ASHEVILLE, N.C.
News in brief: Number of cost-burdened renters on the rise
Hendersonville neighborhood to receive free trees through local program The Hendersonville Tree Board’s NeighborWoods program will provide free trees to homeowners in the Green Meadows neighborhood in Hendersonville on Saturday, Oct. 19. The program, which has planted more than 200 trees in Hendersonville since 2010, aims to grow and maintain the city’s urban forest. A […]
Missing state data clouds ACS disparity analysis
Huge spreadsheets containing academic testing results for each public school district and individual school for the 2018-19 school year became available online in the first week of October. But when Xpress tried to use that information to assess Asheville City Schools’ recent progress in addressing huge disparities in the academic performance of white and black students, things got … complicated.
Farm Agent
ASHEVILLE, N.C. WNC Ag Center
Mission Health unveils new North Tower
As the Western North Carolina community prepares for its first looks inside the new $400 million Mission Health North Tower, Xpress learned about some of the features of the facility, from high-tech touches to local art.
No Vacancy
ASHEVILLE, N.C.
News briefs: Tourism input shared, Filipino American history celebrated
The results of a months-long public input process to gauge perceptions of the tourism industry on Buncombe County will be shared at a free event on Wednesday, Oct. 23. Southern Appalachians Highlands Conservancy announced it has protected 139 acres in the Beaverdam watershed in Haywood County, and the Better Buses Together campaign is urging local residents to advocate for increased transit funding.
Futurist charts course for Asheville and Buncombe County
As she wrapped up her work on the AVL Greater and AVL 5×5 2025 plans in late September, we chatted with futurist Rebecca Ryan about her upcoming encore keynote address at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce’s WomanUP gala on Thursday, Nov. 18, what makes Asheville and Buncombe County different and how we’ll know if the area is on track to make good on the new strategies.
Housing costs still rising despite stagnant wages
Down from 460 homes in November 2014, only 63 houses listed at less than $200,000 were available for sale in Buncombe County as of July 2019. Median rental costs in the area have also increased at a 5.4% annual rate over the same period.
Christopher Hickman’s controversial plea deal and what it means for Asheville
Community response is mixed over the recent plea deal for former Asheville police officer Christopher Hickman. What exactly will the next 12 months look like and how will the restorative justice process work? Advocates for the deal have high hopes, despite lacking a clear plan.
Starving Artists
ASHEVILLE, N.C.
Wise Women gather at Kanuga
“The focus of the conference is woman to woman, kind of kitchen to kitchen,” explains Byron Ballard, who will present a workshop on traditional Appalachian healing methods at this year’s Southeast Wise Women Herbal Conference at the Kanuga conference and retreat center near Hendersonville. “It’s about women being together in a women’s space and being free to talk, to do, to teach and to learn from each other.
Unusual therapies offer wellness with a difference
The Asheville area abounds with alternatives for adventurous healing journeys and opportunities to indulge your curiosity.
Costumed adventures allow locals to transcend time and space
Whether playing a role in an elaborate fantasy scenario or serving as historical interpreters, many adventurous souls in Western North Carolina say that dressing up as someone from another time and place helps transport them to a different reality.
Pros and Cons
ASHEVILLE, N.C.
Step Right Up
ASHEVILLE, .NC.
Job Opening
ASHEVILLE, N.C.
Work begins on I-26 widening
Beginning next week, contractors will begin installing roadside signs and safety barriers on an approximately 18-mile stretch of Interstate 26, the first step in a $534 million project that will add multiple lanes to the heavily trafficked road. The N.C. Department of Transportation anticipates that construction will wrap up by the summer of 2024.
Council viewpoints differ on impact of district elections on minority voters
Asheville City Council members clashed over whether a state-imposed district election system would negatively impact black voters during Sept. 24 meeting.
Biz briefs: Business Inclusion Office announces new name, office hours
The diversity of Western North Carolina’s business community comes through in this week’s business roundup. From a new luxury campground to equitable business contracting opportunities, check out what’s new.
Council members say no to new hotels for one year
Asheville City Council voted to halt hotel approvals for one year and will use the time to examine the impact of hotels on the community and develop new guidelines for hotel approval.