N.C. Child Care Coalition commends Gov. Perdue

Today, the N.C. Child Care Coalition commends Gov. Perdue for restoring $43 million in funding to early childhood programs: $18.2 million restores 48 percent of the Smart Start budget and $25 million will restore 77 percent of the N.C. pre-K budget. In addition, the governor made no cuts to child-care subsidies, the desperately needed funding […]

Two new: Commission­ers take first steps to replace aging schools

Buncombe County Board of Commissioners March 20, 2012 meeting Environmentalists urge joining billboard lawsuit March 23 proclaimed Women Veterans History Day Two new school buildings are in the works for Asheville. At their March 20 meeting, the Buncombe County commissioners unanimously approved taking the first steps toward replacing the aging Asheville Middle School and Isaac […]

Love Asheville

Dear Asheville, At the risk of sounding gushy, I want you to know that you’re amazing. Gorgeous, smart, lovable: in short, everything I could ever ask for in a town. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. But while some may love you for your beauty (and your incredible food), I […]

Satellite image shows snow, clear skies for this eve’s orbit of the Internatio­nal Space Station

The above image was taken today, Jan. 5, at about 11 a.m. by the Terra satellite, part of NASA’s Earth Observing System. It shows a bit of snow in the high elevations outside of town, and clear skies for viewing the International Space Station, which will be visible over the region at 6:33 p.m.

Where there’s waste, there’s opportunit­y

I wanted to comment on Karen Hardison’s letter in the Dec. 21 Xpress, “Asheville City Schools Need to Smarten Up on Waste.” I am reminded of a bumper sticker: “critical thinking … the other national deficit.” Our children will tend to emulate adults in thinking and action unless something breaks the thought/action cycle currently in […]

Candidates need to address poverty, affordable housing and homelessne­ss

The future of Asheville’s success will depend largely on how well we can expand opportunity to all children and families and nurture their success. To realize such a vision, our city leadership will need to focus attention on low-income and working families. Too many families are experiencing poverty in Asheville — dramatically increasing their risk […]