Jessica Wakeman, Author at The Assembly NC

Lake Lure’s Brief, Bizarre Chapter as the Headquarters of a Model Cult

Residents recall the far-out happenings at a lakefront compound featured in an HBO docuseries about a doomsday cult.

Zeb Smathers knows the future of his town is riding on him. His own political ambitions depend on that success.

Flamy Grant lived in fear growing up in Western North Carolina. Now She’s taking center stage.

Candler resident Leslie Boyd got the notice after she and other activists played a protest song inside a Hendersonville McDonald’s.

Art

“Islands in the Sky” depicts Hurricane Helene through survivors’ stories—with the help of some nationally recognized comic artists.

Meet the teams working to reunite people with mementos they lost during Hurricane Helene.

The city saw an increase in the number of people living on the street after Helene. For some, it was their first brush with homelessness.

An anarchist bookstore collective burned American flags in response to Trump’s executive order against flag burning.

After a two-year fight over LGBTQ books and displays, Yancey County is pulling its public library out of a regional system.

The rumor mill has been churning over allegations Edwards struck an audience member at the “Peace in Action” conference.