http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire Local, significant, verifiable, fair and respectful en-us Mountain Xpress Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:36:57 -0500 http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/nc_physical_therapy_pac_endorses_senator_jim_davis_for_relection From the press release: (Franklin, NC) – The North Carolina Physical Therapy Political Action Committee has endorsed Senator Jim Davis for re-election (R-District 50; Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain Counties). The NCPT-PAC… Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:26:55 -0500 http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/nc_physical_therapy_pac_endorses_senator_jim_davis_for_relection http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/moffitt_violates_ethics_rules_with_campaign_announcements Here's an excerpt from the Asheville Citizen-Times article: Two state lawmakers have violated ethics rules that prohibit the use of General Assembly email for campaign purposes. ... Ethical Principal and Guideline 7, drafted in 2007,… Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:01:07 -0500 http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/moffitt_violates_ethics_rules_with_campaign_announcements http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/bi-lo_announces_its_third_annual_feed_the_love_pet_food_drive From the press release: ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Feb. 22, 2012) — In this recovering economy, local food banks face the dual challenge of diminished contributions and an increased number of individuals in need of food not… Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:36:44 -0500 http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/bi-lo_announces_its_third_annual_feed_the_love_pet_food_drive http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/asheville_resident_to_participate_in_walk_ms_in_honor_of_her_dad_to_find_a_ From the press release: Beth Castro, 30, of Asheville, NC, is committed to fighting multiple sclerosis. She currently is planning to participate in her second year of Walk MS, which raises money for the National… Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:52:58 -0500 http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/asheville_resident_to_participate_in_walk_ms_in_honor_of_her_dad_to_find_a_ http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/gannett_plans_to_switch_to_paywall_model_for_its_papers_except_for_usa_toda Forbes Magazine reports that the Gannett company plans to switch to a paywall system for all of its newspapers, with the exception of USA Today. The Asheville Citizen-Times is a Gannett company newspaper. From Forbes… Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:19:51 -0500 http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/gannett_plans_to_switch_to_paywall_model_for_its_papers_except_for_usa_toda http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/american_red_cross_announces_blood_donation_opportunities_for_march From the press release: Buncombe County – American Red Cross blood donors can help save lives and escape to North Carolina’s Crystal Coast! Those who come out to donate blood or platelets from February 13… Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:53:11 -0500 http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/american_red_cross_announces_blood_donation_opportunities_for_march http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/hendersonville_city_council_oks_11.6_million_water_meter_system_upgrade From the Times-News: Hendersonville City Council agreed Monday to upgrade the city’s water meter reading system, saying the $11.6 million price tag and modern technology will pay for itself and then some. Automating the system… Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:38:48 -0500 http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/hendersonville_city_council_oks_11.6_million_water_meter_system_upgrade http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/two_creeks_in_mcdowell_county_make_nc_list_of_imapaired_waterways From the McDowell News: The state is seeking comments on its 2012 list of North Carolina’s rivers, streams, lakes and estuaries with impaired water quality and will use those comments to develop strategies for decreasing… Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:30:07 -0500 http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/two_creeks_in_mcdowell_county_make_nc_list_of_imapaired_waterways http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/video_local_vlogger_digitaldigi_on_birthdays_lindsay_lohan_and_the_woman_in Asheville's most active video blogger is back with plenty of mildly offensive observational comedy for everyone. Discussing the most fabulous Lindsay Lohan and other articles and portions of my life that should really be kept… Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:26:38 -0500 http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/video_local_vlogger_digitaldigi_on_birthdays_lindsay_lohan_and_the_woman_in http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/ymca_of_wnc_launches_healthier_communities_campaign From the press release: Western North Carolina, February 21, 2012 – The YMCA of Western North Carolina announced the launch of Healthier Communities Campaign to help individuals and families in need participate in YMCA programs.… Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:12:49 -0500 http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/ymca_of_wnc_launches_healthier_communities_campaign http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/nc_reports_its_first_child_flu_fatality From the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services: North Carolina has reported its first child death from flu for the 2011-2012 flu season. A six-year old died on Feb. 4 of complications from… Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:40:27 -0500 http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/nc_reports_its_first_child_flu_fatality http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/local_youth_meet_state_legislatures_as_part_of_tru_celebration From the press release: Asheville, N.C. – 37 youth from Buncombe County joined more than 300 youth tobacco use prevention advocates in Raleigh on Thursday, Feb. 16th to celebrate successes in reducing youth tobacco use… Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:27:50 -0500 http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/local_youth_meet_state_legislatures_as_part_of_tru_celebration http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/events_planned_in_asheville_for_national_eating_disorders_week_feb._26-marc From the press release: The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is launching its 25th annual National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (NEDAwareness Week) in an ongoing mission to bring public attention to the critical need to… Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:10:37 -0500 http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/events_planned_in_asheville_for_national_eating_disorders_week_feb._26-marc http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/asheville_green_drinks_discusses_the_future_of_the_water_system_tonight_feb FROM ASHEVILLE GREEN DRINKS The fate of Asheville’s water system is on the line and community members are encouraged to speak out and take action for our water. Join Asheville Green Drinks and the Western… Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:02:30 -0500 http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/asheville_green_drinks_discusses_the_future_of_the_water_system_tonight_feb http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/league_of_women_voters_hosting_feb._22_forum_on_redistricting League of Women Voters to hold forum on Redistricting: Voting Rights & Voting Wrongs The Asheville-Buncombe County League of Women Voters will hold a public forum on North Carolina’s decennial redistricting on Wednesday, February 22,… Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:33:18 -0500 http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/league_of_women_voters_hosting_feb._22_forum_on_redistricting http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/buncombe_gop_urges_people_to_attend_feb._23_water_forum Here's the message from the Buncombe County Republican Party via the group's email newsletter: Friends, Below is information on the public forum regarding important issues in the Buncombe County area. Republicans are continually lacking representation… Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:25:16 -0500 http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/buncombe_gop_urges_people_to_attend_feb._23_water_forum http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/southern_conference_basketball_tournament_tickets_are_on_sale_for_the_march FROM THE ASHEVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE The Southern Conference Basketball Tournament will heat up the ExploreAsheville.com arena at the newly renovated U.S. Cellular Center and Kimmel Arena at UNCA March 2 – 5. Join the… Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:15:56 -0500 http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/southern_conference_basketball_tournament_tickets_are_on_sale_for_the_march http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/a-b_tech_chamber_of_commerce_celebrates_national_entrepreneurship_week_thro FROM THE ASHEVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE National Entrepreneurship Week gives nationwide recognition of the heritage of entrepreneurial leadership in America and encourages support for the growth of entrepreneurship education as a lifelong learning process. Today,… Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:50:11 -0500 http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/a-b_tech_chamber_of_commerce_celebrates_national_entrepreneurship_week_thro http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/wcu_offers_medical_billing_coding_course_this_march FROM WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY Western Carolina University’s Office of Continuing Education will offer a course for individuals interested in becoming a medical billing and coding professional beginning Monday, March 12, and continuing through Wednesday, May… Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:39:57 -0500 http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/wcu_offers_medical_billing_coding_course_this_march http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/state_committee_brings_water-system_meeting_to_wnc_ag_center_thursday_feb._ From the Metropolitan Sewerage/Water System Committee (full release) TIME: Thursday, Feb. 23, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PLACE:Virginia C. Boone Mountain Heritage Building WNC Ag Center (Fletcher, NC) 1301 Fanning Bridge Road Fletcher, NC… Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:09:43 -0500 http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/state_committee_brings_water-system_meeting_to_wnc_ag_center_thursday_feb._ http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/gas_prices_could_pass_4_gallon_by_april_wwnc570_reports In January, GasBuddy.com projected that gas prices could push $4.25 per gallon by Memorial Day. A North Carolina expert says the increase could come sooner: ... Tom Crosby with Triple-A Carolinas says if the Middle… Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:22:49 -0500 http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/gas_prices_could_pass_4_gallon_by_april_wwnc570_reports http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/recruiting_sierra_nevada_to_wnc_the_legislative_role N.C. Rep. Chuck McGrady (who represents the Henderson County region) wrote this piece for ChicoER.com: Residents in Henderson County, and even western North Carolina, are cheering the recent announcement that Chico, California-based Sierra Nevada, a… Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:28:47 -0500 http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/recruiting_sierra_nevada_to_wnc_the_legislative_role http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/lone_free_freelancing_and_sahm-ing_a_sticky_situation Being a stay-at-home mom is challenging, but trying to juggle child-raising with freelance writing is like juggling cooking knives and kittens. Or that's the impression I get from reading this post by local mommyblogger Melanie… Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:25:13 -0500 http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/lone_free_freelancing_and_sahm-ing_a_sticky_situation http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/break_your_curfew_supermom_lays_down_the_law When your mom is a popular local parenting blogger, you break curfew at your own risk. When your mom is Michelle "Supermom" Lee, that's more like doubling down on an already shaky bet. Staying out… Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:20:38 -0500 http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/break_your_curfew_supermom_lays_down_the_law http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/video_almost_10_minutes_of_poi You might think that spinning a pair of ropes with weighted balls on the end is easy. You might not even really consider it to be much of a performance art. Sure, it might have… Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:37:57 -0500 http://www.mountainx.com/blogwire/2012/video_almost_10_minutes_of_poi