While each of the speakers at the meeting commended city leaders for taking steps to help Asheville’s homeless residents, some who were also residents at nearby apartment complexes voiced concern about the proposed shelter’s location.
New Stories
New exhibit chronicles South Slope and Southside history
The South Slope Neighborhood Association has created an exhibit of six weatherproof panels that chronicle important topics and people from far before the current food and beverage boom.
Asheville Printmakers unite for inaugural Invitational Group Show
The independent alliance of artists broadly define the medium of “the print” to encompass a wide range of processes and content, using creative approaches both traditional and experimental.
Blue Cross NC expands transgender health care coverage
Facial feminization surgery and voice lessons for transgender people are now covered by the largest health insurance provider in the state. On July 1, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina updated its policy to recognize these gender-affirming health care procedures as medically necessary. The national nonprofit Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund led […]
Green in brief: Cherokee establish framework for medical marijuana cultivation
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Council passed an ordinance on Aug. 5 allowing production and use of the crop, which the body had previously voted to decriminalize on May 6.
Staffing shortages continue to plague local restaurants
Editor’s note: Local restaurants continue to adjust operations based on health guidelines. Check individual websites for the latest updated requirements. Despite Gov. Roy Cooper’s May 14 executive order lifting all mandatory capacity and gathering limits, Sean Piper, owner of West Asheville’s Jargon, has kept his restaurant’s seating capacity at 50%. The decision is unrelated to […]
News in brief: Buncombe Homeowner Grant Program accepting applications
Buncombe County Homeowner Grant Program accepting applications Eligible homeowners in Buncombe County can now apply for the Buncombe County Homeowner Grant Program. The new initiative, funded by the county, city of Asheville and town of Woodfin, offers up to $500 in relief tied to the increase on a homeowner’s property tax bill. Grants are available […]
Secrecy surrounding Pratt & Whitney deal raises critical issues
“Does this mean the county commissioners were dealing in the dark, even down to the $27 million tax incentive package they gave Pratt & Whitney, a $20 billion company?”
Letter: Excellent care and professional service from Mission Hospital
“Despite the transitional hardships inherent in changes as large as what Mission Hospital has been experiencing, I found no evidence of any impact ‘on the street’ where the care is given …”
Around town: Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre returns to indoor shows
The Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre prepares to greet live audiences again. Plus: Panelists will discuss Asheville’s historic Shiloh community; Hendersonville gives an up-close look at its vehicles; and the Sourwood Festival returns.
What’s new in food: Noble Cider reimagines its downtown location
Noble Cider reinvents its downtown presence, plus ASAP’s Appalachian Farms Feeding Families program expands, a new tailgate market emerges in Leicester, Sunflower Diner shutters and more local food news.
Letter: Protect Crab Creek community from storage facility, overdevelopment
“Why sacrifice the majestic beauty of the Crab Creek community for 1,000 storage units that add no value to the community or environment?”
Letter: A shoutout to leaders returning to in-person only meetings
“When people are not in the same physical space, experiencing all the facial expressions, body postures and subtle tones of voice that others in the room are privy to, we don’t have a level playing field.”
Asheville floats zoning changes to boost dense development
The city’s urban centers initiative, as well as updates to open-space requirements for new projects, are meant to encourage denser development patterns, supporting less car-dependent communities and increasing the city’s tax base.
Letter: Who needs education on police interaction?
“Knowledge of this naiveté and how it shapes our actions is at the center of critical race theory. And who to better teach than the officers who, upon responding with wisdom and understanding, could improve community safety and still ‘go home to their own families, too.'”