From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Mission Health CEO and President Greg Lowe announced on March 4, the removal of the “immediate jeopardy” status for Mission Hospital in Asheville, Asheville television station WLOS (News 13) reported on March 4.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services confirmed the status removal following a survey that ended on Feb. 13, after CMS approved the hospital’s Enhanced Plan of Correction on Jan. 29, Lowe noted.

The now-dropped “immediate jeopardy” status for Mission Hospital was designated by CMS for the third time within two years, as News 13 previously reported in January.

To that end, Lowe asserted the following in a March 4 press release:

“Since that time, we have been working diligently to strengthen our patient safety and quality programs. This work has included collaboration with experienced healthcare and quality consultants, as well as focused internal efforts to ensure meaningful and sustainable improvements.”

Specifically, Lowe said Mission Hospital brought in an independent consultant, an expert in health quality, to provide guidance and oversight, to help bring the hospital out of “immediate jeopardy,” News 13 noted.

From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — “Immediate jeopardy” at Mission Hospital has been removed, “but persisting issues have prompted the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to set a new deadline by which the hospital must achieve compliance,” the Asheville Citizen Times reported on March 6.

“If it does not meet the deadline, the hospital could have its Medicare provider agreement terminated,” the ACT added. 

“In a Feb. 27 letter to Mission Hospital CEO Greg Lowe, CMS officials indicated that the ‘immediate jeopardy’ status placed on the hospital in late January had been removed Feb. 13. However, the hospital remained noncompliant with Medicare conditions of participation in the areas of patient rights, nursing services and infection prevention and antibiotic stewardship programs.”

From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Costco is back in discussions about the proposed West Asheville project, “a development that would bring significant job opportunities to the region,” Asheville television station WLOS (News 13) reported on March 12.

Mayor Esther Manheimer said later on March 12 that she spoke directly with a Costco representative who confirmed the company has re-engaged in the proposed West Asheville project after a positive meeting with the property sellers earlier this week.

“What they shared with me is that they had a meeting with the sellers of the property in West Asheville on Tuesday (March 10)” News 13 quoted Manheimer as saying. “They are officially re-engaged in the project. They are optimistic.”

The TV station added, “This announcement comes after Manheimer posted on social media, asking Costco to reconsider after it withdrew its application for development citing infrastructure requirements that increased the project’s scope, timeline and costs... Manheimer said she recently convened a meeting with the property sellers, representatives from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and Asheville planning staff to address the issues Costco identified when it stepped away from the project.”

From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Three people charged with ethnic intimidation following an incident at the West Asheville Public Library “pleaded guilty March 10 to misdemeanor simple assault,” court records show, the Asheville Citizen Times reported on March 11.

“Amid the Asheville Police Department’s investigation into reports of a fight in one of the library’s meeting rooms in June 2024, three people were charged with ethnic intimidation, a misdemeanor crime first added to North Carolina General Statutes in 1991,” the ACT noted. “All three — Tyler Kelly, 35, Michael Brocenos, 36, and Emily Murphy, 40 — were indicted to Buncombe County Superior Court near the end of 2024, court records show.”

From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — After a violent early March weekend in Asheville that left two people dead and nine others injured in three separate shootings, “city leaders and police say the focus now is on preventing future violence through community partnerships, technology and public safety initiatives,” Asheville station WLOS (News 13) reported March 10.

“This is a very serious moment,” Asheville City Councilman Bo Hess, who chairs the city’s Public Safety Committee, said of Asheville’s recent violence. “Public safety is the foundation of a thriving city. It impacts every part of life, recreation, small businesses, tourism, our community connection, and our overall sense of well-being.”

“Police responded to three separate shootings across Asheville between early March 7 and early March 9,” News1 3 noted. “Two people were killed, and nine others were injured, including seven people struck by gunfire during a shooting early March 8 morning on North Lexington Avenue downtown. Authorities say the incidents are not connected.”

Hess , who said addressing violence requires a broad strategy that goes beyond law enforcement alone, stated the following:

“Asheville is tackling this from multiple angles. From prevention to youth programming to community policing, to increasing economic opportunity and mental health support.”

News 13 added, “Hess said the city is expanding youth programming through parks and recreation, strengthening partnerships with nonprofit organizations and working to increase access to mental health services.”