Mountain Xpress

Editor’s note: As the school year gets underway, we take a look at a new requirement for public and charter schools passed by the N.C. General Assembly this summer as part of the state budget. Schools — both locally and across the state — are now required to develop a policy for “released time religious instruction” to allow students to be excused for religious instruction offered by a private entity during the school day.

When people remember Dolly Parton, they’ll remember the music, the hair, the heels, the rhinestones and the larger-than-life personality. But in my home, some of Dolly’s greatest hits arrived in a plain little envelope. Every month, my children would race to the mailbox, eager to see which book had arrived from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. There was something magical about it.

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the over 30 years, has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we’ve never charged for the paper or put up a paywall. We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. needs help, too.

[Regarding “Plot Twist: Rep. Chuck Edwards Ends Campaign for Reelection Amid Harassment Allegations,” Aug. 12, Xpress, and “Chuck Edwards Quits Re-election Campaign After Scathing House Report,” Aug. 4, Asheville Watchdog:] It’s almost laughable. The activities of the participants chronicled in the Epstein files are so much worse. And so far, they are not being held responsible and possibly never will be. #ReleaseTheEpsteinFiles.

When did the legislative branch of our government become a nonstop softball game? Who’s up to bat now? Who’s ahead? I don’t know the latest score, but I can tell you who’s behind: You and me! Everything is a partisan issue. If the Democrats are for it, the Republicans are automatically against it. And vice versa. But daily life in the United States is not a partisan issue: It’s real. We all fill up at the gas pump. We all need health insurance.

This is a note that I wrote to City Council member Roberto (Bo) Hess in response to a post on his Facebook page about a mama bear of three cubs potentially being euthanized for entering and swatting at a woman in her home (there’s also a petition going around now to save this bear): I live off of Town Mountain Road and often find myself in the midst of bear drama.

Community Foundation of Western North Carolina awards natural resources grants Press release from the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina: (September 2026) The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC) recently approved two Natural Resources focus area grants totaling $394,811. UNC Asheville Foundation was awarded $296,811 over three years to continue the Community Lumber Project (CLP) through the UNC-A STEAM Studio.

City Council Agenda – Sept. 8 Press release from City of Asheville: The electronic agenda for the September 8, City Council formal meeting is now available by clicking on the link below. If you have any questions, please call the City Clerk’s Office at 259-5601. Persons wishing to speak live at the meeting will be required to attend in person and must sign-up at the door outside the Council Chamber.

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the over 30 years, has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we’ve never charged for the paper or put up a paywall. We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. needs help, too.

Late summer and early fall in Western North Carolina offer a limited window to see certain migratory birds that breed in the North and spend their winters in the Deep South. These “transients” pass through our area for a few months each year, during their migration in both spring and autumn. Check out the Audubon Bird Migration Explorer for illustrations that show the paths of dozens of migratory bird species, including colorful animations of the journeys of individually tagged birds.