John Locke Foundation: Western NC

Western N.C.
Headlines

Mars Hill to take on university status

MARS HILL — The next generation of freshmen entering the Mars Hill campus this fall won’t be graduating from college. They’ll be leaving behind a university. After 157 years as a designated college, one of Western North Carolina’s oldest institution of higher learning will officially change its title from Mars Hill College to Mars Hill University in August, a move administrators say they hope will attract more students locally and from abroad.

Asheville area wins, loses in House budget

BLACK MOUNTAIN — A substance abuse treatment center here and a prison in Woodfin would stay open under a proposed state House budget, but other institutions in the region would see cuts. The state Senate budget called for closing both the Julian F. Keith Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center and Buncombe Correctional Center, which employ a total of more than 260 people, but the budget plan set to move through the House this week would continue funding for both institutions.

Council members condemn legislative 'extortion'

ASHEVILLE — Some City Council members contend state legislators are trying to intimidate the council into dropping its lawsuit to retain city control of its water system. To get their way, Reps. Tim Moffitt and Nathan Ramsey have raised the possibility of passing legislation to institute a district system of electing council members and shifting the election date and letting a bill that would save the city $5 million or more die, councilmen say.

Western N.C.'s Greatest Hits

Transit system impact

Asheville's transit system has the smallest impact on regional travel, according to a report by Dr. David Hartgen of UNCC.

Asheville congestion

Future road congestion could threaten North Carolina’s economy, but Asheville is better prepared for congestion than most other N.C. cities.

Shuler and amnesty

U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C., and several Republican members of Congress try get Senate to resist attempts to grant amnesty to illegal immigrants.

Research

Carolina Cronyism: Introduction, Overview, and Reforms

Cronyism is an umbrella term covering a host of government activities by which an industry or even a single firm or speculator is given favors and support that they could not attain in market competition. This report explains what opens government to cronyism, gives a brief rundown of recent examples of cronyism in North Carolina, and offers several possible reforms.

By the Numbers: What Government Costs in North Carolina Cities and Counties FY 2010

County and municipal governments provide many key services while taking in billions of dollars in revenue, but finding comparative data is hard. That's why this report provides information of how much local government costs in every city and county in North Carolina.

Raleigh Convention Center: Throwing good money after bad

This report examines 52 contracts signed by the Raleigh Convention Center for the period of July–December 2011 and is a follow-up to the September 2008 John Locke Foundation report “The New Raleigh Convention Center: A taxpayer-funded money pit.”