The Gig Is Up: Self-employed wait for benefits
Volume
26
/ Issue 42
Cover Design Credit:
Scott SouthwickCover Photography Credit:
Cindy Kunst
Prior to COVID-19, North Carolina’s unemployment program had not covered people who worked for themselves. But on April 24, the state began accepting applications from gig economy workers. Xpress speaks with local self-employed community members about how they’re navigating the unemployment benefits process and the larger challenge of making ends meeting during the economic downturn.
arts
Smart Bets: ACT TV
Asheville Community Theater has debuted six creative online video series, adding new episodes each week.Smart Bets: Lyric and April B. & The Cool
Downtown After 5 goes digital to kick off its 2020 concert series with a pair of local bands.Local author Marvin J. Wolf examines soldiers’ lives after Vietnam
In his latest book, "They Were Soldiers: The Sacrifices and Contributions of Our Vietnam Veterans," local author Marvin J. Wolf interviews 48 Vietnam veterans, including Oliver Stone and Colin Powell,…Spaceman Jones launches ‘Smoke Break’ video podcast from quarantine
“I’d been looking at how to expand what I do, because I’m always bugged by ideas,” says Davaion Bristol. Launching “Smoke Break” as a video podcast “gave me another outlet…food
Beer Scout: Breweries focus on R & D amid COVID-19 challenges
New products continue to enter the market as local breweries strive to remain innovative.Local meat providers find increased consumer demand
As retailers face potential shortages of large-scale commodity meats, Asheville consumers look to local farms and butchers.Chow Chow board postpones culinary festival to September 2021
“It was an extremely tough decision,” says Chow Chow board of directors president Katie Button. “We’re determined to be back better than ever next year."living
Slow Food Asheville celebrates okra with Heritage Food Project
The okra selected for the 2020 project, Aunt Hettie’s Red, boasts both regional roots and modern acclaim. Last September, the variety was crowned the best of 54 in “The Single…news
Hispanic family tests positive for COVID-19
No one ever plans on getting sick, says Lucy Ortiz, a mother of six in Henderson County. Four members of her family have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, including her…Asheville Archives: City confronts the latest influenza outbreak, 1920
As 1920 began, so too did the city's latest bout of influenza. An initial six cases quickly skyrocketed to 232. Once again, the city was confronted by a highly contagious…Who will benefit from local COVID-19 business relief?
Funds supported with tax money from Buncombe County, the city of Asheville and the Tourism Development Authority are being managed by the nonprofit Mountain BizWorks. Because of this arrangement, government…Therapy in the time of COVID-19
Clinical social worker Carol Young Wood has shifted most of her therapy sessions online; however, she still meets with a handful of clients in-person. The impacts of COVID-19 dominate most…Biz in brief: Locals only in Buncombe lodging for now, Chamber releases legislative agenda
Buncombe hotels can now host more visitors — as long as they have an 828 area code. The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce has announced a coronavirus-inflected legislative agenda, and…Local resident documents COVID-19
Local resident Nicora Gangi is on a mission to photograph the impact of COVID-19 on the city’s urban landscape and residents.Getting unemployment benefits another challenge for gig economy workers
Like most states, North Carolina was unprepared when unemployment claims skyrocketed as COVID-19 cases shut down large swaths of the state’s economy. When the crisis began, no benefits were available…McGrady notes political differences on face coverings
'I had to laugh when I heard a staffer quip that he never expected wearing or not wearing a mask would become a partisan fashion statement,' observes state Rep. Chuck…Pandemic left graduating high school seniors no time to say goodbye
Eligh Ros, a dual-enrollment 12th grader at Martin L. Nesbitt Jr. Discovery Academy, is on track to graduate as part of the class of 2020 with both a high school…From CPP: HCA files first annual report since acquiring Mission
On May 1, Greg Lowe, president of HCA’s North Carolina Division, shared the Nashville, Tenn.-based health care giant’s summary of its first-year performance with four parties.Buncombe Republicans claim exclusion from COVID-19 process
As they also had argued during an April 16 special meeting, Republicans Joe Belcher, Anthony Penland and Robert Pressley said they continued to be left out of key decisions about…opinion
Letter: Protect democracy with voting reforms
"In order to protect our democracy, we must address these issues and go even further to allocate $4 billion in federal funding for states and mandate the implementation of reforms…Letter: A COVID-19 general strike
"Workers of the world, rise in virus crisis unity!"Letter: Vote with cannabis legalization in mind
"We’re going to the polls in November with cannabis legalization in mind, and that’s why we’ll be voting Sen. Thom Tillis out of office."Letter: Time for a gas tax hike
"It would have the added bonus of helping out our air and climate, too."Letter: Animal-free diet also helps the planet
"As animal agriculture is one of the largest contributors of human-made greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation and water pollution, an animal-free diet would have been another at-home opportunity on Earth Day."Alice’s empty restaurant
COVIDtown Crier: May 13, 2020
New guidelines for safe outdoor exercise are released, plus a handy visual guide to the practicality of famous masks.Hive minded