Blue Ridge Public Radio

BPR will deepen its engagement with communities across Western North Carolina this year by partnering with other public radio stations in a national initiative called America Amplified.

The base Jackson County’s Confederate monument has been covered.

Blue Ridge Public Radio took home three first-place and five second-place awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas.

Republican Madison Cawthorn and Democrat Moe Davis, candidates for North Carolina's 11th Congressional district seat left vacant by White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, have both agreed to appear at a two-day joint forum hosted by three of the district’s largest media outlets, Blue Ridge Public Radio, Smoky Mountain News, and Mountain Xpress.

At this particular moment in history, we think it's vital that we give ourselves more time to listen to what's happening in Western North Carolina and Southern Appalachia.  To do that, Blue Ridge Public Radio is launching a new program from its news department - BPR News Presents: The Porch.

This September, Blue Ridge Public Radio will be adding four shows to its program schedule, while moving five others to both of its channels so they can be heard by all of Western North Carolina.

A lawsuit has been filed against the UNC System to halt the start of classes statewide. The lawsuit lists all UNC System schools including Western Carolina University.

Associate Professor Jack Summers teaches chemistry at Western Carolina University. He’s one of the lawsuit plaintiffs because he says COVID-19 makes it impossible to have a safe work environment on campus.  

Blue Ridge Public Radio continues to respond to the tectonic changes underway in our country and community through our news coverage and programming.  To better serve the whole of our community during rapidly changing events, and to bring our listeners a wider range of thoughtful and challenging content, we’re updating our broadcast schedule. It will now include a range of local and national programs that address racial justice and the COVID-19 pandemic, which will be featured during more accessible time periods.

Asheville artist Joseph Pearson left his mark on Blue Ridge Public Radio over the weekend.  He chose to highlight George Floyd in a mural covering up the station’s boarded up windows. 

In this time of uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Blue Ridge Public Radio is expanding its efforts to connect, inform and engage with members of our diverse community. With a growing Spanish-speaking population throughout Western North Carolina, BPR sees an immediate need to provide reliable, fact-based reporting in the Spanish language.

Roughly three-quarters of people featured in original reporting generated by the Blue Ridge Public Radio news department over a one-year period were white.  That's according to a study commissioned by the station and completed by a student at UNC Asheville.

Frank Stasio and his team are coming back to Asheville for two days of broadcasts of 'The State Of Things' from the studios of Blue Ridge Public Radio!  Thursday March 7th and Friday March 8th, 'The State Of Things' will come live from BPR's studios.  You can hear the show every weekday at noon on both of our channels, with a re-broadcast at 8 p.m. weekday nights on BPR News.

Blue Ridge Public Radio is happy to announce Cass Herrington as the station’s new Morning Edition host and reporter.  BPR listeners have been hearing Cass host and report since December, and will start hearing her full-time this Monday, February 25.

This July, listeners of Blue Ridge Public Radio will hear some new programming - while a public radio staple is moving to a new time in our lineup.

Federal officials say treatment is underway to clean up contaminants at the former CTS Corporation factory in Asheville.  

Below is the news release from The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Blue Ridge Public Radio is continuing to expand its news coverage of Western North Carolina.  After a national search, BPR has hired a full-time regional reporter that will be based in Jackson County. The station has also expanded partnership with the Smoky Mountain News.

The State of Things is broadcasting from Blue Ridge Public Radio April 12 and 13. While Frank Stasio and the rest of the SOT staff are in town, they want to hear from YOU! BPR is hosting an informal meet-up at Hi-Wire Brewing's Big Top location on April 12 from 5 to 7. 

Guests will have a chance to ask questions of Frank, the SOT producers, and the BPR News Team and let them know what issues are important to them. So join us for a pint and some great conversation!

Blue Ridge Public Radio is proud to announce that WCQS will now be known as BPR Classic - the same station longtime listeners love and trust, just with a new name.  

A year ago, Blue Ridge Public Radio launched WCQS’ sister station, BPR News, a 24-hour news station that complements the mix of music and news found on WCQS. Now, Blue Ridge Public Radio is strengthening the family resemblance by renaming WCQS as BPR Classic.

WCQS is pleased to announce expanded service for Western North Carolina with the launch of its all-news sister station, BPR News, beginning March 6.  The growth is reflected in a new name, Blue Ridge Public Radio (BPR), which will be home to both stations.