Local News Roundup: May Day Protests, I-40 Closure, Tar Heel Art Exhibit, and Air Quality Alerts

Good morning, this is your Asheville Local Frequency for Friday, May 2nd, 2025. Today marks an important day for our community as hundreds have gathered in Asheville and Hendersonville for May Day events, addressing concerns about the Trump administration. The demonstrations reflect growing political engagement across Western North Carolina. In transportation news, drivers should be aware that a stretch of Interstate 40 West will close this weekend for bridge rehabilitation work. The closure begins tonight at 8 p.m. between Hendersonville Road at Exit 50 and I-26, continuing until 6 a.m. Monday. Plan your weekend travel accordingly. Environmental alerts for today include a Code Yellow air quality forecast for Asheville and Buncombe County valleys and ridge tops. Those with respiratory sensitivities should consider limiting prolonged outdoor activities. Looking for something to do this weekend? The Chamber Challenge kicks off today, promoting community wellness through friendly competition between local businesses. Meanwhile, art enthusiasts won't want to miss the inaugural "Tar Heel Art" exhibition opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. today at UpMarket Gallery, featuring works from 37 North Carolina artists representing our state's diverse artistic landscape. Tomorrow, Pack Memorial Library will host a Sashiko Stitching Class at 3 p.m., teaching the traditional Japanese embroidery technique. The workshop includes all materials and requires no prior sewing experience. The City of Asheville has announced the launch of a new mobile parking payment app called Flowbird, set to begin on June 2nd following City Council approval. The app was selected after a competitive bidding process. In other news, the housing market across the Asheville region remained relatively stable in March despite economic uncertainty and higher mortgage rates. Canopy MLS data shows 729 homes closed during the month across our 13-county region, representing just a 3.4 percent decrease compared to March 2024. For those concerned about air quality, today is a Code Yellow day. If you're unusually sensitive to air pollution, consider limiting your outdoor activities. This has been Asheville Local Frequency. We'll see you tomorrow with more local updates. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.