New Stories
Amid funding uncertainty, BCS to request more from county government
The Buncombe County Board of Education passed an increased funding request of $13.5 million from the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners at its May 2 meeting based on a “vast number of assumptions and projections,” according to BCS Chief Financial Officer Tina Thorpe.
Three years after county, city discrimination ordinances, no complaint has led to finding, penalty
Both the city and county ordinances make it illegal for employers and business owners to discriminate based on any “difference in treatment based on race, natural hair or hairstyles, ethnicity, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, marital or familial status, pregnancy, veteran status, religious belief or non-belief, age, or disability.”
County continues negotiations with new trash hauler
Commissioners will consider a new seven-year contract with global waste management company FCC Environmental Solutions, which — if ultimately approved at a meeting later in May — will be the county’s first new hauler since WastePro was hired in 2009.
Highland Brewing turns 30
Oscar Wong and Leah Wong Ashburn reflect on the history of Asheville’s oldest brewery.
Area colleges tackle challenges, opportunities of AI in the classroom
Since public interest skyrocketed in 2022 after the launch of OpenAI’s chatbot, ChatGPT, area college officials have have been scrambling to educate themselves about a technology that could dramatically transform higher education over the next few years.
New book examines WNC’s violent past
“Violence spins in vicious cycles, and if you want to fully understand why these events in Morganton occurred, then you have to examine root causes that predate 1927,” says author and historian Kevin W. Young.
Community members fight for the future of Southside’s urban farm
A March 27 proposal to the board of commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville called for the demolition of Southside Community Farm to make way for a $200,000 outdoor youth play area. Hundreds of community members showed up to the April board meeting to voice their dissent.
What’s new in food: Old Fort welcomes a new winery
Euda Wine debuts with its own vintages, tasting room, patio and food options. Also in this week’s food news: New Moon Donuts, a Swannanoa home for Zella’s Deli, fresh-made tailgate market crêpes, an afternoon tea fundraiser and more.
Around town: City invites applicants for new public art installation
City replaces art in front of S&W, Webster unveils pavilion for May Day, Folkmoot hosts Latin American music celebration, Cherokee create remembrance archive and more!
Letter: Check the source for ‘extremist’ label
“The Moms for Liberty group, by today’s definitions, is certainly conservative in trying to protect young children from sex-related matters (many quite extreme) until they are more mature in their abilities to sort out reasonable choices, and they deal with those questions responsibly.”
Letter: Pick leaders who choose safety over ideology
“Let’s prioritize candidates who propose practical policies to ensure our city remains a safe, thriving place.”
Letter: Where is our land ethic?
“Let’s contact our elected officials and let them know that you value our natural resources, wish they would think more about habitat and consider these plans.”
Letter: More input needed on school library book bans
“Are educators the best people to decide what books to ban for student libraries? Absolutely not.”
Sustaining community: A conversation with Asheville City Council member Kim Roney
“There are lots of things we can’t do, but are we doing what we can?” asks Council member Kim Roney, who is up for reelection this year.