Opinion Editorials

At a time when Congress is often defined by gridlock, the National Security and Related Programs appropriations bill stands out as a reminder that serious governance still matters. The NSRP bill would fund the essential machinery of American diplomacy, security, and humanitarian engagement. It would keep embassy staff safe, support efforts to monitor emerging threats, and ensure that the United States can project stability in regions where power vacuums quickly become dangerous.

A reporter recently asked me why there is so much political divisiveness today. Today, news cycles run 24/7, and each network’s efforts to attract viewership from their competitors and sell advertising are stronger than ever. Too often, contentious headlines, artificial political excitement, and algorithm-driven content are among the methods media uses to compete. This environment has become one of the most powerful forces shaping public opinion.

North Carolina is the most expensive state for health care in the country, with the highest average premium for residents with “plus-one” health insurance coverage through an employer at $4,781 annually.

Asheville’s City Council on June 11 showed an increased commitment to the Asheville Police Department, voting for a 6% pay increase for officers. The raise will boost Asheville’s lowest-paid police salary to $50,309 annually.

This might be a good political talking point for city leaders, but it doesn’t come close to fixing the damage done over the past four years. 

Americans tend to take for granted today that schools are places of learning and cultural enrichment for students from all walks of life regardless of race, religion or national origin.

But there is a black mark on our nation’s history that resulted in untold suffering and trauma that resonated across the decades in tribal communities throughout the nation: the Indian boarding schools that operated in this country during the 19th and 20th centuries.

In the business world, we recognize that the first step in solving a problem is to admit there is a problem.

But local leaders in Asheville and Buncombe County continue to twist and manipulate statistics to deny the severity of the crime problem, and gaslight citizens who are all too aware how bad crime there really is.

 Ask anyone in Buncombe County – and Asheville in particular – whether they feel safer these days than five years ago, and the answer you will most likely hear is a resounding “No.”