The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) published its latest annual report in December. According to FIRE, North Carolina stands out as a success story for campus speech: it has more green-light schools than any other state, and Appalachian State University is cited for its adoption of the so-called Chicago principles.

North Carolina grows more Christmas trees than any other state except Oregon. It's an important, nearly $90 million industry for the state. Most of the trees are Fraser firs. But these prized Fraser firs, which millions of families put up in their homes for Christmas, have become more rare in the wild due to the balsam woolly adelgid. Appalachian’s Dr. Howard Neufeld discusses the insect’s impact.

Appalachian State University, Ashe County Schools and RTI International are collaborating as part of a five-year, rural mental health grant that has received $2.5 million from the U.S. Department of Education. Their grant proposal was titled “Rural School Mental Health Training and Service Provision in North Carolina.”

During fall break, 29 students, staff and faculty gave back to organizations in North Carolina and Georgia by participating in Alternative Service Experience (ASE) programs offered through Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT) — part of Appalachian State University’s Division of Student Affairs. Among them was Bri Carter of Randleman.

Appalachian State University honored more than 120 staff members who have served the university for 20 years or more at the inaugural Chancellor’s Service Awards Luncheon, held Tuesday on Appalachian’s campus.

Airbnb, TripAdvisor and other major travel companies that have adopted policies meant to reassure customers that attractions they promote do not exploit or harm animals. Whether the policies actually slow visitation at certain attractions or force broader changes in the industry is an open question, said Carol Kline, an associate professor of tourism management at Appalachian State University.

Rwany Sibaja, who trains future social studies teachers at Appalachian State University, says teachers who avoid talking about the impeachment because it may be polarizing are missing an opportunity to help their students ask questions and be critical thinkers.

App State’s Leon Levine Hall of Health Sciences was named Best Public Project in Business North Carolina’s sixth annual Building North Carolina awards. The awards highlight some of the state’s most impressive commercial real estate projects completed between July 1, 2018, and June 30, 2019, based on design, innovation and impact on their communities.

Anthropology professor Dr. Thomas Whyte solves the mystery of the headless toads.