Citizen-Times: Asheville’s Larchmont Apartments largely welcomed

From the Asheville Citizen-Times: ASHEVILLE — When Mary Chakales’ mother passed away a few years ago, Chakales knew she needed to move to someplace less expensive than the North Asheville home she and her mother had shared. She found it at The Larchmont, an apartment complex developed by nonprofit Mountain Housing Opportunities near North Asheville’s […]

A plan for everything

Late last month, Asheville City Council passed the Haywood Road Vision Plan, a years-long effort by community members and city staff to outline the future of the corridor. It’s not a one-time event either: Such plans for different areas of the city are a main way city leaders hope to shape the Asheville of tomorrow, and it’s a plan they want to extend to more neighborhoods. Sometimes, however, these plans can also prove controversial.

Citizen-Times: retaining wall cracks worry Five Points neighbors

From the Asheville Citizen-Times: ASHEVILLE — A new retaining wall behind a project that has already rankled residents in the Five Points neighborhood is being repaired after the 15-foot-tall structure starting failing over the weekend. “I think they’re just putting a Band-Aid on it,” said Cindy Emanuele, who lives behind the project on Holland Street. […]

Carolina Public Press: in 8 WNC counties, child poverty reaching more than 30 percent

From Carolina Public Press: County-by-county reports on the health and safety of North Carolina’s children shows child poverty levels increased in all 18 westernmost counties between 2007 and 2012, with some — Clay and Polk, specifically — seeing childhood poverty increase by more than 50 percent in those five years. Compiled and recently released by […]

News and Observer: Nesbitt steps down as leader of Senate Democrats

From the News and Observer: Senate Democratic leader Martin Nesbitt, the voice of the opposition in a chamber dominated by Republicans, is stepping down from his post, citing a “recent medical diagnosis.” Raleigh state Sen. Dan Blue, a former House speaker, will take the helm in his absence, elected by a unanimous vote Monday, according […]

Renovated Montford Center gym reopens, celebration set for March 13

Full announcement from the city of Asheville: ASHEVILLE – Bring your A-game! The Montford Recreation Center gymnasium, closed for renovations since August, has reopened and reintroduced programming to the newly unveiled facility. The improvements include a new maple wood sports flooring system as well as competition-level fiberglass backboards with breakaway goals, wall pads and bleachers. […]

State issues notices of violation to five more Duke facilities

From the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources: RALEIGH — As part of its ongoing probe into Duke Energy’s coal ash ponds, state regulators late Friday issued notices of violation for five other Duke Energy power plants for failure to obtain a federally mandated National Pollution Discharge Elimination System, or NPDES, stormwater permit. […]

Carolina Public Press looks at who’s funding WNC congressional campaigns

From Carolina Public Press: Excerpt from “From PACs to individuals, who is funding Foxx, McHenry, Meadows campaigns’ coffers?” by James Harrison It’s no secret that winning a seat in Congress takes money — big money. But odds are you’ve never been to a political fundraiser, let alone donated to a candidate. So how did U.S. […]

Pack Library honors Lilian Exum Clement Stafford for Women’s History Month

From the Asheville Citizen-Times: ASHEVILLE — To mark Women’s History Month, the North Carolina Room at Pack Memorial Library will present a special exhibit and photographic display of Buncombe County native Lillian Exum Clement Stafford, the first woman to serve in the North Carolina General Assembly and the first elected female legislator in the South. […]