Television host Tom Earnhardt will speak about North Carolina’s ecological past and future at WCU on Thursday, June 27.
Tag: North Carolina
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Landslide! In the debris field with geologist Rick Wooten
Standing at the pull-off on a gravel road near an unmarked trail in the Bent Creek Experimental Forest, geologist Rick Wooten tightens his black webbed utility belt — which holds a camera, a hammer and a Brunton compass. In the shade of his car’s open hatchback, he leans over a Panasonic Toughbook that’s displaying an […]
The Holy Spirit closes in on Raleigh: Local faith leaders call on Asheville to stand for justice
A determined and inspirited contingent of Asheville’s faith community made itself heard last Monday, May 20, when over 20 faith leaders held a press conference at the foot of the courthouse steps to speak out against a plethora of laws that are being proposed and passed by the North Carolina General Assembly this year.
Forward momentum: A-B Tech’s Jon Snover brings people and technology together
Jon Snover thought he’d found his dream job at a fuel-cell company in 2001 — and that, as lead chemist for the company, he was going to change the world by developing advanced technology to solve society’s energy crisis
N.C. Senate bill may dissolve AdvantageWest, Citizen-Times reports
Part of North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory’s plans to turn the Department of Commerce into a public-private partnership that would be run like a business, Senate Bill 127 would mandate the dissolution of regional organizations like AdvantageWest and strip it of state funding. It passed a second reading in the Senate Monday night, May 13, by a 31-17 vote.a
Is there a doctor in the hills?
The sometimes challenging road to health care in rural Western North Carolina extends beyond the curves of country back roads. Whether it’s dealing with the current physician shortage that affects all but Madison in the 16-county region or wrestling with social and economic barriers, local providers and patients share their challenges and plans to address rural health-care needs. (Cover by Emily Busey. Photo by Max Cooper.)
Crossover stampede hits the Statehouse
With two weeks left before the North Carolina General Assembly’s May 16 crossover deadline, Asheville-specific legislation remains in focus among the more than 1,700 bills and resolutions entered in the 2013 session. And everything must now compete for time with the nearly $50 billion budget recently proposed by Gov. Pat McCrory.
Back to school: Advocates see threats to public education in current legislation
They had to keep rolling out chairs April 23 for what was billed as a “Conversation about Public Education in North Carolina,” held at the Asheville City Schools board room on Mountain Street. A larger-than-anticipated audience of 60 people — educators, elected officials, parents, advocates — came to talk about the status of public education, and to offer some opinions.
Hell or high water: Rep. Nathan Ramsey wades straight into the fray
During a recent visit home, State Rep. Nathan Ramsey says he’s happy to be back in the mountains. “A little cooler up here,” he says. “Closer to heaven; farther from hell, which is Raleigh.”
Legislature heads toward crossover with more than 1,700 bills to pick through
There are only three weeks left before the 2013 session of the N.C. General Assembly hits its crossover deadline of May 16. In general, that means to have a chance at becoming law, bills must have passed a third reading in the house or senate (whichever chamber initiated the bill) and moved to the other chamber by that date. More than 1,700 bills have been introduced since January (1,002 in the House; 725 in the Senate), including the recent arrival of Gov. Pat McCrory’s proposed $49,590,935,190 budget for 2013-14. It’s going to be a busy time.
Realizing religion, sanctifying science: Michael Dowd in Asheville April 23-24
Micheal Dowd used to spend his time passing out fundamentalist Christian pamphlets on the street and arguing with anyone who thought the world was more than a few thousand years old. He was directly threatened by the idea of evolution.
OPINION: A letter to my newborn North Carolina son
As Buncombe native Jason Langberg celebrated the birth of his son, he wrote a letter: “Dearest Everett Lewis… ”
Health officials: Measles outbreak reported in NC
With eight cases of the measles confirmed to date, officials from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services announced they are working with local health departments to investigate and control an outbreak. Though nothing can get rid of a measles infection, health officials say it can be prevented by the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine.
Wilson, N.C., becomes first community in N.C. to offer ultra-fast Internet
Remember Asheville’s bid to get Google’s 100 gigabit Internet service? Consider that the average Internet speed in the U.S. is about 7 megabytes per second (hint: that’s so much slower than gigabit service, it feels like old dial-up speeds), that about 48,000 Western North Carolinians don’t have access to 4 Mbps service (the FCC definition of a broadband minimum), that North Carolina ranks 27th in broadband speeds (10 spots behind Guam). Now take a look at what one small town down east has done on its own.
State officials to visit Asheville, will discuss Gov. McCrory’s Medicaid proposal
As part of an ongoing effort to speak with North Carolinians about Gov. Pat McCrory’s proposed changes to the way the state’s Medicaid program operates, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Aldona Wos and N.C. Medicaid Director Carol Steckel will give a presentation about the plan in Asheville on Monday, April 22. This presentation is intended for the provider community, and will be held at 11:30 a.m. at MAHEC Education Center at 121 Hendersonville Road.
Shared creation: Building a better future from Asheville’s margins
In Asheville’s thirst for sustainability, it's easy to forget that a third of the city's workers are low-wage, and in some neighborhoods, survival is the top priority.
Shared creation: Building a better future from Asheville’s margins
In Asheville’s thirst for sustainability, it's easy to forget that a third of the city's workers are low-wage, and in some neighborhoods, survival is the top priority.
McHenry won’t run for U.S. senate, will seek another term in House
Despite poll numbers fueling speculation that he might run for U.S. Senate next year against Sen. Kay Hagan, Rep. Patrick McHenry says he’ll seek another term in the U.S. House representing Western North Carolina’s 10th District.
In the minority: Fisher tackles new leadership role in N.C. House
Elected in January as one of three Democratic whips, Rep. Susan Fisher of Asheville must know each bill’s contents and be able to explain them to her party’s caucus.
State tells Western Highlands Network its contract will end in July
On Friday, April 5, the North Carolina Division of Medical Assistance notified the Asheville-based Western Highlands Network that it’s terminating its contract, effective July 31. WHN coordinates mental-health, substance-abuse and developmental-disability services in in Madison, Mitchell, Yancey, Buncombe, Henderson, Transylvania, Polk and Rutherford counties.
One on One with D.G. Martin: The political power grabs of 1875 and 2013
If you wonder why the Republicans now in control are moving so fast to turn government upside down, you should remember that they have been waiting a long time and have a bag full of grievances to settle. Has there ever been anything like it in North Carolina history? Yes, back in 1875.