Local News

At the end of the year, Santa isn't the only one making a list. NPR has released its compilation known as "Books We Love" since 2013. This year it's over 350 titles sourced from your favorite NPR personalities and those whose voices you might not hear, but whose work, you certainly have — editors, producers, and more. 

Watauga County’s Ray Hicks drew national acclaim for his storytelling skills focusing on the adventures of a poor but clever boy named Jack. Hicks passed away 20 years ago. Other raconteurs have kept the tales alive, but the High Country way of telling them faces an uncertain future, and changes in the Appalachian region could determine the outlook for this centuries-old tradition.

Climbing out of poverty can be especially difficult for single moms and their children. It's why nonprofits in the Triad area, and programs like Flourish, are taking family-centered approaches to tackle this.