Good Faith: Religious leaders take on racism
- Volume 26
- / Issue 53
Cover Design Credit:
Scott Southwick
Cover Photography Credit:
Getty Images
The Rev. Eric Gash, pastor of Speak Life Community Church in Hendersonville, is among a number of local religious leaders — both Black and white — who have been galvanized by the May killing of George Floyd to facilitate dialogue about racial issues and use the pulpit to call for racial justice.
arts
A&E Roundup: Roberta Flack mural unveiled in Black Mountain
The legendary singer is honored in her hometown, new books by local authors are published and opportunities arise for storytellers and artists.Jeremy Boger returns to music with help from talented local friends
The longtime Asheville-based artist returns to music with exceptional results after a 10-year hiatus.Ron Rash releases his latest collection of stories
Vengeance, justice, loss and addiction are all explored in Ron Rash's latest collection, "In the Valley: Stories and a Novella Based on 'Serena,'" which hits bookstores Tuesday, Aug. 4.
food
Asheville Tourists give fans missing baseball a taste of the game
Pop-up concessions events at McCormick Field serve ballpark favorites such as the Tourists Dog, chili cheese dogs, bratwurst, soft serve ice cream and, because it’s Asheville, craft beer.Asheville Strong Fund provides crisis relief for small businesses
“We are especially looking to help fund microbusinesses with sole proprietors who have really fallen through gaps in other funding,” says fund co-founder Catherine Campbell.Restaurants convert parking lots, sidewalks and streets to open-air dining rooms
With permission from the city, businesses with private parking lots can now convert 50% of their parking area to dining. To expand onto public sidewalks, businesses must be able to…
news
Religious leaders tackle systemic racism
Many religious leaders in Western North Carolina are using the pulpit to call for racial justice. For some, the message predates the killing of George Floyd; for others, the issue…Local church leader challenges congregation about its racial assumptions, 1941
Between 1930-70, some local churches joined in participation of the annual "Race Relations Sunday" sermon held each February.Outdoor enthusiasts navigate murky waters of pandemic recreation
Jennifer Pharr Davis, owner of Asheville-based Blue Ridge Hiking Company, says there’s a simple reason behind the pent-up demand for outdoor recreation: In a world where many activities are either…Taking aim at racism
Tiffany Iheanacho has big plans. As Buncombe County's first justice services director, she intends to turn innovative ideas into action aimed at eliminating barriers within both the local criminal justice…WNC resident helps others during Graves’ Disease Awareness Month
Hendersonville resident Nancy Patterson has Graves' disease, an autoimmune disorder that causes an overactive thyroid. She founded a nonprofit foundation to help support others, and has spent the last three…COVID-19 testing backlog causes treatment delays
Limited COVID-19 testing supplies at commercial and hospital laboratories are causing significant delays in results. In turn, hospitals like Pardee in Hendersonville are forced to wait to administer COVID-19 treatment…Buncombe commissioners split on sheriff’s funding
Democrats Amanda Edwards and Al Whitesides joined the board’s three Republicans in a 5-2 vote approving a proposal to hire three new detectives, which would match a $375,000 federal grant…
opinion
Letter: Davis would serve WNC well in Congress
"I was impressed with his expertise and experience and felt that he would serve Western North Carolina in Washington very well."Letter: Kratom distribution poses risks to people who use drugs
"High-quality studies demonstrate kratom increases overdose death risks."Letter: Confederate monuments belong in museums
"Let’s put these historical representatives in museums where they belong so that generations to follow can learn from our folly."Letter: Enforcement needed on masks
"What is the sense of stores stating they require patrons to wear masks when they do not enforce it?"Letter: Put people first before reopening schools
"Please listen to health experts, parents and teachers before opening our schools."Letter: Share power, respect and resources with Black Asheville
"In our plan to build generational wealth for Black Ashevilleans, we can look at direct compensation for families and descendants with history in Asheville."Tax me no questions
Letter: Events that haunt us forever
"Today, we’re living a lingering tragedy from a viral pathogen. There are things we can do to save ourselves and those around us."The school normal
