Xpress took a look at the hardest-hit departments at the city of Asheville and Buncombe County to learn how job openings might be impacting residents and what governments are doing to hire staff amid nationwide recruitment challenges.
Author: Brooke Randle
Showing 127-147 of 377 results
Merrimon ‘road diet’ to move forward after Council approval
The plan would reduce the section of the avenue between Midland Road and W.T. Weaver Boulevard from its current four-lane, two-way configuration to one lane in each direction, along with a center turn lane and bicycle lanes.
Council to consider rezoning for Patton Avenue Ingles
During their meeting of Tuesday, May 24, members of Asheville City Council will consider a conditional zoning request that would allow Ingles Markets to construct a grocery store, gas station and other retail space on the 14.45-acre site of a former Kmart.
Buncombe approves $17 minimum wage for county staff
The move comes after a two-year long examination of employee compensation across 16 other government agencies comparable to Buncombe County.
Nonprofit business model may offer stability to local newsrooms
Xpress sat down with the heads of two local nonprofit news organizations to learn how the business model compares to its for-profit cousin and whether the concept offers a sustainable solution to an industry struggling to hang on.
Commissioners approve $4.9M for pre-K expansion, affordable housing
The three applications were the first to be funded out of 105 projects that had been submitted in response to Buncombe County’s latest request for proposals for American Rescue Plan Act support, which closed April 12.
Buncombe County Board of Education meeting May 5
Press release from the Buncombe County Board of Education: The Buncombe County Board of Education will meet in regular session on May 5, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. in the Minitorium at 175 Bingham Road, Asheville. Board updates and closed session will begin at 4:00 p.m. in the Beaucatcher Room for the purpose of discussing confidential […]
Commissioners to consider $70M in bond referendums on November ballot
One referendum would authorize $30 million in borrowing for conservation projects while a second referendum would authorize $40 million in bonds for affordable housing efforts.
Council approves more funding for Ramada deal
Asheville City Council’s April 26 meeting brought a new wrinkle to the already shambolic process of establishing permanent supportive housing at an East Asheville Ramada Inn.
Spring clean: Asheville organizations, volunteers clean up downtown
After more than two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the city of Asheville was due for a spring cleaning. City government, along with area nonprofits, kicked off the first of four community cleanup efforts downtown April 18.
School board candidates stake out positions in first forum
Candidates elected to the board will help pick a new superintendent, address Asheville City Schools’ achievement and opportunity gaps between Black and white students and face a wave of resignations and declining financial reserves within the system.
Deaverview Apartments seeks zoning change for expansion
New construction at Deaverview Apartments, Asheville’s second-oldest public housing community, will consist of two three-story buildings and one four-story building containing 82 total mixed income units.
One year after freeze, farmers, scientists talk the future of WNC apples
The late freeze in spring 2021 caused millions of dollars in damages throughout the region, as well as price hikes and supply chain issues for many local farmers and distributors. How worried should they be about WNC’s tumultuous weather?
Council discusses budget priorities, concerns in work session
Members of Asheville City Council discussed transit, parking revenues, personnel costs and weighed funding options for the newly approved updates to Memorial Stadium.
Council to hear updates on boards and commissions proposal, reparations
Aside from voting on its consent agenda, Asheville City Council isn’t scheduled to take any action during its meeting of Tuesday, April 12.
Tourism survey reveals changing attitudes, long-standing issues
Negative sentiments regarding Asheville-area tourism appear to have ebbed since 2019, according to according to a new survey presented at the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority’s annual planning session March 25. While 65% of residents in 2019 believed that they couldn’t enjoy the city and its amenities because of visitors, only 45% said that they agreed with that viewpoint in 2022
Council outlines priorities in annual retreat
An exchange between protesters and Asheville City Council member Sandra Kilgore marked the start of Council’s March 17-18 retreat, where the elected officials heard feedback from top city staffers and plotted their approach to the coming year.
Six-lane track unanimously approved for Memorial Stadium
Neighborhood residents had been asking for a new track as part of renovations to Memorial Stadium since 2017, after Asheville voters approved a $74 million bond issue in 2016.
Wellness roundup: Dogwood releases 2021 annual report
In total, Dogwood approved 287 funding requests of the 354 grant applications in 2021. The nonprofit also reports that it added 21 new staff members to the organization.
Ingles pledges support for UNC Asheville Food Equity Initiative
Press release from UNC Asheville: Each Tuesday, on the University of North Carolina Asheville campus, the Food Equity Initiative (FEI) hosts a pop-up event on the Quad. The two-hour student-led event is a chance for students, faculty, and staff facing food insecurities to pick up non-perishable food supplies anonymously. Now, with the support of Ingles […]
Homelessness, safety rank as top downtown concerns
Safety and reducing criminal activity downtown closely followed homelessness among the top concerns. Survey respondents were asked to evaluate downtown in terms of how safe they felt. The average score was 3.5 out of 5 for perceived safety during the daytime, dropping to 1.9 out of 5 at night.