Commissioner Terri Wells is seeking reelection in 2024, representing the newly drawn District 2.
Buncombe teachers seek better pay, bigger voice
The Buncombe County Association of Educators delivered a three-pronged request to the Buncombe County Board of Education at its April 11 meeting that had the support of nearly 1,200 teachers and more than 100 community allies.
Police officers struggle to afford Asheville addresses
Roughly 86% of Asheville Police officers live outside of the city limits, according to Asheville Police Department spokesman Samantha Booth.
County to implement language access plan
Buncombe joined representatives from eight other municipalities and counties around the state to form a language access collaborative, which met throughout 2023 to develop a language access plan.
Sustaining community: A conversation with local candidate Bruce O’Connell
Bruce O’Connell is running as an unaffiliated candidate for Buncombe County Board of Commissioners District 2.
WTF?: How Buncombe conducts property reappraisals
The county derives 62% of its more than $400 million budget from property taxes, which relies on the accurate assessment of thousands of properties, a process that happens every four years in Buncombe County. State law requires counties to perform reappraisals at least once every eight years.
Sustaining community: A conversation with local candidate Paul Benjamin
Paul Benjamin, a Republican, is running for Buncombe County Board of Commissioners District 1.
Business, nonprofit roundup: WNC Career Expo coming April 17
Employers will have the opportunity to interview candidates and make employment offers on the spot, and employment experts from NCWorks Career Centers will also offer free interview and resume preparation and support.
Council weighs tax increase, budget cuts to fund pay raises
Asheville City Council learned during an April 9 budget work session that a 4.11% pay raise for city employees next fiscal year would drive the city’s undesignated general fund balance below its preferred minimum.
Veterans Healing Farm searches for new site in Henderson County
The Veterans Healing Farm is seeking to raise $5 million to purchase a new location and expand its offerings year-round.
Sustaining community: A conversation with local candidate Jennifer Horton
Jennifer Horton, a Democrat, is running for Buncombe County Board of Commissioners District 1.
Dancing days: The forgotten history of the Kenilworth Hippodrome
Popular antiques store started as a swinging dance hall in the 1920s.
Sustaining community: A conversation with local candidate Van Duncan
In February, former Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan surpassed the 8,295 signatures required to get on this year’s ballot for chair of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. Duncan, a one-time Democrat who served as sheriff from 2006-18, is running as an unaffiliated candidate.
McCormick Field at 100: 10 memorable moments at the historic stadium
Asheville’s McCormick Field officially opened 100 years ago this week. To commemorate the anniversary, Xpress takes a look back at 10 of the more memorable moments in the history of the venerable ballpark: Everything from Franklin Roosevelt and NASCAR races to Kevin Costner, Cal Ripken, Jr. and Nelly.
Sustaining community: A conversation with local candidate Parker Sloan
Incumbent Buncombe County Commissioner Park Sloan will run in an uncontested race for this District 3 seat. Sloan joined the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners in 2020, where he serves as chair of the newly formed Buncombe County Climate and Environment Committee.
School library book bans come to Buncombe
Until recently, local school districts had largely avoided the national wave of book bans. Despite some activists making noise in local school board meetings last summer, there had been no formal requests to remove books from school libraries in Asheville City or Buncombe County schools. But by November, 20 books had been challenged by a group of parents at Enka High School.
Buncombe County seeks to join N.C. Attorney General’s HCA lawsuit
Buncombe County filed a motion to intervene in N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein’s lawsuit against HCA Healthcare and Mission Health. The county seeks more than $3 million in damages from HCA and Mission.
A state title for Cherokee Lady Braves basketball team is a win for whole region
The championship game was a larger-than-life community affair. The team represents the only high school on the Qualla Boundary, the home of the federally recognized tribe of the Eastern Band of Cherokee.
County advances affordable housing development on Coxe Avenue
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 on April 2 to invite private developers to partner on a $59.1 million complex for 200 affordable units at 50 and 52 Coxe Ave., directly across from the Asheville Regional Transit bus station and Rabbit Rabbit music venue.
Sustaining community: A conversation with local candidate Amanda Edwards
Democrat Amanda Edwards announced her bid for chair of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners in October, where she currently serves as a commissioner for District 3. If elected in November, Edwards would become the first female chair.
Community members outraged by school-supply dumpster incident
The biggest sting seemed to be the timing: The dumpster in front the former Asheville Primary School arrived one day after the Asheville City Board of Education board voted to close Montford North Star Academy.