Helen Chickering
Morning Edition Host, ReporterHelen Chickering is a host and reporter on Blue Ridge Public Radio. She joined the station in November 2014.
Helen grew up in Texas. Her broadcast career began in television news in 1985 at WLBT, the NBC affiliate in Jackson, Mississippi. There she did everything from news to weather and found her niche in medical reporting. Over the next 20 years she covered health and science news on both local and national levels, including 5 years in Charlotte at the CBS affiliate, WBTV. In 1998, Helen helped launch the health and science desk at NBC News Channel, the network's affiliate news service. She became the first journalist to serve as president of the National Association of Medical Communicators and was on the founding board of the Science Communicators of North Carolina.
In 2012, Helen and her family moved to Asheville from Chapel Hill and she started working as a freelance producer and as a Montessori teaching assistant. A longtime NPR listener, she was thrilled to land a job at Blue Ridge Public Radio. Helen is an active member of the Asheville Science Tavern and a guest lecturer and an advisory board member at the University of North Carolina's Medical and Science Journalism Program.
Email: hchickering@bpr.org
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A "bubble of humanity" came together to help neighbors. -
A federal grant named the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge as a replacement project after Helene — but town officials say the funds will likely be redirected to more urgent needs. -
A 26-mile section from Asheville to Ridge Junction Overlook is open again after Hurricane Helene repairs. Some trails still remain closed. -
The historic community landmark was damaged beyond repair during Hurricane Helene. A federal grant will fund a full replacement. -
At a Flat Rock briefing with state and local leaders, Gov. Josh Stein said North Carolina has received in federal funds only 9% of the estimated $60 billion in damages from Hurricane Helene. -
Roney announced her campaign on Labor Day, becoming the second candidate in the 2026 Asheville mayoral race.
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Gov. Josh Stein announced the 2025 North Carolina Award winners. This year’s honorees include artists, authors, a coach and a civil rights attorney — with strong ties to Western North Carolina. -
Manheimer, who has led the city since 2013, is the first candidate to enter the 2026 race, citing her commitment to oversee Asheville’s long-term recovery from Hurricane Helene. -
With school starting Monday, Haywood County health officials are watching a whooping cough outbreak closely and urging families to check vaccination records. -
A new summer career camp in Western North Carolina gives high schoolers and recent grads a one‑week, hands‑on tour of local jobs — from rolling pasta to exploring treetop courses.
