Latest news with #Asheville
CNN
7 hours ago
- Business
- CNN
These Americans are done with Trump. So they're leaving America
Kevin and Jessica Cellura had just 48 hours in December to make an enormous family decision. The couple, who both work as teachers, had to decide if they should take a job offer to teach in Morocco and leave Asheville, North Carolina, with their two youngest children. But the Celluras say their decision was made easier by the presidential election results just weeks earlier. 'We will get away from the chaos … I feel like the America as we knew it growing up is slipping away pretty fast,' Jessica Cellura told CNN. The Celluras are part of a growing stampede of Americans moving or making serious efforts to move abroad — or to obtain the citizenship rights that would allow them to do so. Tax lawyers and immigration advisers told CNN they have seen an uptick in requests from Americans seeking help with navigating the complex web of guidelines needed to relocate since Donald Trump's election win. Jessica, 40, and Kevin, 52, told CNN they are unaffiliated voters. They cast their ballots for Democrat Kamala Harris in last year's presidential election, though Kevin voted Republican in the 1990s. Their problems with the second Trump administration go well beyond the usual policy tussles and fierce disputes. 'I feel like the government that we have is not based in reality. It is based in propaganda,' said Kevin Cellura, citing the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the US Capitol inspired by Trump's repeated, false claims that former President Joe Biden had rigged the preceding presidential election. Trump's reascension provided the 'spark' the couple needed to fulfill a long-standing desire to move overseas, Kevin said. They are set to teach at a school in Morocco's capital Rabat that follows the American model of education. They have one-way plane tickets on August 10. Official data from the United Kingdom, Ireland and Canada show a surge in the numbers of Americans applying to become citizens in recent months. More than 1,900 applied for a British passport during the first quarter of 2025, the most since the UK's Home Office began keeping records in 2004. In Ireland, too, around 4,700 people residing in the United States applied for Irish citizenship based on their ancestry during the same period, according to the country's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade — the highest quarterly figure in a decade. It is impossible to know the personal stories behind thousands of data points, and the extent to which politics has played a role — if at all. Very often, people can only apply for citizenship after several years living in a country. Dina Modi, an immigration casework supervisor at Immigration Advice Service, a British firm providing legal assistance to people hoping to move to and from the UK, said her clients rarely relocate over a single reason like politics. She partly attributes the recent rush of Americans seeking British passports to changes in UK tax and immigration laws. A chunk of people simply need options, according to Modi. They have no concrete plans to move but want the ability to do so quickly. Other immigration advisers have witnessed the same impulse, telling CNN that some Americans view dual citizenship as a sort of insurance against what they perceive to be a deteriorating political landscape at home. The Celluras, though, are not hesitating to leave. 'I'm not going to be a sitting duck. I'm going to figure out our exit strategy,' Jessica recalls thinking after November's votes were tallied. Before the build-up to the election, David Lesperance reckons he received a maximum of two inquiries per week from Americans wanting to relocate. Now, the head of Lesperance & Associates, a tax and immigration advisory firm, he fields as many as five per day. '(The) people who seek me out tend to be the people who feel they're targets,' he said, noting that his clients tended to be wealthy, with the means to move abroad. In the days following Trump's January executive order restricting gender-affirming medical care for young people, Lesperance said he received seven inquiries from parents with a trans child. For these families, he said, America represents a 'political wildfire zone,' and 'they can smell the smoke more than the average white heterosexual male with a MAGA hat on.' Melvin Warshaw, an international tax lawyer who sometimes works with Lesperance, said he has also received more inquiries from members of the LGBTQ+ community since the election. Another cadre of his clients are those who worry that America is 'fast approaching an oligarchy or an autocracy.' Fundamentally, both groups believe 'their rights are being deprived if they continue to live in the US,' according to Warshaw. Comedian Rosie O'Donnell offers one high-profile example. O'Donnell, who has traded public jibes with Trump for almost two decades, decamped to Ireland in January with her non-binary child, and is seeking citizenship based on her ancestry. 'When it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, that's when we will consider coming back,' she explained in a March posting on TikTok. Erik Lindsay did not leave America because of Trump per se, but he found that he could no longer stand the country's deep political divisions. The 50-year-old screenwriter and novelist said the coronavirus pandemic provided the 'catalyst' for his move from Manhattan Beach, California, to Italy in 2020 — a time in America he likened to an 'ideological civil war' where people dying 'had become politicized.' But Lindsay's desire to relocate to his great-grandparents' birthplace — and where he thus had a claim to citizenship — had been percolating since Trump's first election in 2016 when he felt his friend group fracturing over politics. Lindsay has never voted for Trump, but he remembers the vitriolic reaction he received after posting a message on his Instagram account soon after the 2016 election imploring his anti-Trump friends to stay calm and take the long view of American history. 'It just got venomous,' he said. Lindsay recently became an Italian citizen — though only just before the rules changed. Italy, like Britain, has started to tighten rules on who can claim passports and visas. In May, Rome enacted a law removing the route to citizenship through great-grandparents. Lindsay was lucky with his timing. Now, he can choose to live in Italy, or between Italy and America, at a whim. But life feels lighter in Italy. 'To have any nuance in a conversation with anybody regarding politics that's an American is impossible,' Lindsay said. 'You can do it here.' Sam Hudson and Hanna Ziady contributed reporting.
Fox News
15 hours ago
- General
- Fox News
Suspicious incendiary device found near Blue Ridge Parkway prompts evacuation
Rangers with the National Park Service (NPS) responded to a section of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville, North Carolina, on Sunday after receiving reports of a suspicious item in the dirt. Officials with the NPS said the device was located near an intersection by the Folk Art Center at about 11:45 a.m. The Asheville Police Department Bomb Squad, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation responded to the scene, as did fire and emergency crews from Asheville and Riceville. The NPS said the Folk Art Center was evacuated and a section of the parkway was closed temporarily as a precaution. Specialists safely removed the item, and the NPS said there are no current threats to the public. Officials referred to the device as an "Improvised Incendiary Device." The NPS did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for further information. The NPS said its investigative services branch is investigating the matter. Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the NPS Investigative Services Branch at 888-653-0009, by submitting a tip at or by emailing the agency at nps_isb@ Construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway began nearly 90 years ago at Cumberland Knob, North Carolina, which is at the Virginia border. Since then, the parkway has become an integral part of the mountains and the Appalachian communities that lie along its 460-mile route, as well as a gateway to the region's culture and history. With a top speed of 45 mph along its curving roads, the parkway also offers a chance for visitors to slow down and enjoy the scenery. The 264 overlooks offer breathtaking views of the mountains and valleys, sunrises and sunsets, and the stars on clear nights. The parkway connects Shenandoah National Park with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It starts at Rockfish Gap, Virginia, intersecting Skyline Drive, and winds southwest through Virginia into mountainous western North Carolina. Travelers will find campgrounds and hiking trails, glimpses of small-town Appalachian life in places like Floyd, Virginia, the small cities of Roanoke, Virginia, and Asheville, North Carolina, and many other treasures tucked away in the mountains.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Asheville, NC recovery after Hurricane Helene a mixed bag: Mayor
(NewsNation) — With hurricane season underway this weekend, many in western North Carolina are still picking up the pieces from last year after the state was ravaged by Hurricane Helene. Ester Manheimer, mayor of Asheville, NC, joined 'Morning in America with Hena Doba' to discuss the recovery of the city and the concerns moving forward for residents. 'We have a lot of recovery that's already happened,' said Manheimer. 'When this storm hit, it was devastating. We lost water, power, and communications. So, all those things have been restored, and we're open for business.' Nearly $900 million in FEMA funds have been sent to North Carolina in the nine months since Helene hit — both in household assistance and public assistance for residents to rebuild. Asheville, though, was one of the hardest-hit areas not just in the state, but in the Southeast. Parts of the area — especially along the river where the massive flooding occurred left many in ruins and questioning their future of rebuilding. Turmoil, worry swirl over cuts to key federal agencies as hurricane season begins 'Buildings, parks, all kinds of roads and bridges were damaged or washed out,' Manheimer added. 'So, there are definitely property owners along those areas that are thinking hard about whether they want to rebuild or they want to participate in the buyout program.' This week, FEMA denied the request to match the funds needed for cleanup in Asheville, but Manheimer says that even if they provide 90% of said funds, it is still a big boost. 'This is a storm that estimated $60 billion in damages to the state of North Carolina,' she acknowledged. 'So, these costs are not insignificant. They are tremendous.' Manheimer says that Asheville still needs a lot of help to recover in terms of the long-term projects, while the things that were easy to fix have been taken care of already. She also pointed that the city is more prepared for the upcoming hurricane season but only if they continue to receive the necessary suport from the federal government. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Annual sale: 5 reasons to subscribe to the Citizen-Times
The Asheville Citizen Times and Hendersonville Times-News All-WNC track and field teams for 2025 NCHSAA, NCISAA seasons have been named. Roberson High School is playing in the state championship baseball series. New and old restaurants are finally opening after Tropical Storm Helene-caused tourism dip. Asheville and Buncombe County are facing budget shortfalls and proposed tax increases, also fallout from the unprecedented storm. The Citizen Times brings you exclusive coverage of all those topics and more — better than anyone in Western North Carolina. Take advantage of our annual subscription rate to and lock in unlimited access. Already a subscriber? Whether you get home delivery of the print edition or have a digital-only subscription, these benefits are included! Check out our activation guide for help on getting started. With a subscription, you can be one of the first to learn about breaking news with news alerts, flip through a digital replica of the print paper, get exclusive newsletters and more. Download the free app and start to personalize it to your liking. Additionally, you can download articles for offline reading and sign up for breaking and topical news alerts. Also in the app, you'll find the eNewspaper, available exclusively for subscribers. As an added benefit, subscribers can access the eNewspaper from any of our more than 200 sister papers across the United States, plus each edition of USA TODAY. ► SPECIAL OFFER: Save on a new subscription today. We know when you subscribe, you expect more. Each day, you can expect to see some of our award-winning storytelling, investigative work, sports analysis and more. Just log in with your account to enjoy your exclusive access. Here's some examples: What's happening post-Helene. Our investigation into Haven on the Hill, a temporary RV park set up for people displaced by the historic tropical storm, has found homeless discrimination, lack of basic services and alleged criminal conduct. Asheville Answers column. We know you have many questions about the lingering impacts from Tropical Storm Helene — the deadliest natural disaster in North Carolina history. Send us your questions. Each week a Citizen Times reporter will find you the answers. Asheville food news. Be the first to know when restaurants or breweries are reopening after Helene, and which are closing. Stay on top of all the latest news and trends in the city's food and dining scene. Enjoy a streamlined, fast-loading experience that makes it easy to view the stories, photos and videos you're most interested in. Through the app, you can personalize notifications so you can know the news right when it happens. You can select alerts for breaking news, news, sports, entertainment, weather and business. Quiet times for your alerts can be set within the app. Miss out on recent news? Get the latest effortlessly with our Catch Up feature. Want alerts when we publish something new on a topic you're interested in? Sign up to follow specific topics of interest with the "Add Topic" button at the top of articles. Personalize your feed further in the For You front. The app also provides you access to daily horoscopes and access to over 100 games. Want to follow the news from another city? You can add up to five of our sister publications across the country to get more news right in the app. ► DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more To keep our subscribers informed, we email the most important articles to their inbox each day in the form of a Daily Briefing newsletter. Subscribers also get exclusive access to our Your Week newsletter. Each week, you'll get a note directly from the executive editor with background on a big story from the week, a behind-the-scenes look at our reporting and links to some of our top subscriber-exclusive work. ► SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS: Browse our entire portfolio of newsletter offerings to pick more topics that interest you specifically. Right now, we have a special introductory offer. Visit our subscription page to start supporting our work that holds those in power accountable, and provides the news you need to make our communities stronger. Karen Chávez is Executive Editor for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Tips, comments, questions? Call 828-236-8980, email KChavez@ This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Why subscribe to Unlimited access, personalized app
Travel Weekly
6 days ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
The Asheville Tourists
Arnie Weissmann Every two years, I get together with a dozen college friends and we rent a big house somewhere for a week, hang out, cook and explore the area. Last week, we gathered in Asheville, N.C. The decision to go to Asheville was made well before its devastating floods last September. We knew there would be evidence of the deluge but also that it was recovering. How important is tourism to Asheville? Its minor league baseball team is the Asheville Tourists, so named in 1915. At various times, it had other monikers -- the Moonshiners, the Redbirds, the Mountaineers, the Skylanders, the Orioles -- but fans kept referring to them as the Tourists. When its stadium was renovated in 1959, the owners wanted a rebrand and asked fans to pick the name. The vote went overwhelmingly to "Tourists." For a town with a metropolitan population of about 380,000, it punches well above its weight as a destination. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, recreation has long been an attraction, and I can attest that the hiking is superb. The arts have long played a role in its appeal, in part because nearby Black Mountain College, founded in 1933, was a magnet for faculty and students who would become influential in their fields: John Cage, Josef Albers, Merce Cunningham, Cy Twombly, Willem de Kooning, Walter Gropius and Buckminster Fuller, among others, spent time there. The college closed in 1957, but a passion for art never subsided in Asheville. The River Arts District, several blocks of galleries, isn't far from the banks of the French Broad River, which rose almost 25 feet after Helene dumped 14 inches of water on the city during a three-day period last fall. The lowest portions of the district haven't reopened yet, but the majority is up and running. Open galleries accommodate many artists whose space (and art) was lost. One sells playing cards imprinted with work that was destroyed in the flood. (Proceeds go to contributing artists.) The Asheville Art Museum is extraordinary. Its executive director, Pam Myers, was recruited from New York's Guggenheim and has built a collection that, while including Black Mountain artists and regional pieces from 1865 to the present, also features creatively curated contemporary exhibits and thematic galleries showing works from other areas. In the late 19th century, a Vanderbilt heir constructed the Biltmore Estate, then the largest privately owned home in the U.S., adjacent to Asheville. Frederick Law Olmstead was commissioned to design the grounds. It now houses a museum, two hotels (the Inn on Biltmore Estate and Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate), three restaurants, four gift shops and a winery. In downtown Asheville, there's a building that can be described in two words that may never have been previously linked: "stunning cafeteria." The S&W Cafeteria is an art deco marvel. A few blocks away is the Basilica of St. Lawrence, designed by architect Rafael Guastavino. Known for his innovative use of domes, the structure is constructed entirely of tiles and features the largest elliptical dome in America. Today, Asheville is renown as one of America's craft beer capitals and features 62 breweries. The largest, Hi-Wire Brewing, celebrated the reopening of its main taproom while we were in town. I chatted with co-founder and CEO Adam Charnack as, around us, craftspeople sold wares, a band played and clowns on stilts juggled. It seemed that half of Asheville turned out for the party. Charnack said parts of the property had been under 15 feet of water. "You gotta just move forward, right?" he said. "We believe that the things that bring us together are stronger than the things that tear us apart, and our mission is to make the things that bring people together. Not just for us but for the hundreds of displaced artists and the rest of the community. "The town lives and dies on tourism," he continued. "The infrastructure is here. Hotels are a steal and are laying out the red carpet, providing top-notch service. There are thousands of small, independent, family-run businesses that rely on tourism, and by coming to Asheville now you'll have a great experience that's equal to, if not better than, pre-storm. And support the community." Over the years, by accident or design, I have visited destinations that were in the recovery stage following a natural disaster: New Orleans after Katrina; Phuket, Thailand, after the 2004 tsunami; Puerto Rico after Maria; Acapulco after Manuel. My previous reunion with college friends was in Quebec City after smoke from wildfires had thinned visitation. I've found that what Charnack said is true: Places are often ready before visitors realize they are. The period between recovery and recognition has always provided an exceptional experience, both in terms of crowd reduction and the satisfaction that comes from helping a community get back on its feet. If clients who typically would travel abroad are now reluctant because of the changing geopolitical landscape, suggest a domestic alternative: suggest they be an Asheville tourist.
