Pictured: Co-hosts Lesley Groetsch and Blake Butler

Lesley Groetsch, co-host of the popular progressive talk program for nearly three years, Local Edge Radio, is leaving the show to pursue another job offer.

Groetsch's last day as a host on 880 The Revolution will be Sept. 26, after which she'll be working full time for Reynolds Village, a mixed-use development in Woodfin, where she's been doing part-time marketing work since 2007. Groetsch says the company recently made her "an offer I couldn't refuse."

"The opportunity to work at a single job, with benefits, was too good to pass by," she explains. "I'm trying not to work 80 hours a week anymore." In addition to spending countless hours on the radio show, until recently Groetsch co-owned and co-managed a pair of downtown businesses — Tingles Cafe and Sazerac. And she's also busy raising two young children.

"There are things I want to do with my life, and radio is one of them. But it's not going to drain the life out of every other endeavor I have," she says.

Groetsch also adds that a health issue contributed to her decision to leave Clear Channel Asheville, which — because she was a part-time employee — didn't offer her health-care benefits.

"I found a lump on my breast, and I've been trying to get a diagnosis and treatment, and that's part of the motivation here. That's why it's suddenly so important to get benefits," she explains. "It's been an exercise in futility trying to access what care is available for people who are uninsured. It's insane."

In an email announcement, Brian Hall, Clear Channel Director of News/Talk Programming, wrote:

"Lesley has been a very valuable asset to us and to the growth of local progressive talk here in Asheville. We have taken 880 to new heights with Lesley and Blake becoming fixtures in our progressive community and she will be greatly missed."

Groetsch says she plans to remain active in the local community, advocating for local and national progressive causes. "I will continue to use social media as a platform for supporting progressive views and causes, locally and nationally," she notes. And Groetsch is still holding out hope that she'll be able to host a national radio show some day.

"I've made good connections in the national radio world, and I would love to hopefully get back with a national radio platform," she says.

Clear Channel plans to name a new co-host of Local Edge Radio soon.