The Warrior Wellness Center, which opened in fall of 2022, is one of 34 school-based health centers — or SBHCs — operated by Blue Ridge Health around Western North Carolina, and the first of its kind in BCS.
Author: Greg Parlier
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BCSO returns downtown without formal partnership with APD
Inspired by a September letter from downtown businesses, which spurred numerous meetings between business owners and county leaders, Sheriff Quentin Miller deputized Chief Deputy Herbert Blake to put together a proposal to return deputies downtown on weekend nights. Patrols started Jan. 26, and are currently scheduled to run through June on Fridays and Saturdays, 10 p.m.-2 a.m.
Westsiders want out of Woodfin
More than 30 residents who live on the west side of Woodfin showed up to send a message to Town Council on Feb. 1: “Let us go.”
County to consider conservation of more than 360 acres
If authorized, the county will spend $400,000 on two conservation easements — the first easements funded by the 2022 open space bonds, according to a staff presentation.
2024 Primary Voter Guide: Buncombe County Board of Commissioners District 1
In addition to the dizzying changes from redrawn district lines for the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, commissioner Jasmine Beach-Ferrara announced she would not seek reelection, creating one incumbent-free race.
2024 Primary Voter Guide: U.S. House 11
Two years ago, the primary race for District 11 between then-state Sen. Chuck Edwards of Hendersonville and the controversial U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn, drew national attention. This time around, the primary between now-U.S. Rep. Edwards and Christian Reagan has been relatively quiet. Edwards, who owns multiple McDonald’s fast-food franchises, did not respond to requests from Xpress […]
Reparations commission hears preliminary results of harm audit
The Stop the Harm Audit’s key overall findings revolve around the availability of data, equity training, affordable housing and hiring practices, according to the presentation by Adrian Carter, project lead and founder of the Carter Development Group.
Residents pack gym to discuss future of ACS middle schools
Asheville City Schools announced in November that the district may have to co-locate or merge its two middle schools, reminding some of the controversial closure of Asheville Primary School in 2021.
Read To Succeed strives to close Asheville’s racial opportunity gap
After refocusing its mission on closing Asheville’s racial opportunity gap, Read To Succeed has seen tremendous growth in recent years with the help of new co-executive director Ashley Allen, a veteran teacher from Asheville City Schools.
Asheville school board workshops Parents’ Bill of Rights
The Asheville City Board of Education continues to rewrite its policies in an effort to limit what board members say would be undue harm to LGBTQ+ students caused by the state Parents’ Bill of Rights law passed last year.
Sheriff’s Office to start new downtown patrols Jan. 26
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved a $56,000 budget amendment 6-0 on Jan. 16 to fund a proposal from Sheriff Quentin Miller to send four deputies downtown between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
School board seeks more public input on new voting maps
The Buncombe County Board of Education doesn’t particularly like any of its options for new voting maps, as required by a law the N.C. General Assembly passed last fall. As a result, several attendance zones might see up to 30% of its population reassigned to other districts.
Sheriff’s Office requests funding for downtown patrols
The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office is seeking funding from the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners to add downtown patrols between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. on weekend nights. The requests for either $56,000 or $88,000 is a revised version of a proposal unveiled at a Dec. 5 commissioners meeting, just before Asheville Police Chief David […]
Superintendents reflect on 2023 and the year ahead
Xpress sits down with both district leaders to break down 2023’s challenges as well as their visions for the year ahead for local public schools.
Buncombe considers a pay raise for elections director
The Buncombe County Board of Elections thinks Director of Elections Corinne Duncan deserves a pay raise, but county staff isn’t so sure. The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners said they need more time to consider the request for a less than $6,000 raise — about 5% — and put it off until its Jan. 16 meeting.
Year in Review: Education, equity and rising costs define quality of life in 2023
Pay for educators, equity for underrepresented populations and housing affordability, as well as nationwide inflation, underpinned efforts to improve the quality of life for Asheville-area residents in 2023, as expressed by Xpress’ Year in Review survey of engaged citizens and leaders.
WTF: How a library gets its books
Some parents have made frequent appearances at school board meetings to argue that various books — usually related to sexual health or depicting LGBTQ+ students and families — don’t belong in libraries accessible to children. The latest edition of Xpress’s WTF — “Want the Facts?” — series looks at the policies and procedures that determine how books are chosen for school and county libraries.
LGBTQ+ church leaders share reflections on service
The Rev. Sarah Hulbert says the same God that made her who she is also called her to the priesthood. She is disappointed in those who use the Bible to discriminate against minority communities because of what she says is an improper conflation of politics and Christian teachings.
How redistricting affects local candidates and voting districts
The state will operate on its third set of maps in four years for the U.S. House, N.C. Senate and N.C. House districts after the N.C. General Assembly passed redrawn lines Oct. 25.
Asheville school board delays vote on Parents’ Bill of Rights policies
Board Chair George Sieburg said board members wanted to explore how to show support to teachers and students in the policies beyond what has been provided by the N.C. School Boards Association.
Buncombe schools passes new Parents’ Bill of Rights policies
After collecting a month’s worth of feedback from parents, teachers and community members, Board member Rob Elliot said the board did its best to mirror the community’s wishes in the policies while still following state law.