Lilly Knoepp
Senior Regional ReporterLilly Knoepp is Senior Regional Reporter for Blue Ridge Public Radio. She has served as BPR’s first fulltime reporter covering Western North Carolina since 2018. She is a native of Franklin, NC who returns to WNC after serving as the assistant editor of Women@Forbes and digital producer of the Forbes podcast network. She holds a master’s degree in international journalism from the City University of New York and earned a double major from UNC-Chapel Hill in religious studies and political science.
Email: lknoepp@bpr.org
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The U.S. Forest Service announced portions of the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness are closed due to a wildfire.Bee Rock Creek Fire causes evacuations in McDowell County. -
Mike Clampitt who represents Jackson, Swain and Transylvania counties announced that he has been diagnosed with a rare cancer. He says he will be avoiding public gatherings and might not be able to respond to constituent messages. -
A Sylva disaster supply distribution center looks for a sustainable future to support the region in the next disaster. Mountain CORE Mission is hosting a benefit on April 12. -
N.C. National Forest Supervisor James Melonas has his work cut out for him after Hurricane Helene damaged about 20% of the forests, including 117,000 acres of vegetation loss. Here's how the recovery process is going. -
As part of the nationwide "Hands Off" protest, people take to the streets in Brevard, Sylva, Franklin, Waynesville, Bryson City and Asheville to oppose Trump's policies on federal funding, Medicare, Social Security and immigration. -
After Hurricane Helene, downed trees and damaged roads caused parts of the park to be closed. In the park, Cataloochee Valley saw the worst impacts of Hurricane Helene and has been closed since late September. -
Local environmental organizations to host a public forum in Asheville for community members to learn how to support public lands and national parks during looming cuts. -
Some Forest Service workers supporting the fight against wildfires across Western North Carolina were reinstated by the Trump administration just before the crisis. Others are still waiting to be onboarded. -
The Eastern Band of Cherokee will host a lunch of local ramps and rainbow trout to kick off the season. -
The North Carolina Emergency Management Association's annual gathering in Cherokee this week held special significance on the 6-month anniversary of Hurricane Helene.
