WLOS News 13
JD Vance asks Congress for help in federal fraud fight, touts $230 billion identified
- Title
- JD Vance asks Congress for help in federal fraud fight, touts $230 billion identified
- Runtime
- 23:54
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday called on Congress to help codify a broader federal anti-fraud effort, arguing that stronger data-sharing rules, steeper penalties and more resources are needed to stop waste, fraud and abuse in government programs.
Speaking at a roundtable event with lawmakers focused on fraud prevention, Vance said the Trump administration’s fraud task force had identified $230 billion in fraud and stopped $56 billion in fraudulent payments since it was created.
He said the effort, which has involved agencies across the federal government, should now be backed by legislation to make the changes permanent.
_______________
Follow WLOS on social media:
WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/News13/
WLOS ABC 13 News on X: https://x.com/WLOS_13
WLOS ABC 13 News on Instagram: https://instagram.com/wlos_13
Subscribe to WLOS on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ABC13Channel/?sub_con...
- Title
- U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards withdraws from re-election campaign
- Runtime
- 1:41
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) withdraws from his re-election campaign.
_______________
Follow WLOS on social media:
WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/News13/
WLOS ABC 13 News on X: https://x.com/WLOS_13
WLOS ABC 13 News on Instagram: https://instagram.com/wlos_13
Subscribe to WLOS on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ABC13Channel/?sub_confirmation=1
For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit www.wlos.com
Stream our newscasts LIVE: www.wlos.com/watch
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@wlos.com
Call the Newsroom: 828.684.1340
--
WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming s...
- Title
- North Carolina lawmakers push hemp restrictions as businesses warn of impact
- Runtime
- 3:20
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- State Representative Reece Pyrtle, who represents District 65 in Rockingham County, led a press conference in Raleigh Tuesday calling on the North Carolina House to pass House Bill 328. #news #northcarolina #hemp
Pyrtle was joined by lawmakers and leaders representing the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association, Association of Chiefs of Police, Police Executives Association, State Highway Patrol, State Bureau of Investigation, Alcohol Law Enforcement Division and Conference of District Attorneys.
House Bill 328 would prohibit people younger than 21 from purchasing or possessing hemp-derived consumable products. It would also impose new limits on total THC that could remove many THCA and other hemp-derived THC products from store shelves.
The North Carolina Senate has approved a conference report on the legislation. The House must approve the same version before the bill can be sent to Gov. Josh Stein.
Supporters describe the measure as...
- Title
- Rep. Chuck Edwards faces political fallout after House Ethics report recommends censure
- Runtime
- 2:36
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The political fallout continues after the U.S. House Committee on Ethics recommended that Rep. Chuck Edwards be censured, with political analysts and party leaders offering sharply different views on what the committee report could mean for the race for North Carolina's 11th Congressional District.
The bipartisan committee concluded there is substantial reason to believe Edwards violated House rules related to sexual harassment and maintaining a hostile workplace.
While Edwards disagrees with the committee's findings, he agreed to waive certain procedural steps after reviewing a draft of the report.
In a statement released Monday, a spokesperson for Edwards' campaign said the committee's findings "completely exonerate" the congressman because it concluded he did not engage in sexual activity or explicitly proposition any staff member. The campaign said Edwards looks forward to clearing his name.
The report alleges Edwards gave two fem...
- Title
- North Carolina mayor takes leave after arrest
- Runtime
- 1:13
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The Robbinsville Board of Aldermen has accepted Mayor Shaun Adams' decision to take a three-month leave of absence following his arrest on Monday, August 3. #news #northcarolina #crimenews
Adams was arrested on six felony drug charges, including trafficking, as well as misdemeanors for carrying a concealed firearm and drug paraphernalia. On Tuesday, August 4, the Board of Alderman met for a scheduled meeting, adding the discussion regarding the mayor to the meeting agenda.
"The board cannot just automatically remove him," Town of Robbinsville Attorney Amy Merrill said.
During the Mayor's update at the meeting, Adams stated that he was innocent. "I would like to say that I'm not guilty of all accusations against me," Adams said.
_______________
Follow WLOS on social media:
WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/News13/
WLOS ABC 13 News on X: https://x.com/WLOS_13
WLOS ABC 13 News on Instagram: ...
- Title
- North Carolina mayor takes 3 month leave of absence following drug charges
- Runtime
- 1:53
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The Robbinsville Board of Aldermen has accepted Mayor Shaun Adams' decision to take a three-month leave of absence following his arrest on Monday, August 3. #news #northcarolina #crimenews
Adams was arrested on six felony drug charges, including trafficking, as well as misdemeanors for carrying a concealed firearm and drug paraphernalia.
On Tuesday, August 4, the Board of Alderman met for a scheduled meeting, adding the discussion regarding the mayor to the meeting agenda.
"The board cannot just automatically remove him," Town of Robbinsville Attorney Amy Merrill said.
During the Mayor's update at the meeting, Adams stated that he was innocent.
"I would like to say that I'm not guilty of all accusations against me," Adams said.
Before deliberating on what would happen with Adams, the board held a nearly 30-minute closed session. Coming back out of the closed session, the board announced that Adams would take...
- Title
- Property owner shares positive story about Helene buyout, encourages those still waiting
- Runtime
- 2:39
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- As western North Carolina approaches the two-year anniversary of Helene, one Buncombe County property owner has become one of the first to receive payment through the federal property buyout program — a milestone offering hope to hundreds of families still waiting for relief. #news #helene #FEMA
Michael Outar, the former owner of six flood-damaged townhomes in Swannanoa, said receiving the buyout has ended nearly two years of financial uncertainty after Helene destroyed the rental properties along U.S. 70.
The townhomes have now been demolished, and Buncombe County has taken ownership of the land as part of FEMA's hazard mitigation buyout program, which permanently removes flood-prone properties from future development.
"It's huge," Outar, who recently closed on the buyout at the end of June, said. "I go from a mortgage payment on properties I wasn't getting any income on to basically getting a 1,000-pound gorilla off of my back because I don't ...
- Title
- Trump says oil companies are 'making too much money': Is he right?
- Runtime
- 2:32
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Gas is expensive and American drivers are exhausted. President Donald Trump is frustrated, too, but his beef is with major oil companies that just reported blockbuster second-quarter earnings.
"They're making too much money, OK, based on a shortage, they're making too much money. I don't like it and I should be the last one to say it because I'm a big free enterprise guy, nobody bigger," Trump said Monday.
The oil shortage Trump referred to is a product of the Iran war. The Iranian regime has essentially closed the Strait of Hormuz, which, before the war, was used to transport one-fifth of the world's crude oil. The longest stretch of elevated fuel prices tied to this supply shock overlapped with the same period covered in second-quarter earnings reports: April, May and June.
Chevron reported adjusted earnings of $12 billion, compared to $3.1 billion in the second quarter of 2025. ExxonMobil also more than doubled earnings, raking in $14.7 billion compared to $7.1 ...
- Title
- Former FBI official reacts to hero who stopped Idaho gunman at In N Out
- Runtime
- 4:51
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Authorities say the actions of an armed civilian and an off-duty Idaho State Police trooper helped prevent an even greater tragedy after a gunman opened fire outside a crowded In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho.
Three people were killed, and seven others were injured before the suspect was stopped. Investigators say the quick response from the two armed individuals diverted the shooter before law enforcement officers arrived.
Twin Falls County Sheriff Jack Johnson praised their actions during a news conference.
"These people are true heroes in our community, and their actions diverted the shooter and no doubt saved many lives," Johnson said.
Speaking with The National News Desk, former FBI Special Agent in Charge and former Chicago Police Department Superintendent Jody Weis said the incident underscores how quickly active shooter situations unfold.
Read more: https://thenationaldesk.com/news/americas-news-now/armed-civi...
- Title
- EPA head dismisses questions about 'devastating' toxins on America's farms
- Runtime
- 5:11
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- For months, we've been reporting on an invisible threat to farms, food and families: Forever chemicals lurking in fertilizer that's a staple on some farms.
We've seen the devastation firsthand, but the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) refused our interview requests and direct questions - until now.
Read more at Spotlightinvestigates.com.
WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/News13/
WLOS ABC 13 News on X: https://x.com/WLOS_13
WLOS ABC 13 News on Instagram: https://instagram.com/wlos_13
Subscribe to WLOS on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ABC13Channel/?sub_confirmation=1
For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit www.wlos.com
Stream our newscasts LIVE: www.wlos.com/watch
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@wlos.com
Call the Newsroom: 828.684.1340
--
WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, N...
- Title
- Armed civilian, off duty trooper credited with helping stop deadly In N Out Idaho shooting
- Runtime
- 4:50
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Authorities say the actions of an armed civilian and an off-duty Idaho State Police trooper helped prevent an even greater tragedy after a gunman opened fire outside a crowded In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho.
Three people were killed, and seven others were injured before the suspect was stopped. Investigators say the quick response from the two armed individuals diverted the shooter before law enforcement officers arrived.
Twin Falls County Sheriff Jack Johnson praised their actions during a news conference.
"These people are true heroes in our community, and their actions diverted the shooter and no doubt saved many lives," Johnson said.
Speaking with The National News Desk, former FBI Special Agent in Charge and former Chicago Police Department Superintendent Jody Weis said the incident underscores how quickly active shooter situations unfold.
_______________
Follow WLOS on social media:
WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: https:...
- Title
- News 13 Morning Minute for Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026
- Runtime
- 1:07
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The House Committee on Ethics recommends Rep. Chuck Edwards be censured. Edwards has responded to the report. This is your News 13 Morning Minute for Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
- Title
- Cubs playing high in a tree in Oakley in Asheville
- Runtime
- 0:17
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Cubs playing high in a tree in Oakley in Asheville. Credit: Maya McDowell via Chime In.
_______________
Follow WLOS on social media:
WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/News13/
WLOS ABC 13 News on X: https://x.com/WLOS_13
WLOS ABC 13 News on Instagram: https://instagram.com/wlos_13
Subscribe to WLOS on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ABC13Channel/?sub_confirmation=1
For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit www.wlos.com
Stream our newscasts LIVE: www.wlos.com/watch
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@wlos.com
Call the Newsroom: 828.684.1340
--
WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment progr...
- Title
- Rep. Chuck Edwards faces possible censure after House Ethics Committee investigation
- Runtime
- 10:17
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The U.S. House Committee on Ethics has recommended that North Carolina Congressman Chuck Edwards be censured after concluding there is "substantial reason to believe" he violated House rules related to sexual harassment and maintaining a hostile workplace.
The House Ethics Committee report alleges Rep. Edwards engaged in inappropriate conduct with two young female staffers — one 19 years old and the other in her early 20s — and has recommended that the North Carolina congressman be censured.
According to the report, Edwards gave the women more than $1,000 in jewelry, designer handbags, vacations, and one-on-one dinners. The report also alleges he missed House votes to help one of the women with yard work and decorate her Christmas tree.
The committee further states Edwards discussed going to strip clubs with numerous staffers.
The report also says one of the women left her position in Edwards' congressional office after less than ...
- Title
- Progressives push higher taxes on wealthy Americans as states weigh flight risk
- Runtime
- 2:17
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Wealthy Americans in several states could soon face higher taxes as progressive leaders push new revenue measures aimed at high earners, even as officials weigh concerns that some residents could move to lower-tax states.
In California, the state Democratic Party has officially endorsed a “billionaire’s tax” initiative that would go before voters. The proposal would impose a one-time 5% fee on about 200 billionaires in the state if it passes. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has opposed the state-level approach, warning it could drive wealthy taxpayers to relocate.
“You would have a windfall one time, and then over the years you would see a significant reduction in taxes because taxpayers will move. And that is what I fear at a state level,” Newsom told Bloomberg in January. Newsom has instead pushed for a national billionaires tax.
In Washington state, Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a new law creating an additional 9.9% tax on residents who earn mo...
- Title
- Climate risk scores on home listings draw scrutiny from conservative groups
- Runtime
- 2:30
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Millions of Americans begin their home search online, where listings now commonly include information about a property's potential exposure to flooding, wildfire, heat and other climate-related hazards. But the growing use of private climate risk scores is becoming the focus of a political debate, with critics arguing the ratings may unfairly influence home values and buyer decisions.
Alongside government flood information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), many real estate websites, including Zillow, Redfin and Realtor.com, also display climate risk assessments from First Street, a private data company. The company uses predictive modeling to estimate how climate-related risks could affect individual properties over time.
Supporters say those projections give prospective buyers a more complete picture of future risks that may not be reflected in historical government data. First Street says its mission is to help consumers and busines...
- Title
- Two people killed after the cyclospora outbreak
- Runtime
- 6:55
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Gov. Bob Ferguson arrived in Spokane on Sunday afternoon to meet with first responders and monitor a growing wildfire crisis after declaring a statewide emergency and imposing a burn ban amid record drought, strong winds and rapidly spreading fires.
Ferguson called the situation an “unprecedented catastrophe” and said he expects a large response.
Ferguson said he has spoken with President Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
About 5,000 homes and 60,000 people have been evacuated as firefighters work to contain the fires, and authorities have opened an evacuation shelter at the Spokane Convention Center. Officials continue to report more than 600 structures damaged or destroyed, though they cannot yet break down how many are homes, businesses, schools or other buildings.
--------------------------------------------------
For more on the story: https://komonews.com/news/local/gov-ferguson-to-visit-sp...
- Title
- Two people killed after the cyclospora outbreak
- Runtime
- 6:55
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Health officials across the country are seeing a rise in cyclosporiasis cases this year, with dozens of states reporting more infections than in previous years.
The multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis has expanded to nine states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. Outbreaks in Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania have now been connected to cases in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia, as well as hard-hit Michigan.
Shredded iceberg lettuce sourced from Taylor Farms de Mexico is the likely source, the Food and Drug Administration said last week. The company voluntarily recalled the product from the U.S. market.
In Washington state, the issue is drawing attention from the Washington State Department of Health.
Secretary Dennis Worsham joined ARC Seattle co-anchor Steve McCarron to talk about how concerned residents should be about cyclosporiasis, how many cases have been identified in Washington, a...
- Title
- News 13 Morning Minute for Monday, Aug. 3, 2026
- Runtime
- 1:01
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Police seize a vehicle believed to be involved in a fatal shooting, and friends and family gather to honor one of the victims of the shooting. This is your News 13 Morning Minute for Monday, Aug. 3, 2026.
- Title
- Community helps ease back-to-school costs
- Runtime
- 2:30
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- It's less than a month until most kids go back to school, so community agencies are helping them get ready.
"My personal belief is children go to school and they shouldn't have to buy school supplies, nor should they have to buy lunch," said retired educator Susan Peele.
A new ABC News poll finds that more than two-thirds of K-12 parents say their shopping is more expensive this summer compared to last year.
"It's just like with everything now, everything seems to be higher, said Fletcher resident Colleen Morgan.
Every year, the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office tries to alleviate some of those cost burdens on teachers and students.
"We asked people from the community to go in and buy school supplies," said Buncombe County Sheriff's Office Sergeant William Fisher.
School resource officers collected school supplies in front of the Walmart on Airport Road.
At the drive, families could drop off suppl...
- Title
- Asheville homebuyer demand tops pre-Helene levels
- Runtime
- 1:48
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Buyer demand for homes in the Asheville metro area rose in May and June to its highest level since May 2023. This puts demand above the levels recorded before Helene, according to new data by Canopy MLS.
The Asheville metro area includes Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson and Madison counties. News 13 spoke with a local real estate broker about what he is seeing in the Asheville-area housing market.
Steve Owens, a real estate broker with Keller Williams in Biltmore Village, said most of his Asheville-area buyers are moving from outside North Carolina.
"They're coming from coastal towns, New England, California, Texas, just in search of a different lifestyle," Owens said.
He said some buyers are moving to the area permanently. Others are purchasing second homes and renting them out while they are away.
"They'll stay, you know, two or three weeks out of the year," Owens said. "The rest of the time, they're making use of an...
- Title
- Coach remembered after Asheville shooting
- Runtime
- 1:42
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Family and friends gathered Sunday to honor the life of 22-year-old Lamarius Jones, one of two men killed in the July 19 shooting outside Dalton's Distillery in Asheville's South Slope.
Jones' viewing was held Sunday, Aug. 2, at Avery's Memorial Chapel, where loved ones remembered him as a devoted father, mentor and role model.
Jones leaves behind a young daughter.
His great-aunt, Martha Timbers, said his community was always important to him.
"He loved children. He did what he did in school. He did what he did with the football teams," Timbers said.
Known to many as "Coach Mari," Jones worked with children through the Asheville Youth Football League, where relatives said he made a lasting impact on young athletes.
"Lamarius came out of a good family. He was raised as well as he could have possibly been raised," Timbers said.
Inside the funeral home, Asheville High School football memorabilia fil...
- Title
- Western NC festival delayed until 2027
- Runtime
- 3:02
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- A staple in the cultural arts scene here in western North Carolina is making some changes to its program.
LEAF Global Arts is postponing its annual LEAF Festival to next October for the third time in the organization's 39-year tenure. The first time was due to COVID-19 in 2020, whereas the second was due to Helene.
Natascha Van Aalst Leitner, engagement and public relations coordinator at LEAF Global Arts, says the cancellation happened because the organization wants to improve other events within the program.
"We're not doing our festival this October. The funding streams are very different at the moment, so we have to be wise and focus on those projects that are important to us, like LEAF International and LEAF Schools and Streets," she said.
LEAF Global Arts started as the Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF) in 1995, founded by Jennifer Pickering at Lake Eden in Black Mountain, North Carolina.
Drawing on her travels through...
- Title
- Mission Hospital lawsuit heads to trial
- Runtime
- 2:56
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- A lawsuit against HCA Healthcare over emergency and cancer care at Mission Health will proceed after recent court rulings, Attorney General Jeff Jackson's Office said in a July 28 news release.
Jackson's office said North Carolina Business Court Judge Julianna Earp ruled in favor of several of the attorney general's arguments and denied most of HCA's motion for summary judgment. The judge issued a 55-page order granting in part and denying in part motions filed by both the attorney general and HCA, allowing key portions of the case to proceed.
"HCA threw every argument against the wall to try to get this case thrown out, but they didn't stick," AG Jackson said in a written statement. "I'm grateful the judge saw through them. We're going to trial, and I will keep fighting to defend emergency and cancer care in western North Carolina."
The lawsuit, initially filed in 2023 by then-Attorney General Josh Stein, accuses HCA Healthcare of failing to provide the...
- Title
- Man accused of following women arrested
- Runtime
- 0:36
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- A man whom dozens of women say followed them or made them feel unsafe in and around Asheville's Montford neighborhood was arrested Friday, July 31, according to police and court records.
"From what I understand, this is somebody who has been stalking other individuals in the community," said Rita Nugent, executive director of Our VOICE, a local nonprofit that provides support for survivors of sexual violence and human trafficking.
The man's name is Bruce Haddock and as News 13 has previously reported, dozens of women have accused him of following them or making them feel unsafe in the Montford neighborhood.
One of the victims told us he chased her.
Including Friday, Haddock has been arrested five times since 2020.
"He's arrested and keeps being let out and then he's caused a lot of fear in the neighborhood. A lot of fear," said a Montford neighbor who wished to remain anonymous.
"For stalking in particular, you're g...
- Title
- Asheville arrest follows women's alarms
- Runtime
- 2:43
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- A man whom dozens of women say followed them or made them feel unsafe in and around Asheville's Montford neighborhood was arrested Friday, July 31, according to police and court records.
"From what I understand, this is somebody who has been stalking other individuals in the community," said Rita Nugent, executive director of Our VOICE, a local nonprofit that provides support for survivors of sexual violence and human trafficking.
The man's name is Bruce Haddock and as News 13 has previously reported, dozens of women have accused him of following them or making them feel unsafe in the Montford neighborhood.
One of the victims told us he chased her.
Including Friday, Haddock has been arrested five times since 2020.
"He's arrested and keeps being let out and then he's caused a lot of fear in the neighborhood. A lot of fear," said a Montford neighbor who wished to remain anonymous.
"For stalking in particular, you're g...
- Title
- Cleanup after Madison County, N.C. storms
- Runtime
- 2:20
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- What started as a normal day quickly turned into a frightening few hours for people across Madison County as severe storms brought heavy rain, strong winds, and flooding Tuesday night.
By Wednesday, the skies had cleared — but the impact of the storm was still visible across the county.
For Allen, the day started like any other.
“We were just coming home, same as normal; it was a standard day for us,” Allen said.
He said he stopped at the grocery store, got gas, came home, settled in, and walked the dogs — never expecting how quickly conditions would change.
“We even went down and got the mail before the storm hit, and then within about 40 minutes of it being nice enough to walk down and get the mail, our field down there had become a pool," Allen said.
The flooding was so powerful, it washed away his bridge.
“The pond got high enough to over topple our bridge and our bridge disappear...
- Title
- Mentor urges empathy after Asheville shooting
- Runtime
- 0:49
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Nearly two weeks after two men were killed in a downtown Asheville shooting, mentor Leslie Council, who knew both victims, is asking the community to remember them for the lives they lived, not just the tragedy that took their lives. #news #northcarolina #asheville
Council said the latest shooting has taken a heavy emotional toll on the victims' families and the close-knit Asheville community.
- Title
- Cyclosporiasis cases climb in NC
- Runtime
- 1:45
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- As North Carolina's cyclosporiasis outbreak continues to grow, many shoppers are changing what they buy — and where they buy it.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) reported 718 cases of cyclosporiasis as of Tuesday, an increase of 157 cases in just one week.
The ongoing outbreak has left many consumers avoiding bagged salads and other fresh produce while investigators continue searching for the source.
"I might be done with lettuce for like a minute — like a while," shopper Jack McVety told News 13.
Michelle Smith said, "I wouldn't probably buy a bag of salad right now."
The shift in consumer confidence is being felt by local grocery stores. At the French Broad Food Co-op in Asheville, Operations Manager Dyllan Simmons said produce sales have dropped during the outbreak.
"Currently, produce sales are down like six percent," Simmons said. "We make probably about a million d...
- Title
- From War to Wall Street A Week of Uncertainty
- Runtime
- 10:43
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The National News Desk's Fact Check Team brings you research and data to back up today's trending stories.
https://thenationaldesk.com/news/fact-check-team
WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/News13/
WLOS ABC 13 News on X: https://x.com/WLOS_13
WLOS ABC 13 News on Instagram: https://instagram.com/wlos_13
Subscribe to WLOS on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ABC13Channel/?sub_confirmation=1
For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit www.wlos.com
Stream our newscasts LIVE: www.wlos.com/watch
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@wlos.com
Call the Newsroom: 828.684.1340
--
WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and en...
- Title
- Asheville police: Retaliation, not traditional gangs
- Runtime
- 2:37
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Nearly two weeks after a shooting in downtown Asheville left two people dead and seven others wounded, city police continue to resist describing the violence as gang-related, saying investigators have found evidence of retaliatory disputes between individuals.
Interim Police Chief Jackie Stepp said Friday that investigators are focused on the facts of the case and cautioned against broadly labelling those involved as gangs while the investigation remains active.
"We had nine people shot, two people killed," Stepp said. "I think I can understand why people want that and want to label that. But as law enforcement, we can't label that. We have to act on the facts."
Stepp acknowledged that gang activity exists in Asheville but said police have not classified the July 19 shooting, or other recent shootings under investigation, as traditional gang violence.
"I'm not saying that gang activity does not exist here in Asheville because it does,...
- Title
- Inside a western NC Helene documentary
- Runtime
- 2:27
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Filmmakers are showcasing Helene survivor stories in a new documentary.
It's called "Scars on the Mountain," and it premiered at Mountain Heritage High School in Yancey County on Thursday.
Director Chris Pike says they started filming it in January of last year and it highlights the devastation of Helene in Yancey County.
"It wasn’t getting the national attention that it really deserved and I wanted to bring awareness to the region," said Pike.
"It was the perfect storm. Really, as a meteorologist, I’m not sure what else could have come together to make this a worse situation," said News 13's Meteorologist Meghan Danahey, who was featured in the documentary.
"For me, they just wanted the science aspect: why was it so bad? What were the meteorological factors that came together to just pummel this area?" said Danahey.
She said the documentary focuses on survivors in Yancey County like Paddi and Ron Nyegard...
- Title
- Asheville police reveal new evidence connected to deadly shooting
- Runtime
- 2:29
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Police say investigators have seized the vehicle they believe was involved in the deadly downtown Asheville shooting that killed two people and injured seven others.
Interim Asheville Police Chief Jackie Stepp told News 13 that investigators have made progress in the case, but the search for the person or people responsible continues. No arrests have been made yet
"I want the public to know that we are continuing to work around the clock, that we have seized critical pieces of digital and physical evidence,” Stepp said.
Stepp said investigators have found crucial evidence in the case.
"We believe we have located and seized the vehicle involved in the commission of this crime. We have also identified several suspects and co-conspirators. Our forensics team has also been able to link this shooting to other shootings in western North Carolina," Stepp said.
The chief did not provide additional details about the suspects or the oth...
- Title
- Mike Johnson Addresses Border Wall in Texas National Park
- Runtime
- 4:24
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- House Speaker Mike Johnson campaigned in San Antonio for Republican congressional candidate Brandon Herrera, calling Texas' 23rd Congressional District crucial to maintaining the GOP majority in the U.S. House.
During the visit, Johnson discussed border security, including the debate over building barriers near Big Bend National Park, saying a secure border does not always require a physical wall. He also addressed concerns about veterans' health care, staffing at the VA, and the Richard Star Act.
Johnson also criticized Democratic nominee Katy Padilla Stout, who responded by defending her family's story and describing it as the American dream.
Watch the full interviews and hear what Johnson and Herrera had to say about border security, veterans' care, party unity, and one of the nation's most closely watched congressional races.
https://thenationaldesk.com/top-videos/mike-johnson-in-sa-big-bend-border-wall-veterans-care-calls-katy-pa...
- Title
- 1 injured amid storm cleanup in western NC
- Runtime
- 2:08
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- A person was seriously injured after being hit by a utility vehicle while helping clear a downed tree during Tuesday night's storms in Buncombe County. Now, first responders are reminding people that storm cleanup can be just as dangerous as the storm itself.
Storms swept through the area with heavy rain and strong winds, leaving downed trees and power lines behind.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol says just before 7:30 p.m., a large tree fell across both lanes of Riceville Road near Reed Road.
According to troopers, a group of people were using chainsaws to clear the roadway during the heavy rain when a Spectrum utility vehicle came over a hill and couldn't stop before striking one of the people in the road.
NCSHP says the victim was transported to Mission Hospital. The investigation remains active with charges pending.
News 13 did reach out to Spectrum. In a statement, they confirmed one of their vehicles was inv...
- Title
- Storm cleanup dangers
- Runtime
- 2:44
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- A person was seriously injured after being hit by a utility vehicle while helping clear a downed tree during Tuesday night's storms in Buncombe County. Now, first responders are reminding people that storm cleanup can be just as dangerous as the storm itself.
Storms swept through the area with heavy rain and strong winds, leaving downed trees and power lines behind.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol says just before 7:30 p.m., a large tree fell across both lanes of Riceville Road near Reed Road.
According to troopers, a group of people were using chainsaws to clear the roadway during the heavy rain when a Spectrum utility vehicle came over a hill and couldn't stop before striking one of the people in the road.
NCSHP says the victim was transported to Mission Hospital. The investigation remains active with charges pending.
News 13 did reach out to Spectrum. In a statement, they confirmed one of their vehicles was inv...
- Title
- NCDOT provides Helene recovery update in Bat Cave, Chimney Rock
- Runtime
- 31:29
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The N.C. Department of Transportation provides an update and close-up look at reconstruction efforts in Bat Cave and Chimney Rock since Helene. The press conference is expected to start at noon.
- Title
- Tony Romo refuses breath test before OWI arrest
- Runtime
- 10:12
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The bodycam video from the arrest of former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current CBS Sports announcer Tony Romo has been released after he was taken into custody in Milwaukee on suspicion of operating while intoxicated (OWI) following a traffic stop.
In the footage released by the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office, Romo told the officer he was coming from a golf course and had consumed "zero" drinks when asked how much alcohol he had consumed.
When the officer asked Romo to step out of the vehicle to perform field sobriety tests, Romo said he wanted to call his lawyer first. The officer told him he was not allowed to do so and informed him he was being detained as part of an OWI investigation before taking him to a nearby location to conduct the tests.
The officer then administered a series of field sobriety tests, including checking Romo's eyes, asking him to walk heel-to-toe in a straight line and balance on one foot. The officer later asked R...
- Title
- Lindsay Clancy stands trial for the triple murder of her own children
- Runtime
- 13:53
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Discretion advised: Some readers my find the content of this story graphic and upsetting.
The prosecution called a number of first responders to the stand Thursday in Lindsay Clancy's murder trial in Plymouth Superior Court. They gave firsthand accounts of what they found in the family home after she killed her three children.
Read more: https://thenationaldesk.com/news/americas-news-now/lindsay-clancy-murder-trial-continues-after-jury-hears-harrowing-911-call-july-30-2026
Photo credit: Greg Derr/ Patriot Ledger/ CNN News Source
#lindsayclancy #murdertrial #truecrime
WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/News13/
WLOS ABC 13 News on X: https://x.com/WLOS_13
WLOS ABC 13 News on Instagram: https://instagram.com/wlos_13
Subscribe to WLOS on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ABC13Channel/?sub_confirmation=1
For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit www...
- Title
- Mentor urges empathy after deadly Asheville shooting
- Runtime
- 2:14
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Nearly two weeks after two men were killed in a downtown Asheville shooting, a mentor who knew both victims is asking the community to remember them for the lives they lived, not just the tragedy that took their lives.
Asheville police have not announced any arrests in connection with the July 19 shooting on Biltmore Avenue. Investigators say the case remains active as they work to identify and prosecute those responsible.
Leslie Council says she met Lamarius and Marques in 2016 through the Asheville nonprofit My Sistah Taught Me That. Over the years, she said she became a mentor to the two young men, describing them as vibrant, fun-loving people who eventually became like family.
Council says learning they had been killed was devastating and brought back painful memories. In 2018, she lost two girls connected to the same nonprofit to gun violence.
"Now it's 2026, and we're still here. I don't have the answers," she said. "Like, why w...
- Title
- US Attorney Pirro says $800M frozen for victims as DC scam strike force expands
- Runtime
- 5:43
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., are seeking to seize more than $25 million in cryptocurrency tied to international romance and investment scams. The crackdown is part of a broader effort in which U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro has already frozen more than $800 million for victims, she told The National News Desk in a one-on-one interview.
Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, said her office filed a civil forfeiture complaint last week targeting the cryptocurrency, describing it as the latest recovery under “Strike Force” efforts launched through a scam center she created in November 2025.
Pirro said her office has made it a priority to pursue “those who are involved in transnational criminal organizations,” which she said are “for the most part, Chinese and Southeast Asian countries who are targeting Americans through cryptocurrency fraud.” She said scammers use familiar platforms and tactics to lure victims, including “social media, wh...
- Title
- Large funnel cloud seen in Madison County
- Runtime
- 0:24
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- WATCH: Dwayne Martin in Madison County, North Carolina, said he captured this large funnel cloud during severe storms July 28. Martin said he was facing Bailey Mountain when he recorded it. News 13's Jason Boyer called it the most compelling video he's seen so far of the storms.
A tornado warning was issued for much of western North Carolina Tuesday. The National Weather Service sent crews to survey damage Wednesday but has not yet determined whether a tornado touched down in the mountains. More: https://bit.ly/4fHuOS5
- Title
- Morning Minute: July 30, 2026
- Runtime
- 0:49
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Meteorologists with the National Weather Service spent part of Wednesday surveying storm damage to determine whether western North Carolina saw a confirmed tornado Tuesday. This is your Morning Minute for July 30, 2026.
- Title
- Sen. Lindsey Graham laid to rest in hometown
- Runtime
- 2:17
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The hearse carrying the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham arrived at 5:40 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29, in his hometown of Central, S.C., where family gathered for a private funeral service and burial at Mount Zion Cemetery.
Residents and supporters lined the downtown corridor beneath a large American flag suspended between two fire truck ladders as the procession made its way through the small Pickens County town of about 5,000 people.
Graham, born July 9, 1955, served 23 years in the U.S. Senate representing South Carolina. Family members, including his sister Darline, who will serve out his term and run for his seat in the next election, attended the private graveside service.
Funeral director Al Cumbie, who runs a 4th-generation funeral home in Central, coordinated the service.
Cumbie, 75, knew Graham, who was four years younger than himself. He shared his thoughts on Graham as a politician and Republican.
"There's a lot of...
- Title
- Lindsey Graham's funeral service in South Carolina
- Runtime
- 3:07:57
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Lindsey Graham's funeral service heads to South Carolina as family, friends, elected officials and members of the public gather in Columbia to honor the life of the late Senator during a final home-state farewell.
https://wlos.com/news/local/from-washington-to-columbia-south-carolina-prepares-final-farewell-for-graham-lindsey-graham-darline-senate-funeral-service-for-the-south-carolina-politician-donald-trump-jd-vance-spoke-yesterday-friends-honored-in-his-home-state-burial-family
#lindseygraham #southcarolina
- Title
- What police haven't answered about retaliatory violence in Asheville
- Runtime
- 3:53
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Asheville police say two groups of people who know one another have been committing ongoing acts of retaliatory violence.
The department has linked a July 19 shooting on Biltmore Avenue, which killed two people and injured seven others, to a July 5 shooting on Maple Crest Road.
Police have described the downtown attack as direct retaliation and the latest chapter in a pattern of violence that has been taking place across Asheville "for some time."
But when asked whether the two groups are gangs, the Asheville Police Department has not provided a direct answer.
On July 22, I sent APD a detailed request for an on-camera interview to be conducted July 27 or July 28.
I explained that my investigation would bring together the Biltmore Avenue shooting, the earlier violence police believed preceded it, APD’s retaliation finding and Asheville’s broader history of retaliatory and drive-by shootings.
I told the dep...
- Title
- GOP plans to vote on Contempt of Congress for Fauci after refusal to answer questions
- Runtime
- 8:42
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Dr. Anthony Fauci returned to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, where Republican lawmakers said they planned to question him about the federal government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including lockdowns, school closures, mask guidance and vaccine policies.
The hearing also comes after the release of personal diary entries attributed to Fauci, including one in which he referenced former White House economic adviser Steve Moore after Moore publicly criticized his handling of the pandemic.
Speaking with The National News Desk, Moore said he believes the hearing represents an important opportunity for lawmakers to revisit decisions made during the pandemic.
_______________
Follow WLOS on social media:
WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/News13/
WLOS ABC 13 News on X: https://x.com/WLOS_13
WLOS ABC 13 News on Instagram: https://...
- Title
- Storm damage in Madison County, N.C., including sinkhole
- Runtime
- 2:15
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- There was a funnel cloud sighting in the Foster Creek community in Marshall amid severe storms that prompted tornado warnings across western North Carolina Tuesday evening.
"We had to bunker down at a friend's house because it was raining and thundering and the wind was so bad, I could barely drive," said Anubis Able, a Marshall resident.
"All of a sudden, it got really dark and then everything was still, and then the sky opened up into a torrential downpour," said Zoe Harrison, another Marshall resident.
Both residents took cover during the storm.
"So far, great news: no fatalities and no structural damage," said Madison County Manager Rod Honeycutt.
Honeycutt says a large sinkhole developed in front of Madison Funeral Home, caused by the storm. He said the most significant storm impacts are road closures due to downed trees and flooding.
"We're asking our residents, citizens, stay at home, don't drive, don'...
- Title
- Farewell to Sen. Lindsey Graham: Sights and sounds
- Runtime
- 3:04
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- A funeral service was held for Sen. Lindsey Graham in South Carolina. Here are some moments from the farewell.
MORE: https://wlos.com/news/instagram/from-washington-to-columbia-south-carolina-prepares-final-farewell-for-graham-lindsey-graham-darline-senate-funeral-service-for-the-south-carolina-politician-donald-trump-jd-vance-spoke-yesterday-friends-honored-in-his-home-state-burial-family
#lindseygraham #funeralarrangements #southcarolinalaw
_______________
Follow WLOS on social media:
WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/News13/
WLOS ABC 13 News on X: https://x.com/WLOS_13
WLOS ABC 13 News on Instagram: https://instagram.com/wlos_13
Subscribe to WLOS on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ABC13Channel/?sub_confirmation=1
For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit www.wlos.com
Stream our newscasts LIVE: www.wlos.com/watch
Have a news tip? Send it directly t...
- Title
- Sheetz interested in buying defunct Asheville inn
- Runtime
- 2:38
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- The defunct Mountaineer Inn in Asheville may have an interested buyer: Sheetz.
Will Palmquist, the city of Asheville’s principal planner, confirmed a meeting is scheduled with representatives of the prominent convenience store chain next Thursday.
"An early assistance meeting has been scheduled for August 6 to receive feedback from City review staff on a potential Sheetz convenience store and fuel canopy at the Mountaineer Inn location at 155 Tunnel Road," Palmquist said in a written statement.
Palmquist said early assistance meetings are available for “any proposed project, change of land use, or development to get informal feedback on conceptual plans.“
“Typically, staff in the meeting represent various departments and functions, including planning and zoning, stormwater and grading, transportation, urban forestry, building safety, fire safety, and addressing,” he said.
Palmquist said he learned of the proposa...

