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News and Commentary
It’s only Monday, but already I’ve uncovered a lot. Here are 10 key takeaways so far—and if you want more detail, I’ve put together a quick 20-minute video to walk you through it all.
Flood alert issued for the Broad River Basin—residents urged to stay cautious.
GROWNC held a meeting this morning with no slides or materials shared publicly in advance.
I took over 100 screenshots just to document the meeting (listen here and read the full transcript here).
A landslide in Craigtown (Buncombe County) killed 11 people during Hurricane Helene, with over a 2,000-foot elevation drop over a mile long, highlighting real terrain dangers. There were no landslide warnings and landslide insurance isn’t available in NC.
NC has had 107 known deaths, and 24 from landslides — 22 were near creeks or streams.
The county added $21M to reserves over 3 years, Rutherford County Schools said, but still wants to raise taxes.
Rutherford County Republicans launched a petition opposing the proposed property tax hike.
Rutherford County Democrats have stayed quiet on the budget, despite recent anti-Trump protests.
County manager admits confusion about state school funding law. County residents are still waiting for PPDR (private property debris removal) because he chose not to use the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) following Helene (more to come/see archives).
Low-wealth school funds can’t legally replace local funding, contrary to claims.
Stay safe out there—Rutherford County Emergency Management and the National Weather Service are warning of flood and landslide risks through Wednesday.
I'm heading to the Chimney Rock Town Council workshop meeting this evening—weather permitting—and I’ll be sharing exclusive video from that as soon as I can. Stay tuned.
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