General election candidates for the 2024 N.C. Senate District 46 and District 49 races share their positions with Xpress.
Tag: Julie Mayfield
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Local candidates see surge from presidential race
With Kamala Harris now at the top of the Democratic ticket, and former President Donald Trump’s recent rally in Asheville, local candidates and supporters discuss what impact, if any, the national race will have on local campaigns.
Coalition launches to replace Mission Hospital’s ownership
Reclaim Healthcare WNC’s goals are to replace HCA with a nonprofit hospital system, “hold HCA accountable for its harmful culture and practices” and “restore best-in-class healthcare throughout the Mission system,” per a press release.
Watchdog event panelists decry HCA, call for improved care at Mission Health
Asheville Watchdog hosts “HCA-Mission at Five Years: What Can We Do to Restore Better Healthcare in WNC?” The Jan. 23 event featured five panelists: Dr. Clay Ballantine; Brevard Mayor Maureen Copelof; Dr. R. Bruce Kelly; patient advocate and nurse Karen Sanders; and state Sen. Julie Mayfield, D-Buncombe.
HCA’s independent monitor faces tense public meeting
Ronald Winters, CEO of the independent monitor for HCA Healthcare, faced an unhappy crowd at a community meeting Oct. 19. Current and former physicians, nurses and patients from Mission Hospital implored Gibbins Advisors to monitor the health care system’s quality. Throughout the 90-minute public meeting, Winters repeatedly told the audience that quality of patient care […]
How Buncombe’s newly elected N.C. House members are settling into office
Lindsey Prather, Eric Ager and Caleb Rudow have a lot to learn over the state legislative session that started Jan. 25. All three Democrats won their first elections in November after the retirement of three multi-term representatives from Buncombe County.
From Asheville Watchdog: What are the odds of a casino in Asheville?
North Carolina can support as many as nine Las Vegas-style casinos with gambling throughout the state, including one in the Asheville area, according to a report commissioned by the General Assembly.
Asheville chamber looks ahead at changes in Raleigh
The local business group’s annual event usually features WNC’s General Assembly delegation and its reflections on happenings in Raleigh. This year, the entirety of Buncombe County’s incoming state House contingent was absent: As newly elected officials, Eric Ager, Lindsey Prather and Caleb Rudow were taking part in orientation at the capitol.
Five takeaways from Buncombe’s 2022 general election
Complete Democratic control of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, a better-than-expected performance by Jasmine Beach-Ferrara and $70 million in new spending for county initiatives all emerged from this year’s midterm election results.
2022 General Voter Guide: N.C. Senate
General election candidates for the 2022 N.C. Senate District 46 and District 49 races share their positions with Xpress.
Green in brief: Morrow Landing to offer new French Broad access near Brevard
The land, purchased by Conserving Carolina, falls roughly halfway between the current Island Ford and Hap Simpson Park access points, which are separated by nearly 10 miles of river. Morrow Landing’s placement will therefore facilitate shorter trips by less experienced river users and improve access for emergency responders.
Letter: Fix the medical marijuana bill
“It will hand production and sales to wealthy, established corporations, and local North Carolina hemp farmers won’t be able to compete.”
N.C. may inch closer to legalizing medical marijuana
Supporters of medical marijuana and the local hemp industry want to see the state allow the use of cannabis as a treatment option for debilitating medical conditions. But there are disagreements with Senate Bill 711 as written.
Five takeaways from Buncombe’s 2022 primaries
The Buncombe County Board of Elections won’t officially certify the results until Friday, May 27, and the N.C. Board of Elections will issue its own certification Thursday, June 9. But even with those steps still to come, there’s plenty to learn from the unofficial results.
Wilma’s disciples: Three generations of female environmental leaders
“Wilma Dykeman’s shadow covered all of us and inspired us to speak out and support citizens who were becoming more and more concerned about water quality, air quality, land use, land conservation, forest management, etc., in our mountain area.”
2022 Primary Voter Guide: N.C. Senate District 49 — Democratic
Candidates in the N.C. Senate District 49 Democratic 2022 primary share their positions with Xpress.
Letter: Impressed with Mayfield’s leadership
“Her leadership on the I-26 committee was instrumental in making significant improvements over DOT’s original design of the project.”
From Asheville Watchdog: How many doctors have left Mission? HCA won’t say
HCA declined repeated requests for the number of doctors who have left the Mission system since it took over in February 2019 and refuses to say how many doctors are on staff today, other than that the number is “relatively the same.” But Asheville Watchdog identified 223 doctors who appear to be no longer practicing there.
Local groups tackle period poverty
People who work on the issue in Western North Carolina agree that period poverty is more widespread than it may seem due to the cultural stigmas of both poverty and menstruation. And financial issues wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic have made menstrual hygiene products even more inaccessible for many.
WNC’s state lawmakers reflect amid electoral uncertainty
Billed as a wrap-up of a busy year for WNC’s state legislative delegation, much of the Dec. 10 gathering hosted by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce wound up being devoted to the future of the General Assembly — a future that, following a Dec. 8 order by the North Carolina Supreme Court, faces many unknowns.
Green in brief: State budget brings millions in environmental funding to WNC
Among the largest allocations are $12.2 million to accelerate the purchase and opening of Pisgah View State Park in Buncombe County, $7.2 million for the removal of hazardous dams in WNC and $5 million to upgrade the city of Hendersonville’s wastewater treatment plant.