Two central themes of the hearing at A-B Tech were competition and access to care.

For the past three years, Mission Hospital’s owner has contested AdventHealth’s attempt to build a hospital on land bought for $7.5 million in Weaverville.

Supreme Court refusal to hear HCA appeal of main certificate of need for new Buncombe hospital, may allow AdventHealth to start building.

The classification comes even as the hospital continues to face scrutiny over patient safety and complaints of understaffing.

“While staff do their best to provide care, it was not always safe care,” surveyors were told

Her nonprofit “Racing to Feed America” provides hot meals, turkeys and fellowship at the Southside Community Center.

Mission must still submit a plan for correction and go through another inspection by state surveyors in the coming months.

Next month’s hearing comes at a critical time for Buncombe County’s health care landscape.

Growth comes amid complaints, legal action about declining care at Mission, other WNC hospitals.

There are signs of mold all over the Evergreen Ridge Apartments in East Asheville. In one old utility hallway in building D, the walls are crumbling and black in places, pipes are bent. In the main lobby, the ceiling buckles under the weight of water damage. An overpowering musty smell permeates the halls, creeping into tenant apartments.