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ASHEVILLE, NC – February 26, 2025 – The CDC’s COVID Dashboard for the week ending on February 15^th shows:  

• Less than 2% of the deaths in North Carolina were due to COVID, the 2^nd lowest level of 6 groups, unchanged from last week.
• Emergency department visits for COVID-19 are minimal in North Carolina, representing a little more than 1% of all visits, a moderate decrease since last week.

Wastewater monitoring can be used to provide early warning for COVID, flu and RSV outbreaks. For the week ending on February 15^th, the COVID-19 wastewater viral activity level for the state is high. The Buncombe & Henderson counties COVID wastewater data for the week ending on February 12^th shows:

• The number of viral gene copies in each water sample is at an orange level representing the 4^th highest level of 5 groups, currently between the 60^th and 80^th percentile relative to the past peak level measured at the same site.
• The 15-day rate of change of the number of viral gene copies in each water sample has decreased from the previous week, at -99% to -10%, the largest level of 2 groups for a negative rate of change.

During the week ending on February 15^th, viral activity levels in the North Carolina wastewater were high for influenza A and low for RSV, and viral activity levels in the Buncombe County wastewater were moderate for influenza A, and very low for RSV.

The CDC’s weekly flu surveillance report for the week ending on February 15^th indicates that levels are either high or very high in 42 of 47 continental states (with Vermont not reporting). The Mountain West region has moderate levels. North Carolina is at a very high level.

The CDC reports that the weekly percent of positive tests for RSV for the week ending on February 15^th is below 5% for Region 4 (which are the states in the southeast U.S. including North Carolina). It had peaked to more than 15% around Christmas.

The weekly North Carolina Respiratory Virus Summary Dashboard for the week ending on February 15^th shows:

• 17% of all emergency room patients had symptoms of a respiratory viral illness, a 20% decrease from last week.
• Influenza-like symptoms represented more than one-half of these patients
• There were more than 25 hundred hospital admissions from the emergency department in North Carolina for people who had a diagnosis, or symptoms, of respiratory viral infection, a 24% decrease since last week. More patients were admitted with the flu than other respiratory disease.

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

By: Kevin Eddings

For the past few years, the Trump Administration has targeted marginalized communities with comments on the legitimacy of their citizenship. Prominent examples are former President Obama and former Vice President Harris. Since starting his second term in January, Trump and his administration have tried to undo birthright citizenship, and they have accused DEI legislation for not being in the country’s best interest.

Asheville FM News Hour correspondent, K.P. Whaley, attended a protest downtown in Pack Square, against the possible deportation of immigrants within the current Trump Administration. On the February 12th. edition of the Asheville FM News Hour, religion and community were two of the many things highlighted within the issue of immigration.

Corn, a granddaughter to two immigrant grandfathers, was one of the many protesters in Pack Square expressing why this protest is important. “I am making sure we are fighting for a better America as a whole,” Corn said. “This isn’t only for Latinos. This is for everybody. Our country needs help.”

Over 300 people showed up for the protest, from all walks of life. Corn shared that it is very important to see the intersection of people who come to support. “It’s important because it is what makes up this country. We got to fight for our country. We gotta make sure we get what we need. We are all humans first, we are not robots or just things you can throw to the side.”

When asked what she would say to critics who say that protests are fruitless, Corn had this to say.

“This is how this country was built,” Corn said. “[Protest] is how we always fought people.” 

Corn shared what the future of these protests will look like and what people might need to know. “Hopefully we will be trying to do more protests, especially on Saturday mornings, but the thing is you don’t need a protest to protest. You can come out here any day of the week and hold up a sign that has some meaning to it and that’s enough.” 

Reverend Sara Wilcox was one of the many protestors attending the rally. Wilcox is co-founder of Land of the Sky United Church of Christ, part of whose mission is to serve as a member of Faith for Justice, committed to provoking justice for black- and brown-bodied people.

“I’m here because youth were coming here today and we don’t trust the adults in the community to keep safe spaces for our kids at this point,” Wilcox said. There are many adults who feel their policies are worth jeopardizing the safety of kids, and that’s something that we are very much against. Our government fails to make new policies that make immigration accessible and possible for folks, and that’s why people end up undocumented.”

Whaley asked Wilcox how she feels about Trump and his administration using Christianity to back their agenda.

“Many of Trump’s policies are actually deeply antithetical to the ways of Christ,” Wilcox said. “It’s an interesting thing to see the Christian right get in bed with someone who’s deeply engaged in policies and politics that seem to be about getting wealthier and taking land from people. It’s harming people, it’s completely out of realm from the ways of Jesus. And it’s not uncommon, that’s how it always happens. Constantine was the first one to get in the way and co-opt the church. And so, empire always collapses the church. It’s idolatrous.”

Listen to the full interview here:

See more photos here

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

• This Friday at 7pm join Hendersonville Pride at Hendersonville’s newest line dancing bar! Honeysuckle Holler is the only dedicated country dance bar in Western North Carolina 101 E Allen St. Suite 101, Hendersonville
• This and every Saturday, drag shows starting at 11pm and midnight at O.Henrys. 

• Sunday February 23 at 1:30 PM Gentle Yoga for Queer Folks. This gentle yoga class is centered towards creating an affirming and inclusive space for queer individuals. Located at West Asheville Yoga on Haywood Road. Admission is free.

• Wednesday February 26 from 12 to 2 pm Generation Plus Thrive Lunch and Learn. Located at the Blue Ridge Pride Center. LGBTQIA2S+ elders (55+) are invited to join us for a free lunch and learn. Amorous Gardner will be leading a workshop on Deathcare and Advanced Care Planning in the LGBTQIA2+ community. RSVP at https://www.blueridgepride.org/generation-plus#GenPlusRSVP.

• LGBTQ+ Resource Centers & Community Spaces Hosted by Blue Ridge Pride, Campaign for Southern Equality, and Tranzmission.  
  • Monday Resources can be found at Blue Ridge Pride Resource Center, 2 – 6 PM 1330 Patton Avenue, Suite A Food, baby supplies, hygiene supplies, pet food, cold weather items, apply for direct financial assistance
  • Tuesday resources hosted by Tranzmission Resource Center, 4 – 6 PM – Food pantry, household items, clothing closet, and application for microgrants. Email [email protected] for location
  • Wednesday resources hosted again by Blue Ridge Pride Resource Center, 12 – 4 PM 
  • Thursday resources hosted by Campaign for Southern Equality Supply & Resource Center, 11 AM – 5 PM (Happens once a month, Re-opens 1/23) 20 Oak Street, Asheville (downtown). Each month: Health, hygiene and wellness supplies (including binders, menstrual products, make up); winter clothing; household items; support navigating LBTQ+ friendly resources
  • Friday & Saturday resources hosted again by Tranzmission Resource Center, 4 – 6 PM

Looking ahead:

• Thursday February 27 at 5:30 pm Pitch, please! A speed networking event for queer professionals. Located at New Belgium Brewing on Craven St. This event is presented by WNC Queer Professionals, sponsored by Blue Ridge Pride, and hosted by Drag King Milo mawhile. This event welcomes all professionals, whether you’re a small business owner, artist, a performer, or looking for new opportunities. Admission is free, though registration is required. You can find the registration link on their Facebook event labeled Pitch, Please.-

• Thursday February 27 from 6  to 8 pm Hope, Joy, and Resistance: A Gathering for LGBTQIA2S+ folks. Located at the Blue Ridge Pride Center. Join us for a space of connection, creativity, and community. Our group is designed to nurture hope, joy, and resistance in the face of daily challenges. RSVP: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdUVbWzn_B_DIGQr_CyezaA1t2Ec-4NYUV_BOepCOdfYPYLQQ/viewform

• Friday, February 28th, 8-10pm Tina & Her Pony  will play a full band show at Eda’s Hide-a-way 1098 New Stock Rd, Weaverville starting at 8pm for fun, for the love of live music, and for queer community!

much further ahead –

• • Sunday March 2nd The annual Asheville Mardi Gras parade is happening on South Slope in downtown Asheville. More details about the step off location will be announced closer to the date.
  • Song-O Drag Music Bingo is at The Mule at Devil’s Foot on Friday, March 7 starting at 7 pm. Enjoy silly drag-stravaganza with brews and a musical twist on bingo. Reserve your spot on EventBrite.
  • Hold the date for Hendersonville PFLAG Fundraiser on Sunday March 9th because they’re bringing one of our favorite queer bands, Palmyra. This will be a 5:30pm event at Continuum ART in Hendersonville
  • Eyes Up Here Comedy and Modelface Comedy presents AVLGBTQ, a transgender and nonbinary comedy showcase on Thursday, March 13 at 7 pm at LaZoom’s Room Bar and Gorilla. They will have a showcase of hilarious femme comedians from all over the country. Tickets on sale now on Event Brite for $12. You must be 18 or older to attend.

• Thursday, March 13 from 7 to 8 pm. Daddy’s Big Gay Trivia Night at O’Henry’s in Asheville. Join us for Daddy’s Big Gayb Trivia Night. This adult-themed event promises to be a spankin’ good time with hilarious trivia questions, multiple choice, unscrambling words, and more. Whether you’re a trivia master or just looking for a night of laughter and fun, bring your friends, partner, or come solo and join a team.

• Saturday, March 15 from 4 to 7 pm. Kickoff Kiki at Olde London Road English Pub located on Depot Street. Join Q-Hall for Kickoff Kiki, a night of women’s soccer, queer community, and great vibes. Mixer at 4 and game at 5. Admission is free.

• Sunday, March 16 at 11 am St. Paddy’s Day Brunch, a drag show.Times for brunch are 11 am at 1 pm. The location of this event is The Hideaway located on Broadway St. This will be a fundraiser for the Tzedek Social Justice Fund, a fund which redistributes money, resources, and power to support systems change and community healing in Asheville. You can find tickets at www.AshevilleDragBrunch.com

• Friday, March 21, from 8 to 9 pm. Drag Karaoke – Divine’s Karaoke Kiki at Dalton Distillery. Divine’s Karaoke Kiki is singing with a twist, hosted by a comedy drag queen. Enjoy the interaction-packed show as she toasts and roasts the singers.

• Friday, March 28 through March 30 Queer Studies Conference at UNC Asheville. Queer Studies Conference attracts a diverse audience of activists, academics, community members, and artists. More information here: https://www.blueridgepride.org/events/queer-studies-conference 

• Saturday, June 7 from 8 to 10 pm Eyes Up Here Comedy Pride Month Edition. Modelface Comedy presents Eyes Up Here Comedy at Ginger’s Revenge. This is a night featuring all femme comedians and this month we have a special show featuring comedians from Asheville and around the South East and this month we are celebrating Pride Month. Hosted by local favorite Danny Felix. Ages 18+. Doors at 7:30 pm and show at 8 pm. Tickets are $18 and $23 for premium seating (front three rows). Tickets are available on Eventbrite.

• Saturday, June 7 from 12 to 5 Hendersonville Pride Festival

• Sunday, June 22. Comedian Fortune Feimster is making her way on Asheville’s Harrah’s Cherokee stage! You’ve seen her on Netflix’s Is It Cake, her own comedy specials, and in movies like FUBAR, The Standups, and the Mindy Project. Tickets are live now. 

• June 27 to 29 Haywood’s second annual Haywood Pride on Main. If you are interested in volunteering and making a difference, find the Google Form on Haywood Pride on Main Facebook page.

 

More Posts for Show: Sweet Tea

 

UNITED STATES – February 19, 2025 – This winter may be one of the worst flu seasons in more than 10 years. More patients are seeing doctors for symptoms of the flu since the winter of 2009-2010. The CDC classifies the flu as “high severity” this season.

As a result of the flu surge, hospitals, emergency rooms and doctor’s offices are crowded with patients sick with this illness. Many hospitals have all their beds occupied; therefore, very sick patients with the flu must remain in the emergency room until a bed is available. Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center in San Diego had to set up a temporary tent to see patients with flu symptoms because the emergency department was overwhelmed with patients. Many hospitals, including Mission Hospital in Asheville, are limiting visitors and not allowing children to visit to reduce the spread of the illness. The flu is so prevalent amongst children that, as of the first week in February, schools have had to close in at least 10 states to slow it’s spread. Most of the closures lasted only a few days.

In an interview with NBC news on February 11^th, Dr. Robert Needleman, an emergency department physician at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, said “We’ve seen a lot of sick people in general compared to previous years. It seems like they are having more respiratory issues.”

The flu is a very contagious respiratory illness that can last for a week. The influenza virus can be easily transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets.  Symptoms may include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose and body aches. The flu may be very common, but it can lead to severe illness like difficulty breathing requiring support with breathing.

As of February 7^th, the CDC estimates that there have been 29 million cases this season including my wife and me. There have been more than 370 thousand hospitalizations and 16 thousand deaths from the flu including 68 children.

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

 

ASHEVILLE, NC – February 19, 2025 – There is a surge of respiratory viral infections, like COVID-19, influenza (the flu) and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), during the cold winter months and this is taking place around here in western North Carolina.

The CDC’s COVID Dashboard for the week ending on February 8^th shows:  

• Less than 2% of the deaths in North Carolina were due to COVID, the 2^nd lowest level of 6 groups, an increase since last week.
• Emergency department visits for COVID-19 are minimal in North Carolina, representing a little more than 1% of all visits, stable since last week.

Wastewater monitoring can be used to provide early warning for COVID, flu and RSV outbreaks. For the week ending on February 8^th, the COVID-19 wastewater viral activity level for the state is high. The Buncombe & Henderson counties COVID wastewater data for the week ending on February 5^th shows:

• The number of viral gene copies in each water sample is at a red level representing the highest level of 5 groups, currently between the 80^th and 100^th percentile relative to the past peak level measured at the same site.
• The 15-day rate of change of the number of viral gene copies in each water sample has decreased from the previous week, at -9% to 0%, the smallest level of 2 groups for a negative rate of change.

During the week ending on February 8^th, viral activity levels in the North Carolina wastewater were very high for influenza A and moderate for RSV. In Buncombe County, influenza A levels are very high, and RSV levels are high.

The CDC’s weekly flu surveillance report for the week ending on February 1^st indicates that levels are either high or very high in 43 of 47 continental states (with 1 not reporting), particularly in the South, Northeast, MIdwest and the West. North Carolina is at a very high level.

The CDC reports that the weekly percent of positive tests for RSV for the week ending on February 1^st is below 5% in Region 4 (which are the states in the southeast U.S. including North Carolina). It had peaked to more than 15% around Christmas.

The weekly North Carolina Respiratory Virus Summary Dashboard for the week ending on February 8^th shows:

• About 20% of all emergency room patients had symptoms of a respiratory viral illness, a decrease from last week.
• Influenza-like symptoms represented more than one-half of these patients
• There were more than 3 thousand hospital admissions from the emergency department in North Carolina for people who had a diagnosis, or symptoms, of respiratory viral infection, an increase since last week. More patients were admitted with the flu than other respiratory disease.

The COVID pandemic has made us aware that we can reduce the spread of respiratory viruses by following specific public health measures, like vaccination, washing hands, staying home when ill, and covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing. Therefore, we should take these steps to protect at-risk groups who are susceptible to getting severely ill, children younger than 5, pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic medical conditions like heart and lung disease, and the immunocompromised.

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

 

BUNCOMBE COUNTY, NC – January 31, 2025 – According to a January 31^st email from Buncombe County government to the County Commissioners, a dead waterfowl at Lake Julian Park has tested positive for bird flu (also known as the H5N1 strain of the influenza virus and avian influenza). It is caused by the avian influenza A virus. Seven other deceased waterfowl were found at the park and test results are pending. The park will remain open. Park visitors are encouraged to avoid touching or feeding the birds and should wash their hands regularly. The Buncombe County Parks and the Public Health departments will be working with other state agencies to prevent the spread to humans. People with job-related or outside exposure to infected birds or animals are at a greater risk of getting infected.

The CDC feels that the risk of transmission of the bird flu virus from birds to the public is low. There has been no evidence of spread of this illness from person-to-person. Bird flu can be transmitted from birds to pets, like cats and dogs, and from birds to livestock, like cattle and poultry. It has been detected in wild mammals like bear.

The first U.S. case of bird flu in a human occurred in Louisiana in January this year, according to the CDC. The person was exposed to infected birds. As of January 6^th, there has been 66 confirmed cases of bird flu in humans in the U.S. None have been reported in North Carolina, as of February 4^th.

The best way to prevent getting bird flu is to avoid direct contact with wild birds, sick birds, dead birds and animals infected with the virus. Persons who must have close prolonged contact should wear personal protective equipment like gloves and a face mask. The virus has been found in raw cow’s milk or raw dairy products from dairy cows. Infections in humans can occur when enough virus gets into a person’s eyes, nose, mouth, or is inhaled. Symptoms include cough, fever, muscle aches, sore throat, headache and shortness of breath. Infected people commonly have red, irritated eyes.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says that bird flu cannot be transmitted through safe handling and properly cooking eggs, chicken and beef to an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Eggs, chicken and beef should be refrigerated once brought home from the grocery store.

People should report the presence of many sick or dead birds or dead animals to a park ranger or to the NC Wildlife Helpline at 866-318-2401 or via email at [email protected].

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour