In February, former Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan surpassed the 8,295 signatures required to get on this year’s ballot for chair of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. Duncan, a one-time Democrat who served as sheriff from 2006-18, is running as an unaffiliated candidate.
New Stories
McCormick Field at 100: 10 memorable moments at the historic stadium
Asheville’s McCormick Field officially opened 100 years ago this week. To commemorate the anniversary, Xpress takes a look back at 10 of the more memorable moments in the history of the venerable ballpark: Everything from Franklin Roosevelt and NASCAR races to Kevin Costner, Cal Ripken, Jr. and Nelly.
Sustaining community: A conversation with local candidate Parker Sloan
Incumbent Buncombe County Commissioner Park Sloan will run in an uncontested race for this District 3 seat. Sloan joined the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners in 2020, where he serves as chair of the newly formed Buncombe County Climate and Environment Committee.
School library book bans come to Buncombe
Until recently, local school districts had largely avoided the national wave of book bans. Despite some activists making noise in local school board meetings last summer, there had been no formal requests to remove books from school libraries in Asheville City or Buncombe County schools. But by November, 20 books had been challenged by a group of parents at Enka High School.
John Garland Wells explores century-old murder in new prose poetry novella
The Asheville-based author’s “Hinterkaifeck” delves into the still-unsolved 1922 murder of the Gruber family in rural Bavaria.
Buncombe County seeks to join N.C. Attorney General’s HCA lawsuit
Buncombe County filed a motion to intervene in N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein’s lawsuit against HCA Healthcare and Mission Health. The county seeks more than $3 million in damages from HCA and Mission.
A state title for Cherokee Lady Braves basketball team is a win for whole region
The championship game was a larger-than-life community affair. The team represents the only high school on the Qualla Boundary, the home of the federally recognized tribe of the Eastern Band of Cherokee.
Fresh Dish: Mike McCarty on what chefs eat on their days off, and his first trip to the Crescent City
Mike McCarty, chef and owner of The Lobster Trap, chats with Xpress in the newest edition of “Fresh Dish.”
AdventHealth announces hospital location in Weaverville
AdventHealth anticipates opening the new hospital in two to three years, spokesperson Victoria Dunkle says.
County advances affordable housing development on Coxe Avenue
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 on April 2 to invite private developers to partner on a $59.1 million complex for 200 affordable units at 50 and 52 Coxe Ave., directly across from the Asheville Regional Transit bus station and Rabbit Rabbit music venue.
Sustaining community: A conversation with local candidate Amanda Edwards
Democrat Amanda Edwards announced her bid for chair of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners in October, where she currently serves as a commissioner for District 3. If elected in November, Edwards would become the first female chair.
Laura Rikard on intimacy coordination in film, TV and theater
The co-founder of Theatrical Intimacy Education spoke at the Berlin International Film Festival in February.
Community members outraged by school-supply dumpster incident
The biggest sting seemed to be the timing: The dumpster in front the former Asheville Primary School arrived one day after the Asheville City Board of Education board voted to close Montford North Star Academy.
Asheville Art Museum honors early 20th-century landscape painters
In its latest exhibit, Honoring Nature: Early Southern Appalachian Landscape Painting, the Asheville Art Museum spotlights several early 20th century painters who captured the soaring vistas of the Great Smoky Mountains.
Planning Board updates proposed STR rules ahead of public hearing
The proposed changes will be considered at a public hearing Monday, April 22, at A-B Tech’s Ferguson Auditorium starting at 5:30 p.m. in which planning board members will vote on whether to approve the recommendations.
Around town: Story Parlor reflects on upcoming anniversary
Story Parlor turns two, LEAF releases Gratitude Report, Downtown After Five returns and more!