Helen Chickering
Morning Edition Host, ReporterHelen Chickering is a host and reporter on Blue Ridge Public Radio. She joined the station in November 2014.
Helen grew up in Texas. Her broadcast career began in television news in 1985 at WLBT, the NBC affiliate in Jackson, Mississippi. There she did everything from news to weather and found her niche in medical reporting. Over the next 20 years she covered health and science news on both local and national levels, including 5 years in Charlotte at the CBS affiliate, WBTV. In 1998, Helen helped launch the health and science desk at NBC News Channel, the network's affiliate news service. She became the first journalist to serve as president of the National Association of Medical Communicators and was on the founding board of the Science Communicators of North Carolina.
In 2012, Helen and her family moved to Asheville from Chapel Hill and she started working as a freelance producer and as a Montessori teaching assistant. A longtime NPR listener, she was thrilled to land a job at Blue Ridge Public Radio. Helen is an active member of the Asheville Science Tavern and a guest lecturer and an advisory board member at the University of North Carolina's Medical and Science Journalism Program.
Email: hchickering@bpr.org
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Manheimer, who has led the city since 2013, is the first candidate to enter the 2026 race, citing her commitment to oversee Asheville’s long-term recovery from Hurricane Helene. -
With school starting Monday, Haywood County health officials are watching a whooping cough outbreak closely and urging families to check vaccination records. -
A new summer career camp in Western North Carolina gives high schoolers and recent grads a one‑week, hands‑on tour of local jobs — from rolling pasta to exploring treetop courses. -
Severe damage from Helene led engineers to declare the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge beyond repair, but volunteers say the garden’s legacy will live on. -
Officials say the risk to the general public remains low as Jackson and Macon counties investigate possible exposure. -
Scattered storms and muggy nights continue across Western North Carolina as forecasters eye a weekend cooldown. -
EcoKing Solutions will invest $80.5 million to convert the long-vacant Stanley Furniture plant in Robbinsville, bringing up to 500 jobs to the region. -
David Melton, who has led the department since 2016, oversaw the city’s response to Hurricane Helene and other major water infrastructure challenges. -
Madison County residents voiced concern over a proposal to dissolve the current health board and shift control to county commissioners. -
Travelers are urged to check alerts and plan ahead, as key sections of the Parkway are still under construction following last year’s storm damage.
