Battle Lines: Warring views on ethics, economics of military manufacturing
Volume
27
/ Issue 25
Cover Design Credit:
Scott SouthwickCover Photography Credit:
Pratt & Whitney
Ethics and economic development have been thrown into conflict by opponents of Buncombe County's $27 million incentive to aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney — a division of weapons supplier Raytheon Technologies. On the cover: A technician works on a jet turbine at one of Pratt & Whitney's facilities.
arts
Local arts leaders spotlight creators to watch in 2021
Local arts leaders in various mediums identify up-and-coming or underseen peers that readers should be on the lookout for in 2021.Asheville Fringe Arts Festival embraces digital format
The festival’s 19th edition features shows designed for online presentation, plus a few socially distanced outdoor events.food
Mask rage, other challenges create stress for hospitality workers
In a beleaguered industry, workers and business owners deal with a host of challenges from unstable finances to rude and unreasonable customers.Asheville Restaurant Week returns
With an emphasis on takeout specials, the ninth annual event runs Jan. 19-25.living
Wellness in brief: Dogwood Health Trust shifts board makeup
Retired Rear Adm. Richard Houck of Transylvania County, attorney Fred Jones of Macon County and Bishop José McLoughlin of Henderson County will join the board of Western North Carolina's largest…news
Total individual donations grow 65% in annual campaign for good
Mountain Xpress’ 2020 Give!Local campaign to raise funds and awareness for 44 community nonprofits wrapped up on Dec. 31 as the most successful to date. The sixth annual effort saw…Controversial choices: Debating the Pratt & Whitney project
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners and other supporters say jobs at the aerospace manufacturing plant will provide opportunities for workers to improve their standards of living. Critics say those…SNAP incentives boost market sales for local farmers
Market managers and vendors at the markets participating in the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project's Double SNAP initiative, which matches Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits dollar-for-dollar on edible items, saw SNAP…Campbell discusses next steps on Asheville street renaming, police budget
As Asheville takes steps to reckon with its long history of systemic racism and economic inequity, local business owners are wondering what impacts the city’s ambitious initiatives will have on…Council likely to adopt new rules, definitions for Civil Service Board
Currently, the body reviews promotional criteria for Asheville police and fire staff and hears certain employee grievances. If adopted, the rules would outline a two-part test to determine if a…opinion
Letter: Dating hopeful missed the memo on women
"It’s dark times, but maybe if he stops thinking of women in terms of 'butter faces,' one of us females will finally agree to be his pen pal."Letter: Expulsion from Congress
"My hope is that when they start looking for people to charge in the aftermath of the events in Washington, they follow the trail right to the door of Madison…Letter: Failing to find humor in dating story
"I’m surprised I need to say this, but you can’t compare dating in NYC to dating in Asheville. They’re Big Apples and Orange Peels."Letter: A parent’s frustration at Asheville City Schools
"I feel that they have failed our children and their families, in keeping the children virtual for almost a year now."Unnoticed
Local restaurants and their employees’ lives are being destroyed by government mandates
"Hospitality and culinary professionals are being mandated and regulated out of business for the sake of optics and at the senseless sacrifice of hardworking people and their families."Letter: Cawthorn has already disqualified himself from Congress
"By Jan. 6, he was busy denouncing the constitutional election process, advocating the overthrow of the presidential election and helping to incite a deadly attack on the U.S. Congress."Cash, cars, and conversions