Appalachian State University is in its fourth week of school at a state-mandated laboratory school it launched in Winston-Salem this year. The Academy at Middle Fork is a public school and partnership between the Reich College of Education at ASU and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools that serves kindergarten through fifth grades.

For North Carolina native and Appalachian alumnus Brock Long ’97 ’99, Hurricane Florence is personal. Long, who grew up in Newton, was 14 in 1989 the night Hurricane Hugo swept in, toppling trees and damaging buildings.

For a short time Thursday afternoon, Appalachian State University Chancellor Sheri Everts returned to a familiar scene: a K-12 classroom. Everts stopped by each classroom at Appalachian State University Academy at Middle Fork, handing out books for every student to take home with them. Her visit was meant to be both an opportunity to increase literacy options for students, as well as show the university’s support to those in the elementary school.

Abundant August rains shouldn't have an impact on fall leaves showing their colors in western North Carolina, according to a university professor. Appalachian State University professor Howard Neufeld said it's an old wives' tale that if you get a lot of rainfall in the summer it dilutes the fall color, the Asheville Citizen Times reports.