whether to press for the release of a council-commissioned Asheville Police evidence-room audit. But one, Cecil Bothwell, said public interest will propel him to ask for it during an upcoming committee meeting.