Asheville Watchdog

An Asheville attorney facing multiple felony counts for alleged fraudulent real estate schemes has continued to practice law in western North Carolina throughout the four years since she was first charged. In recent court hearings, Ilesanmi Adaramola’s attorney has raised concerns about her mental capacity, prompting delays in her trial. Adaramola represents clients in 16 The post Despite multiple felony charges, mental capacity concerns, Asheville attorney still practices law appeared first on Asheville Watchdog.

Today’s round of questions, my smart-aleck replies and the real answers: Question: This question is a two-parter. Why has the speed limit been lowered from the Folk Art Center going north toward Craggy Gardens? The new signs say 35 mph for vehicles, 25 mph for trucks. And what trucks are these? I thought the Parkway The post Answer Man: Why do I have to drive so slowly on the Parkway? Strong chlorine smell at the tap explained? appeared first on Asheville Watchdog.

Today’s round of questions, my smart-aleck replies and the real answers: Question: I’m attaching my water bill — for a house where the water has been turned off at the meter (street) since the weather has been very cold at night. At least since January. I’m not staying there because it’s going to be renovated The post Answer Man: My house is unoccupied – why do I get water, sewer and stormwater bills? Turn signal needed for New Stock Road interchange? appeared first on Asheville Watchdog.

At HCA Healthcare’s April 23 shareholder meeting, CEO Sam Hazen pushed back on claims that he needed to do more to engage with Mission Hospital, which faces a fast-approaching deadline to fix deficiencies in care or face the loss of Medicare and Medicaid funding. “In my normal travels, I go to Asheville, North Carolina frequently. The post HCA CEO Sam Hazen said he regularly travels to Asheville to visit area leaders. Elected officials say they haven’t met him. appeared first on Asheville Watchdog.

Marvin Jean Jacques, chief operating officer of the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville, surveyed the wreckage left by tenants in a vacant unit at Pisgah View Apartments. Syringes and charred strips of aluminum foil used for smoking drugs; walls covered by random swaths of black paint and graffiti; dirty laundry piled high on The post Asheville housing authority leaders are praised – and slammed – for aggressive efforts to halt ‘financial free fall’ appeared first on Asheville Watchdog.

The town of Biltmore Forest has an irregular, oblong shape, hemmed as it is on all sides by natural and manmade barriers: Interstate 40 to the north; Hendersonville Road to the east; the Blue Ridge Parkway to the south; and, to the west, the thick woods of the Biltmore Estate and, beyond it, the French The post Lyme disease is here — Biltmore Forest’s ticks prove it, scientists say appeared first on Asheville Watchdog.

Well, that stirred the pot a bit. I’m referring to my column last Monday about downtown, which generated lots of emails to yours truly, and hundreds of comments online. While most folks seemed to appreciate my sarcastic tone, some did not, including a few folks who chastised me for painting too rosy a picture of The post Opinion: My downtown Asheville column sure struck a nerve; here are updates on 2 other recent ones appeared first on Asheville Watchdog.

Today’s round of questions, my smart-aleck replies and the real answers: Question: Did you know that cities, to attract attention to their dining scene, can fork over a massive amount of money to Michelin to get the organization to review their restaurants? An insider tourism source in another state has told me this, ahead of The post Answer Man: Did Buncombe TDA pay to bring in Michelin restaurant raters? $1.5M for tennis courts renovation at Roberson High? appeared first on Asheville Watchdog.

Mission Hospital has no plans to add staff in key areas – including trauma care, security, and nursing administration – as part of its recently approved, now-contested, 95-bed acute-care expansion, according to its application to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Despite conditional approval from NCDHHS to build its capacity up to The post In quest for more beds, Mission plans to keep staff lean, CON application shows appeared first on Asheville Watchdog.

Today’s round of questions, my smart-aleck replies and the real answers: Question: Why do some of the I-26 highway signs and exit signs around downtown Asheville still say “Future 26?” When will they be replaced with correct signs? Will they be changed once the I-26 Connector is built? My answer: It is impressive that we The post Answer Man: With I-26 Connector work starting, will ‘Future I-26’ designation get retired? Has Asheville changed water chemicals since Helene? appeared first on Asheville Watchdog.