Felicia Sonmez
Growth and Development ReporterFelicia Sonmez is a reporter covering growth and development for Blue Ridge Public Radio.
Prior to joining BPR, Felicia worked for more than a dozen years as a print journalist, including as a national political reporter for The Washington Post. From 2013 to 2018, she was based in Beijing, where she worked as a China correspondent for the international wire service Agence France-Presse and as an editor for The Wall Street Journal. She also spent a year in advanced Chinese language study as a Blakemore Fellow at Tsinghua University.
A native of Hackensack, New Jersey, Felicia graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Government. She loves hiking, backpacking and listening to live music. She is the proud owner of a tuxedo cat named Yogurt.
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The latest Mountain BizWorks survey provides a snapshot of recovery among more than 700 small businesses in the region. -
The elevated numbers suggest the region’s economy continues to feel the impact from the historic storm. -
The report comes amid continued scrutiny of HCA’s ownership of Mission Hospital, with critics arguing the facility has seen a decline in quality of care.
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The newly-released figures provide further insight into the historic storm’s impact on Western North Carolina. -
Community members have pushed the company for transparency, noting that the store had been a lifeline for many residents without access to a car. -
The study includes feedback from residents aimed at making the corridor safer for cyclists and pedestrians. -
The governor said he plans to spend each day this week doing things like whitewater rafting, hiking, mountain biking and visiting local restaurants. -
Senate Republicans have argued that giving direct aid to small businesses would violate the state constitution. -
The town plans to purchase and redevelop part of the former Pactiv Evergreen paper mill site. -
Hurricane Helene caused at least 57 landslides along the Parkway, damaging not only the roadway but also visitor centers, campgrounds, trails and more.
