Saturday marks one year since Hurricane Helene tore through Western North Carolina, leaving widespread devastation and billions of dollars in damage. While some towns have made steady recovery progress, others are having a painfully slow comeback.

Western North Carolina

One year after Hurricane Helene caused widespread devastation in Western North Carolina, recovery remains uneven across the region. While some towns have made significant progress, others, such as Swannanoa, continue to struggle with visible storm damage, unreopened businesses, and unmet critical needs.

Residents in Swannanoa report that recovery resources have been directed toward more tourist-centric areas, leaving their community to rely on local efforts for cleanup and support. Essential services like the local grocery store and post office remain closed, forcing residents to travel long distances for basic needs. Despite these challenges, community members have come together to provide mutual aid and support, with hopes of gradual improvement as businesses begin to reopen.

Scars from Hurricane Helene linger in North Carolina

Today marks one year since Helene tore through Western North Carolina, leaving widespread devastation and billions of dollars in damage. Now while some towns have made steady progress in their recovery and others, the scars are still visible. And as CBS's Janet Shamlian reports, the comeback is painfully slow. From the air, Swannanoa shines, like a jewel in the mountains. But up close, the scars of Helene linger, piles of debris marking the path of the storm. And so we know this was a big open wound, and so we said, let's get the community together and do something about it. Recovery here has been slower than in places like Asheville. Do you feel forgotten here? Yes, absolutely. Why do you think that recovery has lagged here? I think that a lot of resources have gone to where tourism is more popular, and Swannanoa is not that place. Jody and Steve Dunning are restaurateurs, who lately feel more like commercial painters, making repairs themselves to the Okey Dokey smokehouse, left by the storm's floodwaters in ruins. What about the state, the federal response? Has it been adequate? Probably on a larger level that we're not aware of. But that's not something that we've seen. That's not something that our neighbors see. A year later, critical needs are unmet in Swannanoa. The grocery store has yet to reopen. One of the other inconveniences, the post office here in Swannanoa never reopened. If you need to mail a package, it is now a 26-mile round trip to Asheville, if you have a car. What are the challenges that remain one year after? Big challenges, loss of affordable rental housing, loss of access to food. We need access to transportation, medical services. There's debris everywhere. And that's why the people of Swannanoa have turned to each other, from clearing rubble to providing free fresh produce and eggs from a weekly mobile farmer's market. Jeanette Sanchez, who is still out of her home, says the hope is homegrown. I think there's more community involvement. I think we talked to our neighbors, but now we know our neighbors. Despite the obstacles, every piece of debris that's removed paves a path to a new milestone. For the Dunnings, that will come next month, when they reopen their doors. What is it going to be like when the two of you are back behind that counter serving a barbecue lying out the door? Yeah. It'll feel really good. Yeah. One town leaning on its greatest resource, each other. Jeanette Chamblee in CBS News, Swannanoa, North Carolina.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy slammed Russia for the new wave of attacks, which killed at least four in Kyiv, including a child, and accused them of deliberately targeting civilian positions to incite fear and terror. At least 70 others were injured.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

At least four killed as Russia launches major offensive on Kyiv

An Iranian lawmaker says Tehran is considering withdrawing from the nuclear treaty over reimposed UN sanctions, triggered by France, Germany and the UK, noting that parliament will also deliberate, on a later date, on whether or not the country will pursue nuclear weapons.

Tehran

Iran may withdraw from nuclear treaty, lawmaker says

At least 36 people were killed and more than 50 injured on Saturday (September 27) in a stampede at a rally held by Tamil actor Vijay, who is campaigning for election, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu said.

Tamil Nadu

Dozens killed in political rally stampede in India

Hezbollah has commemorated one year since the death of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by Israel during their conflict. At a gathering in Beirut, the group's secretary-general Naim Qassem reaffirmed Hezbollah's refusal to disarm, despite ongoing Israeli attacks and a ceasefire agreement.

Beirut

Lebanon's Hezbollah refuses to disarm

Colombian President Gustavo Petro brushed off reports that his U.S. visa had been revoked, saying, “I don’t care.” The leader was filmed outside United Nations headquarters in New York, where he joined thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters during the General Assembly.

Manhattan

‘I don’t care’: Colombia’s Petro dismisses U.S. visa revocation

Surveillance video obtained by CBS News showed the moments a gunman shot at detainees and agents who were in a van at a Dallas ICE facility on Wednesday. One of the victim's pregnant wife also speaks out.

Dallas

Video shows gunman shooting at detainees, ICE agents

The Trump administration will ask the Supreme Court to decide the constitutionality of the president's executive order on the 14th Amendment, which seeks to curtail birthright citizenship, according to reports. Willie James Inman has the latest.

Washington

Supreme Court to decide on birthright citizenship

Powerful monsoon rains in the Southwest are blamed for several deaths in Arizona. The fast-rising water caused flash flooding and chaos. Meteorologist Andrew Kozak has the latest.

Globe

Deadly flooding in Arizona as intense weather sweeps across U.S

Dozens of people have been killed in Gaza on Saturday, as Israel's assault on Gaza City intensifies. In New York this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke about prominent U.S. allies formally recognizing a Palestinian state.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Middle East Conflict

Dozens killed in Gaza as Israel's assault intensifies

At least 36 people were killed and more than 50 injured in a stampede at a rally held by Tamil actor Vijay, who is campaigning for election, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu said.

Karur

According to the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, a store, ten retail outlets, two apartment buildings, and several non-residential premises were damaged.

Zaporizhzhia

Ukraine goes dark as Russian drone attacks damage facilities

A day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a fiery speech at the UN General Assembly, at least 44 people have been killed in attacks across Gaza. Ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza City are forcing more Palestinians to flee.

Trump talks of Israel-Gaza deal as IDF strikes refugee camp

U.S President Donald Trump has signed an executive order outlining the terms of a deal to sell TikTok’s American operation to a group of stateside investors. CBC’s Ashley Fraser breaks down the deal and what it could mean for the social media platform's algorithm.

Toronto

Global Tariffs

Breaking down Trump’s TikTok deal

UN sanctions on Iran that were lifted as part of the 2015 nuclear deal are set to come back in force, essentially killing the landmark agreement. The inability to find a common ground – on all sides - is raising fears of further confrontation.

Sanctions against Iran set to resume after UN vote

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly in New York City on Friday. The leader made defiant statements about the countries that recently recognized the Palestinian state, while U.N. delegates walked out.

New York

Netanyahu makes bold address as U.N. amid delegate walkouts, protests

UN sanctions are set to be reimposed on Iran on Saturday - after a failed bid by Russia and China to delay them. Only four countries voted in favour of the draft resolution.

UN set to reimpose sanctions on Iran on Saturday

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released more files turned over by the estate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Washington County

House Democrats release more Epstein files

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wore a QR code at the U.N. General Assembly linking to images of Hamas' Oct. 7 attack as Western nations move to recognize Palestine. Dozens of delegates walked out in protest.

Dozens of delegates walk out as Netanyahu speaks at U.N.

A court on Thursday (September 25) sentenced former French president Nicolas Sarkozy to five years in prison over a scheme for late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi to fund his 2007 presidential run.

Paris

Former French president Sarkozy sentenced to five years in prison

The U.S. Justice Department filed criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey on Thursday (September 25), in a dramatic escalation of President Donald Trump's retribution campaign against his political enemies.

Former FBI chief James Comey charged

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday new tariffs set to take effect next Wednesday, including a 100% tariff on pharmaceutical drugs. There will also be tariffs on a broad range of imported goods, such as kitchen cabinets, some furniture and trucks.

U.S. to impose new tariffs on pharmaceuticals, some furniture, trucks

US President Donald Trump has hosted his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House. The two leaders discussed Türkiye's long-disputed F-35 fighter jets, trade and energy ties as well as regional matters.

Istanbul

Trump hosts Erdogan as U.S. considers lifting ban on F-35 sales

Danish officials say a series of drone incursions they’re calling hybrid attacks at airports were carried out by ‘professional actors,’ and some analysts are pointing to Russia as a culprit. Russia has denied involvement.

Copenhagen

Russia denies involvement in drone flyovers at Danish airports

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has summoned hundreds of senior military officials to Virginia for an urgent gathering. The pentagon has provided very little details about the purpose of this meeting.

Quantico

Hegseth calls rare meeting of hundreds of senior military officers

Spain and Italy have sent naval vessels into the eastern Mediterranean to escort a flotilla of activists trying to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza. It’s a move that could set up tensions at sea and comes after the convoy says it was attacked by drones.

Madrid

Spain, Italy send navies to escort Gaza aid flotilla

Federal agents in Washington state have seized more than 50,000 counterfeit pills laced with carfentanil, a drug said to be 100 times more potent than fentanyl.

Centralia

Feds seize 50,000 pills laced with drug 100 times stronger than fentanyl

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the United Nations General Assembly virtually after the U.S. revoked visas for him and members of his delegation. CBS News' Olivia Gazis reports.

Mahmoud Abbas promises no Hamas in post-war Gaza government

The widow of one of the 60 passengers aboard the American Airlines regional jet involved in the deadly midair collision near D.C. in January has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against American Airlines, the FAA and the U.S. Army.

D.C. midair collision victim's family sues airline, FAA and Army

China led several countries in announcing new climate plans on Wednesday and offered a veiled rebuke of the U.S. president's anti-climate rhetoric a day earlier at the U.N. General Assembly.

Beijing

China sets new emissions goals after Trump rejects climate change

World leaders have launched an initiative, “Democracy Now,” on the sidelines of the UNGA to counter far-right extremism and defend multilateralism. As the UN faces skepticism, a new initiative by Brazil, Spain, Chile, Uruguay, and Colombia is gaining support among member states.

Breakdown