Asheville Watchdog

Asheville Watchdog, the nonprofit investigative news organization serving Asheville and Buncombe County, announced today that veteran journalist and news executive Michael Stowe will join the organization as Editor-in-Chief, effective early August. Stowe becomes The Watchdog‘s top newsroom executive after more than a decade at Virginia Tech, where he led digital strategy, audience engagement, and social The post Asheville Watchdog Names Michael Stowe Editor-in-Chief appeared first on Asheville Watchdog.

Chris Fink likes to volunteer. But where some people might build houses or help out in a soup kitchen, once every three months Fink takes a tour of Buncombe County’s nursing homes and long-term adult care facilities as a member of the county’s Community Advisory Committee. Fink visits with residents, helps them to resolve issues The post As Buncombe County ages, there aren’t enough volunteers to inspect nursing homes appeared first on Asheville Watchdog.

An Asheville lawyer handed over custody of her child Wednesday after dodging court orders and hearings for three months — conduct a judge described as despicable and unparalleled for a licensed attorney. District Court Judge Robin Merrell first ordered Ilesanmi Adaramola to relinquish custody of her daughter to the father in April. Adaramola skipped six The post Asheville attorney surrenders custody of her child after disobeying court orders for months appeared first on Asheville Watchdog.

Molly Dennehy, wearing an Asheville Tourists polo shirt and ballcap, checked cash registers and supplies at HomeTrust Park’s concession stands before a game last week. She chatted with season ticket holders she knows by name and helped a new fan find his favorite beer. And, during a pause in her duties, she pointed out colleagues The post NC teacher pay slipped to 46th in the country, and veteran teachers have it worst. They’ll find little help in new state budget. appeared first on Asheville Watchdog.

Following the sale of Asheville’s Mission Health system to HCA Healthcare in 2019, nurses and doctors left in large numbers, practices closed, regulators sanctioned the hospital multiple times, and the public has clamored for information. But lately, that information has been harder to get.  Beginning earlier this year the North Carolina Department of Health and The post Did a federal agency tell state regulators not to talk to the press about Mission Hospital?  appeared first on Asheville Watchdog.

Today’s round of questions, my smart-aleck replies and the real answers: Question: In east Asheville, where Highway 70 crosses over the Swannanoa, there is a large area that used to house the Veterans Restoration Quarters, a BP gas station, and a Super 8 motel. Last week fencing went up along the entire length of road The post Answer Man: What’s going on with Veterans Restoration Quarters renovation? Mills Gap widening project in south Asheville delayed? appeared first on Asheville Watchdog.

You know, I try to be kind to people, because life is a struggle and we’re all doing the best we can. Scratch that. Or part of it anyway. Life is a struggle, but some people are just pigheaded and reckless and really aren’t doing the best they can. They just keep doing what they The post Opinion: Yes, stupid human behavior resulted in six bears being culled in Buncombe County appeared first on Asheville Watchdog.

Today’s round of questions, my smart-aleck replies and the real answers: Question: On July 4 last year, fireworks were set off illegally across the street in our residential Asheville neighborhood from afternoon well into night.  Repeated hard “cracks” of sound could be heard even through earplugs, and I’m sure they were bad for our hearing. The post Answer Man, special fireworks edition: Will cops respond to illegal fireworks? Will fireworks return to Lake Julian next year? Any local drone shows for the Fourth? appeared first on Asheville Watchdog.

One fact about the exploding data-center industry became clear before the Asheville City Council imposed a one-year moratorium on their construction at its meeting last week: People have a lot of questions. Council members and speakers asked about these facilities’ vast consumption of water and power. They worried about their potential to disrupt neighborhoods, undermine The post News analysis: Asheville’s moratorium on data centers buys time to answer questions appeared first on Asheville Watchdog.

Beginning Tuesday, Mission Hospital will no longer require nurses to have a four-year Bachelor of Science Nursing degree or obtain one within five years of being hired. Instead, nurses will be required only to have a two-year Associate Degree in Nursing.  “Our commitment to nursing excellence remains unchanged,” Ruth Kain, Mission Hospital’s chief nursing officer, The post Mission Hospital to relax degree requirements for nurses  appeared first on Asheville Watchdog.