From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority is claiming that “early bookings show that more visitors are expected in 2026,” Asheville television station WLOS (News 13) reported on Jan. 28.

During a Jan. 28 meeting of the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, Explore Asheville’s Ed Silver reported that his agency’s data shows room nights booked for July through December are up 38 percent compared to 2025. (Explore Asheville is the marketing arm of the BCTDA, which collects hotel occupancy taxes.) 

In addition, as 2026 began, hotel occupancy for Asheville and Buncombe County was recorded at 63 percent, according to Silver, who is vice president of business development for Explore Asheville.

To that end, News 13 noted, “While the hotel occupancy number is typically lower than ideal, officials say it’s stronger than many comparable markets amid a nationwide decline in hotel bookings.”

Specifically, Silver asserted, “What you’re seeing is that some of our comparables are struggling even more than we are. While 63 may not be a number to celebrate, it’s good to see that we are ‘comping’ in many way stronger than some other markets.”

As for the Buncombe bookings, AI Overview noted, “This indicates a significant surge in, or ‘accelerated early,’ bookings for the latter half of 2026...

“This, alongside a 63 percent occupancy rate at the start of 2026, signals a strong recovery for the area... 

“While the 38 percent jump refers to future bookings, overall 2025 occupancy was noted as slightly lower, yet still robust compared to other markets....”

Regarding if tourists once again view Asheville and Buncombe County as an attractive destination, AI Overview stated the following:

“Yes, tourists and travel experts are highly enthusiastic about Asheville and Buncombe County for 2026. The region is experiencing a strong resurgence following recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene, characterized by record-breaking booking data and global accolades”

AI Overview also noted that “Travel + Leisure, a leading travel and leisure compnay, recently “named Asheville one of the 50 Best Places to Travel in 2026, citing its resilience and new cultural offerings.”

Meanwhile, it also was noted at the Jan. 28 meeting that the BCTDA approved $12.4 million for eight community projects.

The largest investment — of $4 million — will be allocated to the Swannanoa Beacon Park project.

Hotel occupancy tax funds also will support improvements at the John B. Lewis Soccer Complex and the Asheville Museum of Science.

From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Mission Hospital in Asheville has been placed in immediate jeopardy — again. 

“This is the third immediate jeopardy designation from The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in two years, which identifies issues that endanger patient safety, “Asheville television station WLOS (News 13) noted on Jan. 30. 

In a memo to employees obtained by the TV station, CEO Greg Lowe explained Mission Hospital plans to bring in an independent consultant, “who is an expert in hospital quality, to provide guidance and oversight to our hospital leadership team.”

What’s more, Mission Hospital released the following statement about the most recent immediate jeopardy designation:

“We have submitted extensive and comprehensive plans to CMS to resolve the deficiencies that were identified. Our collaboration with CMS has provided an opportunity to strengthen our processes and further enhance patient care. We have the resources and support from our organization to make the improvements identified. We take our responsibilities to the citizens of western North Carolina seriously, and our leadership, dedicated caregivers, and physicians remain focused on providing the best possible care.”

The TV station added, “Mission Hospital has also promised to evaluate its grievance process, which Mission and CMS have agreed can be improved.”

Meanwhile, News 13’s “Comment Bubble” that followed its story included the following assertions:

• AVLChik — “We were all saddened when HCA took over. The employees and medical staff we know who work there are great. They often grumble about how the culture has changed. They feel spread thin with HCA. They  believe they can not provide patient care that they once could before it went corporate. HCA does provide a high level of specialized care and we’re grateful to have a good hospital in the area, but worker morale is low.”

From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Harold Kenneth “H.K.” Edgerton, an Asheville native, a U.S. Army veteran, an African-American Southern heritage activist and a former president of the Asheville branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, recently died at age 77 on Jan. 18.

“According to several social media posts, Edgerton ‘passed away peacefully in his sleep’ after a prolonged illness on Jan. 18 at the Asheville Veterans Administration Medical Center,” Asheville television station WLOS (News 13) reported on Jan. 19. 

He was a long-time guest columnist for the Asheville Daily Planet, which also frequently sought his historical knowledge or opinion for stories on local issues, such as the now-deconstructed Vance Monument, which he revered as the “crown jewel” and the “centerpiece” of his hometown.

A history buff who grew up in Asheville during the Jim Crow era, Edgerton told the Daily Planet — repeatedly —  that, contrary to what he termed the historical revisionism of local officials, Reems Creek native Zebulon B. Vance, a three-term former North Carolina governor who served as a colonel in the Confederate Army during the Civil War (and for whom the monument was named), was the greatest person ever to emerge from Buncombe County, despite some racist comments he made that Edgerton deemed common for that era.  

Edgerton was born in Asheville on Feb. 18, 1948, and was a 1967 graduate of Asheville High School, his obituary noted.

Edgerton served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era and was a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. 

To that end, “he could be seen walking in the streets of downtown Asheville, dressed in a Confederate uniform and waving a Confederate flag,” News 13 stated.

The family has a GoFundMe Page set up to help pay for funeral arrangements.

Edgerton graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree. His obituary said he was chairman of the board of the United Way Agency that was responsible for running the Sabathani Community Center in south Minneapolis, Minn,, and he founded the University of Minnesota Black Student Center.

His obituary noted that he served as an intern for the Green Giant Company, customer service engineer for International Business Machines, and later he and his brother Terry Lee owned and operated Edgerton and Edgerton Office Products in Fullerton, Calif., from 1981-89.

He returned to Asheville to serve his hometown in various roles after his retirement, including as chairman of the Program Planning and Implementation Committee for the Asheville-Buncombe County Drug Commission.

Also, Edgerton ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Asheville — and is a past recipient of Asheville’s Citizen of the Year Award.

From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE, N.C.  – The Buncombe County Board of Elections — in two separate hearings on Jan. 20 — unanimously denied formal challenges against two local candidates for office, enabling each of them to continue to remain on the ballot in their election campaigns.

Specifically, Asheville Vice Mayor Antanette Mosley was cleared to run in the nonpartisan primary for re-election to her Asheville City Council seat. 

(Twenty candidates are vying for three available seats on council. Besides Mosley, the other two incumbents, Sheneika Smith and Maggie Ullman, also are seeking re-election.)

In addition, recent Democrat-turned-Republican Victor “Vic” Morman was cleared by the BCBE to battle challenger Gary Parris in the party primary to be the Buncombe County GOP’s sheriff’s nominee in the general election against incumbent Sheriff Quentin Miller, a Democrat.

The primary election is on March 3, while the general election is on Nov. 3.

In a Facebook posting after its decisions on Jan. 20, the BCBE stated the following:

“Each challenge was heard separately. During the hearings, both challengers and candidates had the opportunity to present evidence, answer board questions, and present witnesses. According to the North Carolina State Board of Elections candidate challenge guide, the burden is on the candidate to show by a preponderance of the evidence that he or she is qualified to be a candidate for the office.   

“The board voted to deny both challenges and will also issue a written decision as quickly as possible.”

 What’s more, the Asheville Citizen Times reported after the decisions by the BCBE that “a spokesperson said hearings like this (where candidacies are challenged) are not common in the county.”

The ACT added, “The challenges were heard separately, though Mosley’s in particular was lengthy, tense and often rife with back-and-forth. The question at its center regarded her residency — raised after reports that she claimed tax benefits in Georgia legally available only to permanent residents of the state.”

Regarding the Mosley case, Asheville television station WLOS (News 13) reported on Jan. 20 that former City of Asheville official “John Miall had filed a candidate challenge, stating Mosley may not be living in Asheville, which is a requirement for candidacy. 

“His (Miall’s) evidence included the fact that Mosley had taken a homestead exemption for years on a Georgia home in the Atlanta area. A homestead exemption is given to a primary residence in the form of lower taxation. 

“During the hearing, Mosley said she wasn’t aware of the error in the declaration of homes until news reports brought it to her attention and she requested the exemption be removed retroactively back to 2018. Mosley said she hasn’t been able to live in her primary Kenilworth family home due to damage from Helene and took another property in Asheville to live in. She testified before the board of her long ties and residency in Asheville after growing up in town.”

News 13 then quoted Mosley as tellng the BCBE, “I returned to Asheville in 2016 and re-established my home at 3 Devonshire Place. I registered and voted here. I obtained and maintained a North Carolina driver’s license. I pay taxes here. I have consistently identified Asheville as my domicile.”

Further, the TV station reported, “During his challenge, Miall presented a witness who pulled public records showing the damage Mosley referred to was at the home before Helene, according to the witness. However, Mosley did present photographic evidence of the damage she said came from Helene.

“Buncombe County Board of Elections member Jake Quinn, who voted in favor of Mosley and against the challenge, stated that under the law, Mosley just has to show intent to move back to her Kenilworth home.

“He said during the hearing discussion, he was convinced she lived in Asheville and her filing documents listing her Kenilworth home as her residence were sufficient,” News 13 noted. 

The other BCBE members concurred, as the board voted to reject the challenge to Mosley’s candidacy.

The TV station also noted, “Before Mosley’s hearing, a challenge to Vic Morman’s candidacy for Buncombe County sheriff was also denied. 

“The challenge alleged he didn’t register as a Republican with the 90-day window required to be registered with a party before filing his candidacy to run for sheriff.”

The ACT added that Morman’s candidacy “was challenged by Tina Lunsford, a registered Republican who lives in Buncombe County. 

“She alleged Morman changed his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican and wasn’t registered to vote as a Republican for 90 days before filing to run, as required by state law for partisan races.” 

In response to the challenge, News 13 stated, “Board members reviewed his submitted documents, which they said were valid and fulfilled the required time window.”

The ACT noted, “Challengers can appeal the county board’s decision to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.”