Latest news with #AshevilleCitySchools
Associated Press
21-03-2025
- Climate
- Associated Press
Water Mission Responds to Hurricane Helene With Support From FedEx
On September 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene tore through the southeastern United States, leaving destruction in its wake. The Category 4 storm claimed more than 215 lives, making it one of the deadliest storms in the U.S. this century, and left more than 2 million people grappling with power outages and drinking water shortages. North Carolina was hit the hardest, as the hurricane set the record for the worst flooding in the state's history. Entire communities were uprooted, and critical infrastructure was destroyed, damages that are still impacting the people of western North Carolina today. Mark Greene, a resident of western North Carolina, was severely impacted by Helene. His home lost power, which affected his wife, who needs electricity to power her oxygen tank. 'I've been through a lot of storms, and this is the worst one I've ever seen,' said Mark Greene, a resident of western North Carolina, in October 2024. 'My wife is on oxygen 24/7…and we went through all of her reserve oxygen tanks .... She's been in the hospital ever since.' Water Mission, a Christian engineering nonprofit, rushed aid to western North Carolina. The disaster response team was on the ground the day after the storm hit, immediately seeking opportunities to partner with the local community to meet needs. The response started in Boone and then expanded to Asheville and its surrounding areas. Thanks to support from the FedEx Cares Delivering for Good program, Water Mission shipped generators to North Carolina to begin distributing to people in need. Water Mission distributed 1,100 generators to individuals and families, serving more than 3,000 people, including Greene and his wife. 'I just really appreciate the fact that you guys are here to help,' Greene said. 'This generator is going to help power my home so I can get my wife back home and comfortable.' Along with helping people have restored power, Water Mission's disaster response team brought safe drinking water to those for whom the safety of their well water had been compromised. Over the course of the response, Water Mission distributed 124,000 emergency water purification packets and installed 19 safe water treatment systems at schools, churches, and community centers. The water systems provided more than 457,000 gallons of safe drinking water for people in need. The safe water systems installed in three Asheville-area schools met the needs of 3,000 students, allowing them to return to school after weeks of being away. 'The entire Asheville City Schools community is beyond grateful to Water Mission for their support in helping us reopen schools after Helene devastated the city's municipal water system,' said Maggie Fehrman, the superintendent of Asheville City Schools. The collaboration with FedEx enabled Water Mission to bring generators and provide safe water for people across western North Carolina, serving more than 112,000 men, women, and children who were impacted by Hurricane Helene. in recognition of World Water Day, March 22, 2025. Photos provided by Water Mission.
USA Today
07-02-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
ICE boss Kristi Noem to visit Asheville to meet with Helene victims; What to know
ASHEVILLE - U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will visit Asheville on Feb. 8, the secretary's office announced Feb. 6. During the visit, Noem will receive a briefing from Samaritan's Purse, meet with Tropical Storm Helene survivors and meet with Senator Ted Budd, Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Cameron Hamilton, Representative Virginia Foxx and Representative Chuck Edwards. The visit comes as a flurry of executive orders targeting undocumented migrants have been signed by President Donald Trump since he took office Jan. 20. On Jan. 21, the Department of Homeland Security rescinded an order that prevented federal agents from conducting immigration enforcement at "sensitive locations," such as schools and churches. Asheville City Schools sent a letter to families on Jan. 24 that the new policies may impact some families within the school system. 'We understand that these changes can be a source of anxiety and uncertainty,' the letter said. 'We want to emphasize that Asheville City Schools remains firmly committed to providing a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive learning environment for all students, regardless of their immigration status.' More:ICE 'not allowed' on Buncombe County school campuses without court order, sheriff says On Feb. 7, Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller released a statement he believes immigration enforcement would not be allowed on school campuses unless "forced through a valid court order." It is unclear if Noem is travelling to Asheville with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — or ICE — agents that operate under the DHS. 'I have repeatedly spoken out against cooperation with ICE, saying federal immigration law is not the responsibility of local officers and damages law enforcement's trust within the immigrant community,' Miller said in his Feb. 7 statement. More:Asheville City Schools commits to 'supportive' environment amid immigration policy worries 'BCSO deputies will not be arresting and detaining persons to solely investigate immigration status in the absence of probable cause of an independent crime, that is racially profiling and unconstitutional,' Miller said. Miller's statement aligns with previous statements the sheriff has made related to working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In November, Miller expressed his opposition to House Bill 10, a Republican-backed bill forcing county sheriffs to honor ICE detainers. The law went into effect Dec. 1 Since Trump took office, federal agents have conducted raids in Colorado, where state law prohibits local law enforcement from participating in most immigration-related enforcement actions. Elsewhere, the threat of raids has led to empty waiting rooms at clinics and hospitals serving immigrant communities. The Trump administration has also sent some undocumented migrants to Guantanamo Bay, an action that has drawn criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU demanded that it be granted access to the prison on Feb. 7. On Feb. 3, around 300 protested Trump's executive orders on immigration, as reported by Blue Ridge Public Radio. Several Trump administration officials have stopped or are planning to stop in Western North Carolina in recent days. On Feb. 7, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin visited the region while U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy will visit the washed-out portion of Interstate 40 in the Pigeon River Gorge on Feb. 10. More:What is a Red Card? ILRC helps immigrants understand their constitutional rights Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at WHofmann@ Consider supporting this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
USA Today
07-02-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
ICE 'not allowed' on Buncombe County school campuses without court order, sheriff says
Hear this story ASHEVILLE - Coming on the heels of a Trump administration directive authorizing federal authorities to conduct immigration arrests on school campuses, Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller said he believes a court order is required for those arrests to occur. 'As the Sheriff, I am not in charge of operating the churches or schools within this community but I am elected to ensure the safety and security of ALL the residents in Buncombe county,' Miller said in a Feb. 7 statement released by the sheriff's office. 'WE are a community of WE and because I have deputies positioned in schools as School Resource Officers, my stance is clear and strong that immigration enforcement is not allowed on our school campuses unless forced through a valid court order.' Miller's statement aligns with previous statements the sheriff has made related to working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In November, Miller expressed his opposition to House Bill 10, a Republican-backed bill forcing county sheriffs to honor ICE detainers. The law went into effect Dec. 1 'I have repeatedly spoken out against cooperation with ICE, saying federal immigration law is not the responsibility of local officers and damages law enforcement's trust within the immigrant community,' Miller said in his Feb. 7 statement. In January, after the Department of Homeland Security officially rescinded a protocol that prevented federal agents from conducting immigration enforcement at 'sensitive locations,' such as schools and churches, Asheville City Schools sent a letter to parents acknowledging that new immigration regulations 'may' impact some families within ACS. 'We understand that these changes can be a source of anxiety and uncertainty,' the letter said. 'We want to emphasize that Asheville City Schools remains firmly committed to providing a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive learning environment for all students, regardless of their immigration status.' Spokesperson Kimberly Dechant told the Citizen Times Jan. 24 that city school parents are concerned 'for the safety and well-being of their children during this unprecedented time.' Miller's statement comes as federal agents have conducted raids in Colorado, where state law prohibits local law enforcement from participating in most immigration-related enforcement actions. Elsewhere, the threat of raids have led to empty waiting rooms at clinics and hospitals serving immigrant communities. 'BCSO deputies will not be arresting and detaining persons to solely investigate immigration status in the absence of probable cause of an independent crime, that is racially profiling and unconstitutional,' Miller said. More:Commissioners cut nearly $4.7 million in school funding amid post-Helene revenue shortfall Jacob Biba is the Helene recovery reporter at the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Email him at jbiba@
USA Today
27-01-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Asheville City Schools commits to 'supportive' environment amid immigration policy worries
Asheville City Schools commits to 'supportive' environment amid immigration policy worries ASHEVILLE - After President Donald Trump's administration authorized federal authorities to conduct immigration arrests on school campuses, Asheville City Schools sent a letter to parents emphasizing a commitment to provide a supportive environment for all students. On Jan. 21, the Department of Homeland Security officially rescinded a protocol that prevented federal agents from conducting immigration enforcement at 'sensitive locations,' such as schools and churches. 'Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America's schools and churches to avoid arrest,' a DHS spokesperson said. 'The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement and instead trusts them to use common sense.' The letter Jan. 24 said new immigration regulations 'may' impact some families within ACS. Spokesperson Kimberly Dechant told the Citizen Times Jan. 24 that city school parents are concerned 'for the safety and well-being of their children during this unprecedented time.' The school district has not received updated guidance from the North Carolina School Board regarding any issues that may arise under the new regulation with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to Dechant. Staff has been told to follow the same guidelines sent out in November, until updated guidelines are set by legal counsel. 'We understand that these changes can be a source of anxiety and uncertainty,' the letter said. 'We want to emphasize that Asheville City Schools remains firmly committed to providing a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive learning environment for all students, regardless of their immigration status.' More: Judge blocks Trump's birthright citizenship order, calling it 'blatantly unconstitutional' The National Education Association on Tuesday circulated new advice for school leaders dealing with the fallout of Trump's immigration orders. The association warned that if the policies are implemented as promised, it will likely harm learning environments through increased absences, decreased student achievement and parents becoming less involved in their student's education. NEA 'strongly encourages' schools to adopt Safe Zone policies, which provide guidance on what educators and staff should do if ICE engages in immigration enforcement at schools. Asheville's school district has not enacted this type of policy, but the memo from ACS attorneys gives information on what staff "can legally do to protect our students," Dechant said. The letter encouraged families to reach out to school counselors or principals with any questions or concerns, emphasizing that school staff is "here to support you and your family in any way we can." The Citizen Times reached out to Buncombe County Schools but did not receive a response before press time. More: Trump administration authorizes immigration enforcement on school campuses Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at rober@ and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober
