Looking for some longform (or longerform) reads to cozy up with over the weekend? Here’s a round-up of our leading feature stories from the last seven days. Happy reading! Arts Ashevillean Woody Pines releases self-titled album. Image courtesy of the…

Buy Photo A group of business leaders, politicians and Buncombe County residents ride along the Swamp Rabbit Trail near Greenville, South Carolina.(Photo: Josh Awtry / jawtry@citizen-times.com)Buy Photo Wayne McCall, mayor of Travelers Rest, South Carolina, shielded the morning sun with…

Nearly 5 percent more travelers are expected to travel this Memorial Day weekend than last year, according to auto club AAA. lRelated Florida TravelPictures: A history of Florida tourismSee all related AAA also released the top 10 Memorial Day destinations,…

She carefully displays old war medals, rifles and other artifacts donated to the Museum of North Carolina Handicrafts in hopes of attracting Civil War enthusiasts. It’s a job she takes very seriously and often gets so caught up in planning…

c 2014, WLOS ABC 13 | Portions are Copyright 2014 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or distributed. WLOS News 13 provides local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of events and items…

Buy Photo Marci Anderson answers the phone at the front desk of Residence Inn Asheville Biltmore on Wednesday. Anderson is a Western Carolina University student working toward a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism.(Photo: Angeli Wright/awright@citizen-times.com)Buy Photo Asheville’s emergence as…

Emily Edmonds Emily Edmonds of Sylva, left, accepts a check for $1,000 from Ed Wright of Western Carolina University after winning second place in the “Bright Ideas Rocket Pitch” competition as part of the inaugural LEAD:Innovation conference at WCU. Posted:…

c 2014, WLOS ABC 13 | Portions are Copyright 2014 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or distributed. WLOS News 13 provides local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of events and items…

A proposal to establish Transylvania County’s first public charging station could expand options for electric vehicle owners across Western North Carolina. The proposal highlights the need for infrastructure in a sparsely served region to tap a rapidly growing market and…

Buy Photo A view of Graveyard fields on the Blue Ridge Parkway.(Photo: Citizen-Times photo)Buy Photo Residents Tuesday urged local officials to look at stricter building rules near the Blue Ridge Parkway to protect views and other aspects of the popular…