Red Cross issues emergency call for blood and platelet donations

Press release from American Red Cross: ASHEVILLE, N.C. (July 5, 2016) — The American Red Cross has issued an emergency call for blood and platelets, urging all eligible donors to give now to replenish an extremely low summer blood supply. Blood donations have fallen short of hospital needs for the past few months, resulting in about […]

APD requests assistance locating missing teen

Press release from Asheville Police Department: Asheville, NC (July 5, 2016): The Asheville Police Department is requesting public assistance locating Chazian Heath (9/16/2000). Chazain has been missing since June 25, 2016. He is approximately 5’5” tall, weighs between 165 and 180 pounds has black hair and brown eyes. The Asheville Police Department believes that he […]

Chamber celebrates strong year, recognizes member accomplish­ments

At the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting on June 30, area business folk mingled, munched and meditated as they considered the state of the local business community. Awards were given and a keynote address was heard. The Omni Grove Park Inn deftly managed the sold-out crowd, though filled parking decks presented some attendees with an opportunity for a brisk walk from surface lots to the ballroom.

Legislature passes bill on coal ash cleanup; Duke Energy free to leave ash in place indefinitely

Press release from N.C. Conservation Network: RALEIGH – The NC House of Representatives approved a coal ash bill that environmentalists are describing as a bailout and a giveaway to Duke Energy, which will no longer be required to excavate toxic coal ash from all of its waste sites across the state. H630 was approved in […]

Duke Energy’s planned power plant tied to fracking

Natural gas will dethrone coal as the fossil fuel generating most of WNC’s electricity when Duke Energy’s new Lake Julian plant goes online in 2020. But how does natural gas get to this area, and where does it come from? Though tracing the gas molecules to their source is tricky, Xpress found that much of the area’s gas supply comes from hydraulic fracturing, and new pipeline projects are in the works to bring more fracked gas into the region.

Area environmental groups put out call for action on proposed coal ash legislation

Three North Carolina environmental nonprofits are urging state residents to weigh in newly-proposed coal ash management legislation that the groups say would severely weaken coal ash cleanup efforts. MountainTrue, the Sierra Club and the N.C. League of Conservation Voters oppose the proposed legislation, which is being pushed quickly through legislative committees.

City Council remembers Isaac Coleman, approves Mills Gap apartments

City Council approved four rezoning requests at its regular meeting on June 28, including a 272-unit apartment complex on Mills Gap Road that generated considerable public opposition when it was first proposed. Developer Rusty Pulliam appeared to have won over many members of the community by adding traffic mitigation measures at the intersection of Mills Gap and Sweeten Creek roads, delaying construction until 2018 and by committing 15 percent of the units as affordable housing for 15 years.

Asheville Police conducting rapid deployment training at Isaac Dickson School

Press release from Asheville Police Department:   The Asheville Police Department, in partnership with the Asheville Fire Department and Buncombe County EMS, are participating in a rapid deployment exercise at the current Isaac Dickson Elementary School (90 Montford Avenue) today, June 28th, and tomorrow, June 29th, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. During this exercise […]

Duke Energy now seeks $240 million bond in NC WARN appeals case

Statement from NC WARN Director Jim Warren: Durham, NC – In one of the strangest regulatory cases in state history, a 45-day rubber-stamp approval of a $1.1 billion gas-fired power plant in Asheville has been swamped by the subsequent 120-day battle over our right to appeal the pro-utility regulators’ ruling, a fight with no end in […]

Ben Lovett hosts Synchronicity screening July 7 at Fine Arts Theater

Press release from Asheville FM: “Ben Lovett’s old-school synth score evokes the retro-futurist aesthetics of fondly remembered 1970s and early ’80s sci-fi films.” – Variety (June 24, 2016 – Asheville, NC) – 103.3 Asheville FM and Fine Arts Theatre join Moog Music, Harvest Records and Echo Mountain Studios in presenting a special event screening of […]