The county’s Agricultural Advisory Board and Land Conservation Advisory Board are seeking $384,000 to fund six easement projects. Five easements would protect farmland in Asheville, Barnardsville, Leicester and Weaverville. The remaining project would help Hendersonville-based nonprofit Conserving Carolina secure an easement for Camp Woodson in Black Mountain.
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From CPP: Broadband boost planned for 1,000 Buncombe County homes
Rural northern Buncombe County is the first area in the county to see the result of the American Rescue Plan Act’s quest to expand reliable broadband access. Buncombe is one of 81 NC counties that have received state funding to improve internet service.
Does pushing students to succeed foster achievement or cause harm?
“The time has come to ask ourselves: Why do we push children to succeed so tirelessly? And what does ‘success’ mean, anyway?”
From CPP: Where is federal COVID-19 relief going in NC? Most WNC counties opt to pay public employees’ salaries.
Federal Treasury data shows that about half of the American Rescue Plan Act funds spent in WNC counties has been used on staff salaries. Nearly $98 million is still available to be allocated.
Earth Day 8 walk away with a win
“We sincerely felt that we had no other recourse than to commit this act of civil resistance because of the secrecy and complicity of elected officials and the business community in making this deal.”
Forest Service rejects MountainTrue’s bid to save old-growth forest
“We were willing to match any price bid on the value of the cut timber in exchange for what would amount to a 100-year carbon lease on those acres.”
How citizen resistance derailed plan to dam the French Broad
“The more than a thousand citizen activists who came together as the Upper French Broad Defense Association, bolstered by staunch support from state Rep. Charles Taylor, forced TVA to abandon its plans in 1972.”
From NC Health News: Have you heard of the Healthy Opportunities Pilot? No? You’re not alone
While many see NC Medicaid’s new preventative health program as full of potential, they worry a lack of knowledge about the program paired with its complicated referral process could undermine its impact.
New art exhibit raises heavy questions about the future
Local artist Skip Rohde raises questions on topics such as war and gentrification in his latest exhibit, What May Be.
From CPP: Plumbing, truck driving, construction skills get boost from Haywood ARPA funds
Haywood County is currently the only mountain county using federal pandemic relief dollars to support local community colleges.
Downtown dodged a mall, but substation now looms
“What may have initially made sense on a map fails completely in reality.”
The Big Secret Family Festival debuts at Salvage Station
Taking place Sunday, July 17, 2 p.m. at Salvage Station, the inaugural Big Secret Family Festival features The Secret Agency with Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, Empire Strikes Brass, Snake Oil Medicine Show with Caroline Pond and Eastern Band Cherokee storyteller and cultural ambassador John John Grant.
From NC Health News: Asheville airport therapy dogs help anxious flyers and workers
From dentist offices to chemotherapy units, health care facilities have long embraced the use of therapy dogs. Airports are starting to see how their guests might also benefit from these pooches.
From The Center Square: Federal funds will replace Asheville airport’s control tower
The $15 million grant for Asheville Regional is one of only two grants awarded to build a completely new air traffic control tower; the other is in Peoria, Ill.
From CPP: Sustaining local farmers with creative ARPA funds application
The nonprofit Mills River Farm Market has been helping farmers and consumers by doubling amount of SNAP benefits used to purchase locally grown food. The town of Mills River is now using ARPA funds to help sustain that practice.
WENOCA chapter endorsements are an environmental disgrace
“So I urge all voters to undertake the due diligence that will enable them to see through the environmentally destructive charade for which the Sierra Club is providing political cover.”
From CPP: Objections to proposed plan for WNC national forests delay process
The U.S. Forest Service’s proposed land management plan for the Pisgah and Nantahala forests has drawn thousands of objections, leading to an extension of time to review concerns. The Forest Service chief now calls the plan revision process, which took more than a decade, unsustainable.
From CPP: Why small NC mountain city is taking on nation’s largest hospital system
Brevard officials hope other Western North Carolina local governments will join the city’s lawsuit alleging monopolistic practices by HCA Healthcare. None have, but none say they have ruled it out.
From CPP: How can we save NC forests?
On June 7, Carolina Public Press held a free and open virtual event with a panel of experts to discuss threats to the future of public forests in the state, including climate change. A recording of the event is linked to this story.
Increased logging will benefit our national forests
“Amid constant change, our forests desperately need intentional manipulations and disturbances. Sure, left alone, Mother Nature will reset these lands for us: But it will be done through ice storms, wildfires and catastrophic, random events.”
Local, statewide nonprofits jump-start biotech sector in WNC
Local life science companies recently received a significant boost through the NC Bioneer Venture Challenge, sponsored by the N.C. Biotechnology Center and supported by nonprofit partners such as WNC-based Venture Asheville and Hatch Innovation Hub.