State Rep. Lindsey Prather has introduced a sweeping reform bill in the North Carolina House that aims to overhaul the public education system and expand support services for students and schools statewide.
A new program offers up to $25,000 for critical home repairs following Hurricane Helene damage in Haywood County. Local councils have secured $6 million for these efforts targeting low- and moderate-income homeowners.
Applications are open for a free summer camp aimed at introducing local female high school students to careers in emergency management and public safety. The week-long program includes site visits and networking opportunities with area professionals.
“What’s Up AVL!” featured Elizabeth Mueller from Asheville’s Water Resources Department discussing education efforts. The city’s bi-monthly radio show connects residents with local government staff. Listeners can tune in live or catch replays online.
The Haywood County Board will hold a public hearing on May 4 regarding a new housing plan draft. Residents can view documents online starting May 5 and provide feedback until June 5. Recent educational statistics highlight local student readiness levels.
Asheville detailed how Buncombe County’s new property assessments affect local taxes and next year’s city budget. Officials clarified there is no current deficit but noted potential increases if rates rise above ‘revenue neutral.’ Budget decisions will be finalized after public input this spring.
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners discussed major changes including unifying fire protection funding districts and updating flood prevention rules at their April meeting. Other topics included proclamations supporting child abuse prevention efforts and food waste reduction goals alongside academic readiness statistics from local schools.
Buncombe County residents can now access free day passes to all five local YMCAs using their library cards through the ZOOM pass program. This move expands recreational options as recent data highlight local student performance on key academic benchmarks.
Haywood County Commissioners plan to join other local officials at a Council of Governments meeting in Clyde on April 21. The session aims to share updates among municipalities but will not include any official county business. Recent ACT results show varying levels of college readiness among local high school students.
Haywood County has rescheduled its public hearing on CDBG grant project closeouts for May 4 in Waynesville following a cancellation notice issued April 21. The session will review emergency shelter upgrades and rental assistance initiatives funded by federal grants.