Roadless-Rule Rollback: The U.S. Forest Service has started moving to rescind the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, a move that could open about 45 million acres of national forests—including near NC hotspots like Craggy Mountain and Mt. Mitchell—to more logging and construction, with the administration arguing it will help reduce wildfire risk. Blue Ridge Parkway Cleanup Fight: More than 1,500 people have petitioned the National Park Service to scale back Hurricane Helene debris removal plans on the Blue Ridge Parkway, warning that even a reduced scope could harm mountain ecosystems and calling for more transparency and “minimum necessary” work. Western NC Flood-Ready Greenway Funding: Jackson County is holding public hearings on a Community Development Block Grant that could fund a 1.6-mile expansion of the Tuckaseigee River Greenway plus flood mitigation after Helene damaged trail areas. Emergency Response Training: Harris EMS joined local partners for high-angle rescue training in rugged western NC terrain, practicing rope and rappelling skills for hard-to-reach patients. Heat & Water Safety: With extreme heat and storm risk in the forecast, schools are using strict heat rules for practices, while nearby swim advisories and bacteria monitoring continue to affect where people can safely enter water. Pollinator Census: The Great Southeast Pollinator Census returns, inviting citizen scientists across the Southeast (including NC) to count pollinators and track ecosystem health.