ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Here’s a look at the top news stories from 828newsNOW this past week.
NC counties in time crunch to reprint absentee ballots
It all started when Democrat-turned Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dropped out of the presidential race in late August and endorsed former President Donald Trump. Kennedy’s name remained on North Carolina’s ballots under the ‘We the People Party,’ which he later requested be taken off. After much back and forth from the North Carolina State Board of Elections, state Court of Appeals and finally the state Supreme Court, Kennedy Jr.’s name will no longer be on the ballot in North Carolina.
The state Board of Elections says county boards were prepared to send off ballots on Sept. 6 — which is the state law deadline to begin absentee voting — before the Court of Appeals paused this. Now, county election staff must work to reprint these absentee ballots.
Meetings start for proposed school districts merger
Drop-in meetings started this week for community members to discuss the possible consolidation of Asheville City and Buncombe County school districts.
In September 2023, the North Carolina General Assembly mandated the two school systems study the feasibility of a merger and designated Buncombe County as the lead entity for the project.
An insider’s look at The Land of Oz theme park
828newsNOW’s Pruett Norris, who works at the Land of Oz, on top of Beech Mountain in Western North Carolina, offers an insider’s look at how each chapter of the film has been recreated in the park. F
Visitors to The Land of Oz more or less follow the path of their Dorothy performer. As Dorothy sings “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” in Kansas, guests are watching her, interacting with dancing farmhands and mean Miss Gulch or purchasing kettle corn. Proceeding through the Gale house and the day-glo “tornado” room, visitors walk out into Munchkinland, where they – and Dorothy – meet Glinda the Good Witch and get their first glimpse of the Wicked Witch of the West.
What can we expect from this year’s fall colors?
The kaleidoscope of colors in the mountains and areas surrounding Asheville usually starts in October. It lasts several weeks, with color beginning in the highest altitudes and working down into the valleys and foothills.
How will the color be this year?
“That’s always a topic of conversation this time of year,” UNC Asheville’s Dr. Jonathan Horton, a professor and chair of the school’s Biology Department, said of the changing leaves.
Who won the debate? UNCA professor weighs in
While neither candidate dug too deeply into their policies or plans, UNC Asheville political science associate professor and co-chair Dr. Ashley Moraguez said they didn’t need to.
“Research shows that most voters prioritize candidates who share their values and that this can take priority over policy for many voters, especially undecided voters,” Moraguez said. “Overly detailed and wonky answers can turn voters off or hurt impressions in a televised debate. That being said, Trump’s policy discussions were particularly muddled, which did not do him any favors. I also think Harris missed the opportunity to provide a straightforward answer to the question of why some of her policy stances have changed over time, since that is of concern to some voters. She was smart to say that her values have not changed, but I think she could and should have addressed the question more directly, as well.”
Remembering 9/11
Asheville officers, residents gather with NYFD, NYPD to remember 9/11
Never forget. That is what Asheville Police Chief Michael Lamb wanted his captive audience to take away this morning, Sept. 11, the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
Hendersonville honors first responders with 9/11 ceremony
City and county officials gathered in front of the historic Henderson County courthouse on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024 to recognize the service and sacrifice of first responders.
Asheville Art Museum puts ‘AR’ in art with new exhibit
The exhibition pair, “Moving Stillness: Mount Rainier” by Bill Viola and “Reforestation of the Imagination” by Ginny Ruffner, will be open at the museum through Jan. 20, 2025.
The two artists’ exhibits utilize digital mechanics to explore representations of environmental devastation.
Human Donor Milk Program expands with new depot in WNC
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), in partnership with WakeMed, announced in August the expansion of the North Carolina Human Donor Milk Program, adding five new donor depots across the state — including one in Western North Carolina.
Another bargaining session for Mission nurses set for next month
After months of back and forth, National Nurses United and Mission Hospital officials were back at the bargaining table a week after union leaders said 97 percent of the nurses who participated in a recent round of voting authorized the union bargaining team to call for a strike “should they deem it necessary.”
Asheville’s Affordable Housing Plan now available online
The final version of Asheville’s Affordable Housing Plan is now available for public viewing.