Ingles Markets, the Black Mountain-based grocery chain, suffered $35 million to $55 million in property and inventory losses from Tropical Storm Helene, the company announced Tuesday.
Insurance is expected to cover $10 million to $15 million of that, according to a news release, leaving the company with up to $40 million in losses.
The storm caused significant damage to Ingles’ distribution center in hard-hit Black Mountain and several of its 198 stores across the Southeast. Four stores – in Swannanoa, Morganton, Newland and Spruce Pine – remain closed and are not expected to open for three to nine months.
Some investors had feared worse news for Ingles after national news images revealed devastating flooding and destruction. The longer-term impact on the company may not be known for months when sales are reported.
Ingles’ massive distribution center in Black Mountain took a serious blow from Helene, including damage to the railroad tracks in front of the building. // Watchdog photo by John Boyle
Many grocery stores throughout the region were closed for days following the storm. Asheville lacked power or water for weeks, and stores that did reopen had limited hours and availability of items like meats and deli foods.
On Oct. 7, 10 days after the storm, a worker at the North Asheville Ingles, still without power, greeted customers, “Cash only, and no ice.”
An Ingles spokeswoman did not respond to a request from Asheville Watchdog for comment.
The losses reported by the company are “on the lower end of what it could have been given the destruction,” said Justin McAuliffe, an analyst at GAMCO Investors Inc. of New York, an Ingles stockholder.
As of the end of June, Ingles had $355 million in cash, McAuliffe said, “so I think this seems like, for sure, a manageable sort of financial impact for them.”
Video footage and aerial images showed the Ingles distribution center partially underwater after the Sept. 27 storm dumped record rainfall, swelled rivers to unprecedented levels, and caused deadly landslides and flooding across the region.
Employee killed in storm
At Ingles’ Black Mountain headquarters, “we had loss of power, critical infrastructure, transport vehicles, inventory, and yes even loss of life,” the company said in an Oct. 2 Facebook post.
Gabriel Gonzalez had gone to work in driving rain at the Ingles distribution center near the Swannanoa River when floodwaters swept him away, according to the Catholic News Herald. Gonzalez’ co-workers called him “the happy one,” the article said, because he was always singing as he loaded tractor-trailers for the regional grocery store chain.
Ingles’ investors and financial analysts watched the aftermath of the storm from afar, trying to assess the damage to the company with stores in many areas of Helene’s path.
“It was a huge tragedy,” said McAuliffe. “I was trying to kind of piece together information from social media and videos of different locations.”
Ingles’ stock price fell 18 percent from the month before the storm as news of the devastation spread, McAuliffe said.
The stock price, $62 as of Tuesday, was down $12 from Sept. 26.
The property and inventory losses, which Ingles cautioned could change “due to the complexity and preliminary nature of the information currently available to us,” represents a one-time loss.
The company could see additional losses in sales from the closed stores and others operating at reduced capacity over the next two quarters, McAuliffe said.
“A larger question is just sort of the general economy of the communities that Ingles is in,” he said. “All of the businesses in the region, how quickly does the local economy kind of ramp up?”
Ingles said in the news release that its distribution center “is fully operational and has returned to normal operations.”
“Our thoughts are with everyone impacted in our communities who lost lives, loved ones, homes and access to basic necessities,” the release said. “We are proud to see our hard-working associates come together with neighbors and local resources to continue the Ingles commitment of serving our customers and communities.”
Asheville Watchdog is a nonprofit news team producing stories that matter to Asheville and Buncombe County. Sally Kestin is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter. Email skestin@avlwatchdog.org. The Watchdog’s reporting is made possible by donations from the community. To show your support for this vital public service go to avlwatchdog.org/support-our-publication/.
SUMMARY: A scientist reflecting on the politicization of science warns that ideological influence undermines objectivity, breeds mistrust, and hampers public understanding. The FY2026 budget proposal cut NIH funding by about 40%, saving taxpayers $18 billion, but only 1.5% of the total federal budget, while increasing defense spending by 13%. These cuts severely impact states like North Carolina, where science drives $2.4 billion in tax revenue and thousands of jobs. The cuts target indirect costs vital for research infrastructure and diversity efforts, mistakenly seen as ideological rather than essential scientific practices. The author calls for unity to prioritize facts over politics and protect scientific progress for societal and economic health.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-06-15 02:01:00
North Carolina’s U.S. House members voted along party lines on two Republican-backed bills: the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (H.R. 1), which cuts \$1.6 trillion in government spending, and the “Rescissions Act of 2025” (H.R. 4), which eliminates \$9.4 billion from entities like USAID and public broadcasting. Republicans called it a purge of waste, citing spending on drag shows and foreign projects. Democrats criticized the cuts as harmful and symbolic, calling the effort fiscally irresponsible. H.R. 1 passed 215-214; H.R. 4 passed 214-212. No Democrats supported either. A few Republicans broke ranks and voted against their party on each bill.
(The Center Square) – North Carolinians in the U.S. House of Representatives were unwavering of party preference for two bills now awaiting finalization in the Senate.
Republicans who favored them say the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, known also as House Resolution 1, slashed $1.6 trillion in waste, fraud and abuse of government systems. The Rescissions Act of 2025, known also as House Resolution 4, did away with $9.4 billion – less than six-tenths of 1% of the other legislation – in spending by the State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Corp. for Public Broadcasting (PBS, NPR), and other entities.
Democrats against them say the Department of Government Efficiency made “heartless budget cuts” and was an “attack on the resources that North Carolinians were promised and that Congress has already appropriated.”
Republicans from North Carolina in favor of both were Reps. Dr. Greg Murphy, Virginia Foxx, Addison McDowell, David Rouzer, Rev. Mark Harris, Richard Hudson, Pat Harrigan, Chuck Edwards, Brad Knott and Tim Moore.
Democrats against were Reps. Don Davis, Deborah Ross, Valerie Foushee and Alma Adams.
Foxx said the surface was barely skimmed with cuts of “$14 million in cash vouchers for migrants at our southern border; $24,000 for a national spelling bee in Bosnia; $1.5 million to mobilize elderly, lesbian, transgender, nonbinary and intersex people to be involved in the Costa Rica political process; $20,000 for a drag show in Ecuador; and $32,000 for an LGBTQ comic book in Peru.”
Adams said, “While Elon Musk claimed he would cut $1 trillion from the federal government, the recissions package amounts to less than 1% of that. Meanwhile, House Republicans voted just last month to balloon the national debt by $3 trillion in their One Big Ugly Bill. It’s fiscal malpractice, not fiscal responsibility.”
House Resolution 1 passed 215-214 and House Resolution 4 went forward 214-212. Republican Reps. Warren Davidson of Ohio and Thomas Massie of Kentucky were against the One Big Beautiful Bill and Republican Reps. Mark Amodei of Nevada, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Nicole Malliotakis of New York and Michael Turner of Ohio were against the Rescissions Act.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The article presents a straightforward report on the partisan positions and voting outcomes related to two specific bills, highlighting the contrasting views of Republicans and Democrats without using loaded or emotionally charged language. It neutrally conveys the Republicans’ framing of the bills as efforts to cut waste and reduce spending, alongside Democrats’ critique of those cuts as harmful and insufficient fiscal discipline. By providing direct quotes from representatives of both parties and clearly stating voting results, the content maintains factual reporting without promoting a particular ideological stance. The balanced presentation of arguments and absence of editorializing indicate a commitment to neutrality rather than an intentional partisan perspective.
SUMMARY: Fort Bragg soldiers joined thousands in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary on June 14, coinciding with Flag Day and President Trump’s birthday. The event featured an elaborate parade down Constitution Avenue, showcasing the Army’s evolution—from muskets to advanced technology like robots and aircraft. More than a thousand Fort Bragg soldiers participated, including Sergeant Brian Lieberman, honored for saving a girl’s life. Attendees expressed deep respect for veterans and soldiers, emphasizing the Army’s sacrifices. The celebration included interactive exhibits, senior leadership presence, and cake-cutting ceremonies, marking a historic and patriotic milestone for the military community.
There was a lot of patriotism from people who came to witness this historic event.
