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GOVERNMENT
4 NC Hospitals Ranked in Top 100 in the World
Quality medical care is not something you want to take for granted for any health concerns you may have for either yourself or a loved one. While access can be quite limited at times, a handful hospitals in North Carolina were recently named among the best in the entire country.
Elevated bacteria levels found in French Broad River; public urged to avoid water for now
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Environmental non-profit Mountain True urges people to avoid swimming in the French Broad River at this time. People are advised to hold off from getting in the water for 24 to 48 hours, or until the water is less muddy. Samples show high bacteria levels...
‘They must leave’: Coalition begins push for HCA to relinquish Mission
A broad coalition of western North Carolina doctors, patient advocates, clergy members, a state senator and others are calling on HCA Healthcare to give up the Mission Health network, decrying the level of care it has provided since its $1.5 billion purchase in 2019. The five years since the acquisition...
Celebrating 70 years: Remembering Asheville's downtown festival, Bele Chere
From 1979-2013, downtown Asheville held a festival every summer known as "Bele Chere." Stemming from ancient Scottish dialect, Bele Chere means "beautiful living." For more than 30 years, the festival, which consisted of food, music and street vendors, showcased all things Asheville, and it grew to one of the largest downtown festivals in the Southeast.
‘BAM!’ Tower at Enka campus is reduced to rubble
ENKA, N.C. (828newsNOW) – A small group of onlookers stared in awe on Thursday as the hulking but obsolete Haynes Tower building was being reduced to mounds of twisted metal, bricks and other debris on A-B Tech’s Enka campus. Candler resident Lisa Schwartz was there, taking cell phone...
Asheville Motorists Brace for Weekend I-40 Closure Due to Bridge Rehabilitation Project
As reported by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), another round of construction is set to snarl weekend traffic in Asheville with the rehabilitation of the I-40 bridge. Motorists should prepare for a stretch of I-40 East to be closed from the I-240 East/I-26 West interchange (Exit 46B) to Hendersonville Road (Exit 50) starting 8 p.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Monday, if the weather plays along.
I-26 Connector project to take out Asheville Racquet Club
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The massive Interstate 26 Connector project has claimed another victim — Asheville Racquet Club Downtown. Club manager Daniel Giammalvo said the North Carolina Department of Transportation had already acquired the property at 27 Resort Drive. “We’re already leasing it from the DOT,” Giammalvo said...
NCDOT: Interstate 26 major shift, I-40 bridge work postponed to early next week
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Two interstate projects that were supposed to take place this weekend have been pushed to early next week by rain, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation. A major shift in the Interstate 26 widening project originally scheduled for July 25 has now been...
Asheville's Homelessness board will likely dissolve as work of new CoC begins
ASHEVILLE - The Homeless Initiative Advisory Committee, which for 16 years has worked to address homelessness in Asheville, voted July 25 to recommend dissolution of its board in an effort to consolidate work with the newly restructured Continuum of Care. The decision, though expected, seemed somewhat emotional for some members. There was a brief bout of applause after the vote, a few muttered "wow's," and expressions of gratitude for work that has stretched more than a...
Buncombe, Asheville homeowners may qualify for grant funds
BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Eligible Buncombe County homeowners have an opportunity to receive financial assistance for housing-related costs. Now in its fourth year, the inquiry process for the 2024 Homeowner Grant Program has opened up to the public, a release from Buncombe County government says. The website buncombecounty.org/homeownergrant will be accepting inquiries through Sept. 30 or homeowners can call (828) 250-5500. You must call or submit an inquiry to determine eligibility. Phone support is available in any language.
Ferncliff: Leading the Way as America’s First Green Industrial Park
Asheville – The terms green and sustainable are seldom terms used when talking about an industrial park. We know we need them for manufacturing and commerce, but it is heartbreaking to see a beautiful piece of land leveled for industry. When it comes to the Ferncliff Industrial Park in Mills River, NC, though, these terms are synonymous. NC Secretary of Commerce Tony Copeland called it “America’s Most Beautiful Industrial Park.”
Two North Carolina public universities may see academic degree cuts soon after board vote
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Two of North Carolina’s public universities will be allowed to eliminate more than a dozen degree programs ranging from ancient Mediterranean studies to physics after the university system’s governing board voted Wednesday to authorize the cuts. The University of North Carolina Board of Governors’ vote comes after requests from chancellors at UNC Asheville and UNC Greensboro to slash multiple academic degree programs from their university despite pushback from faculty who wanted to find alternate paths forward for programs. An affirmative vote means the chancellors can now move ahead with the program cuts, which may also mean removing tenured faculty, UNC System senior vice president of academic affairs David English said. The chancellors’ decisions would eliminate certain degrees, but individual courses from those programs can still be offered to students pursuing other majors. The cuts go into effect for the upcoming academic year.
Western North Carolina shifts to eCourts to expand access; local attorney reacts
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Eleven Western North Carolina counties made the transition to eCourts this week, with the purpose of shifting to digital court records being to expand access to justice. There are different elements of eCourts, including eFiling, which allows attorneys to file court documents online to the...
Lack of swimming lesson options leaves Asheville parents frustrated
Ask a parent about swimming lessons in Asheville and you’re bound to get an earful of complaints. Not enough public pools. Inconvenient class times. A lack of private instructors. Seemingly endless waitlists. “Everyone is supremely frustrated with the lack of access to swimming pools,” says Amanda Wilde, a West...
Asheville voters will see an $80M GO bond referendum on the November ballot
ASHEVILLE - Voters will see a new referendum on the November ballot for an $80 million general obligation bond package to fund housing, transportation, public safety and parks and recreation projects citywide. Asheville City Council held the required public hearings and voted July 23 to adopt the bond categories and referenda — the final step needed to place the bond on the ballot. ...
Last Night at Council: Spate of city projects head to voters with $80M bond proposal
Asheville voters will decide on an $80 million bond package on Election Day, which would raise local taxes. At Tuesday’s meeting, Asheville City Council held a public hearing and unanimously voted to put the bond proposal on the ballot for voters in the November general election. If passed, the...
Meeting on proposed Marshall septage detention/treatment facility continued to August
MARSHALL - Deliberations will carry over into August in Matthew Ponder's appeal of the county's decision to deny him a permit for a proposed septage detention/treatment facility at his Zenina Farms Drive property in Marshall. The Madison County Board of Adjustment will meet Aug. 28 at 4:30 p.m. for a special meeting...
Public Comment Opportunities for French Broad River Plan Scheduled
The French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), Elevate 2050, will be kicking off the first phase of public input opportunities for the plan in August. The MTP is a federally-required transportation plan for urbanized areas with a population over 50,000 and helps to guide transportation...
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