From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Asheville-based Mission Hospital has been placed under “immediate jeopardy” following an evaluation from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, a number of media sources reported on Oct. 17. 

Mission Hospital has faced “immediate jeopardy” sanctions three times since 2019 for patient safety violations, nurse.org noted.

In a letter to Mission Hospital, NCDHHS said the hospital failed to properly identify and monitor patients, that nursing staff failed to respond and assess patients with emergency needs, and failed to ensure safe transportation for patients among others.

“The effect of these practices resulted in an unsafe environment for patients,” the letter stated.

The “immediate jeopardy” was placed on the basis of four separate violations in 2025, ranging back to September.

From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Four health systems are currently engaged in fierce competition for state approval over 129 acute care hospital beds in Buncombe County.

Confirming that they filed applications with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to add the aforementioned beds are AdventHealth, Winston-Salem-based Novant Health, HCA Healthcare-owned Mission Health and UNC Health Pardee. 

From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Members of the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization “are considering a vote on whether to move forward on studying the feasibility of a 16-mile toll lane for east and westbound lanes of I-40, known for congestion,” Asheville television station WLOS (News 13) reported on Oct. 16.

“Representatives from the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s N.C. Turnpike Authority, which oversees toll projects on state highways, held a presentation on Oct. 16 on the potential project that would widen I-40 from Exit 44 at Smokey Park Highway to Exit 27 for Clyde in Haywood County,” News 13 stated. “The project would cost around $700 million, according to documents.

“If leaders approve the toll lane, NCDOT would raise the project’s priority in a scoring system that evaluates in part based on cost. “

NCDOT’s N.C. Turnpike Authority representatives noted that improved scoring would move the widening project up on the statewide highway list because toll revenues would largely cover infrastructure costs.

“A possible solution was brought up today that might help it score better,” Henderson County Commissioner Jay Egolf, who serves on the board, said at a recent FBRMPO meeting. “So, it could advance. That made sense to look down the road and see if that’s possible.”

News 13 added, “Egolf and other board members supported the idea of the express toll lanes, even though turnpike officials did not provide an estimate of the toll price, beyond stating the toll would change depending on traffic volume and speed in the other lanes.”

From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Asheville officials announced on Oct. 16 “that they will not be pursuing a downtown social district that was previously proposed,” Asheville television station WLOS (News 13) reported on Oct. 16.

On Oct. 14, “Asheville City Council members convened to address a proposed event-based social district program, one that would focus specifically on events in the South Slope area downtown. The social district could have also changed the alcohol sales model for 2026 events,” News 13 noted.

At the Oct. 14 meeting, council members decided they would revisit the proposal at council’s meeting on Nov. 18.

Howevr, in an Oct. 16 press release, city officials said the proposal would no longer be pursued, but other efforts will be made to help the community continue its recovery after Hurricane Helene.

Mayor Esther Manheimer released the following statement on the proposal:

“Revitalizing our local economy after Helene is crucial for community health and recovery. However, this must be carefully balanced with ensuring a high quality of life for all residents. During the October 14 council meeting, it became evident that a social district fails to achieve this delicate balance as an activation strategy, and therefore, it will not be pursued at this time.”

A separate proposal that would bring a new amendment to the city’s temporary noise ordinance will be discussed again at the council’s Nov. 18 meeting.

News 13’s “Comment Bubble” that followed its story include the following assertions:

• Liberalsareweak101 — “As previous discussed the homeless designated downtown Asheville a social drinking, drug and bathroom area years ago.

“Address that — and then you can actually say you accomplished something.”

• ATruthTeller — “In an Oct. 16 press release, city officials said the proposal would no longer be pursued, but other efforts will be made to help the community continue its recovery after Hurricane Helene. Sure...from this relentlessly anti-business city council. Color me skeptical....”