GQ ranks Asheville as ‘coolest city....’
Jaywalker beating triggers changes See STORY, Pg. A4
Johnnie Rush
— See STORY, Pg. A5
Duke Energy questions Lake Julian radioactivity — See STORY, Pg. A6
LLE I V HE AS ASHEVILLEʼS GREATEST NEWSPAPER
April 2018
An Independent Newspaper Serving Greater Asheville www.ashevilledailyplanet.com FREE
Vol. 14, No. 5
Mission seeks to be acquired by PCA
From Staff Reports Asheville-based nonprofit Mission Health, the largest health care provider in Western North Carolina, has signed a letter of intent to be acquired by a for-profit health care system, Mission announced in a news release in late March. Mission noted that its board unanimously voted to enter into an agreement with HCA
Healthcare, a Nashville, Tenn.-based health care company that operates more than 179 hospitals and 1,800 outpatient facilities in 20 states and the United Kingdom. The agreement is not final and is subject to negotiations. Mission and PCA noted that they hope to complete the consolidation by the end of the calendar year. The due diligence process is expected to take 90 to 120 days, followed by a 90-day regulato-
ry review and, if all goes well, culminating in a signing of definitive agreements. Mission, with about 12,000 workers, is the largest North Carolina employer west of Charlotte. Officials from Mission and PCA immediately stated that massive layoffs at Mission are not envisioned. Meanwhile, Gov. Roy Cooper, who visited Mission’s Cancer Center in Asheville on
March 27, said the deal between Mission and PCA could be “positive,” but expressed concern about its possible impact on the region’s poorest residents. Specifically, Cooper called for a commitment in the deal to provide health care to WNC’s Medicaid and indigent populations, especially given that PCA is a for-profit health care company. MISSION, Page A12
Youth-led anti-gun protest draws 6,000 participants
Special photo RACHAEL BLISS
Students march during the “March for Our Lives” protest on March 24 in Asheville. More photos appear on Page A2.
Natural gas, solar panels termed tops for buildings
By JOHN NORTH
john@AshevilleDailyPlanet.com
Based on his energy-sector expertise and a quest for maximum efficiency, Asheville entrepreneur Stuart Weidie told the Council of Independent Business Owners on March 2 that the most cost-efficient path — now — is for businesses and homes to be heated and cooled
by natural gas, with solar panels on their rooftops. He also said that “I think propane is the best source (of fuel) for vehicles.” Weidie, president and CEO of Blossman Gas Inc., presented his “Energy Sector Report” to CIBO, following his update on the Enka Youth Sports Organization’s baseball
and softball facility. (See story on Page A 14 for his sports complex report.) About 30 CIBO members and guests attended, including N.C. Rep. Brian Turner, R-Buncombe. The meeting was held at UNC Asheville’s Sherrill Center. He began his energy talk by noting, “I think everyone here knows and understands that we’ve been experiencing an energy revolution for the last number of years. See NATURAL GAS/SOLAR, Page A14
Flee bitten
The Advice Goddess
Q: For three months, things were Amy Alkon going really well with this man I was dating. He’d introduced me to his daughter. We’d even planned a trip together. And then he just disappeared. I eventually texted him to find out what happened, but he simply texted back, “Really busy, all good.” This isn’t the first time this has happened to me or my girlfriends. Why do men do this? Why don’t they tell you what’s really going on? — Upset Want to know the answer? See ADVICE GODDESS, Page A12