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Residents of Woodfin assisted living facility with 0-star rating see improvements, credit new management • Asheville Watchdog

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avlwatchdog.org – SALLY KESTIN – 2025-02-11 07:00:00

The resident leaders of a Woodfin assisted living facility cited for multiple health and safety violations in 2024 say they see improvements and are confident in the leadership of a new management team.

“People are getting better training, there are better procedures, people are being more accountable, and so we feel very optimistic about the future here,” said Marilyn Huff, president of the Assisted Living Council at Harmony at Reynolds Mountain.

As Asheville Watchdog reported last month, Harmony has a rating of zero stars out of four, down from its previous three-star rating, based on three inspections by state and county regulators last year.

Harmony was cited for failing to call 911 for a resident who choked twice and subsequently died, for not supervising or discharging an aggressive resident who physically assaulted other residents and staff for more than two months, and for administering medications late or not at all, according to inspection records.

The facility resolved its most serious violations as of November, and in early December the state lifted a suspension of admissions, citing “progress towards substantial compliance” with regulations. Harmony has paid a $12,000 penalty imposed by the state, and three others totaling $21,000 are under appeal.

“Obviously, some very sad things have happened, and we have been short-staffed, and that’s been difficult,” said Huff, 85, who has lived at Harmony for nearly two years. “But we’re in a new time now.”

New management, ‘outstanding team’

The executive director, Jamie Bowden, arrived in October and is  “developing an outstanding team of managers,” said Huff, a retired consultant and trainer in organizational and leadership development.

Bowden “has the skills, the perspective, the experience outside from another situation in long-term health care, and she has the gumption to do her job,” Huff said. “She’s not afraid of letting people go if they’re not able to do the work here.”

Harmony has had a “revolving door” of executive directors, about 12 in the eight years since it opened, Huff said.

Ron Stephenson, a two-year resident and president of the Independent Living Council at Harmony, said of the executive director who was there when he arrived, “I think I saw her face one time. She didn’t come out of her office.”

Stephenson, 84 and a retired university professor, said he’s impressed with Bowden and the current management team and their responsiveness to residents’ concerns.

In a statement to The Watchdog, Harmony said it “appreciates the trust of our valued residents and families. We remain steadfastly committed to continuing to provide quality service to current and future residents in our safe, friendly, and supportive environment.”

Marilyn Huff and Ron Stephenson, presidents of the residents’ councils at Harmony at Reynolds Mountain, say new management is hiring and training staff “to provide competent, consistent, accountable care.” // Watchdog photo by Starr Sariego

Harmony provides assisted living and memory care, which were the subject of the 2024 inspections, and independent living, which is unregulated.

Run by the family-owned Harmony Senior Services started by James R. Smith, a senior housing developer in Roanoke, Virginia, the Asheville area location is one of 45 in 12 states.

Stephenson said he and his wife pay just over $9,000 a month for their two-bedroom independent living apartment at Harmony. Huff declined to provide the cost of her assisted living apartment; the family of the woman who died from choking previously told The Watchdog her apartment in memory care cost $9,200 a month.

Of the 63 licensed adult care homes and assisted living facilities in Buncombe County, Harmony is one of five with zero stars.

Inspection findings alarm some residents, families

State inspectors found Harmony failed to call 911 as required by policy when a resident choked, turned blue, and lost consciousness in July. She choked again three days later, and Harmony again failed to call 911, according to the inspection report. The resident died that evening of complications from choking.

Harmony was cited in April, August and November for failing to administer medications as prescribed to residents with conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, and Parkinson’s disease, in some cases resulting in worsened symptoms, inspectors found.

Bob Flora, an assisted living resident at Harmony, told The Watchdog he was interviewed by regulators last year and described to them “haphazard” administration of his medications, including late and skipped doses. He said medication administration has significantly improved since Bowden arrived last fall.

“After a few weeks, they were following pretty much to the letter the rules that were in place for giving out medications,” Flora said.

“I want to see the place shaped up and running smoothly, and I think it’s headed in that direction, but there’s turnover still,” he said. “They’re short-handed, and they have to use agency people.”

Flora said it’s difficult to develop a connection with temporary workers.

Huff said of the temporary agency staff, “some are very good, and some are not.”

The Watchdog’s reporting of the state inspection findings alarmed some residents and their families, Huff said.

“A new person who just moved in said it scared him, but he’s settling in,” she said. “I think most of the people who live here are glad to be here and are doing well.”

Exemplary storm response, residents optimistic

Huff and Stephenson said Harmony administrators now meet regularly with the resident councils and resolve their concerns. 

Bowden hired an experienced registered nurse health care director and a director of memory care, who “have worked diligently to comply with state identified deficiencies in care,” they wrote in an email to The Watchdog


How to check out an ALF

Visit the state’s licensure page and search by county or facility name. Click on the facility to view inspection reports, star ratings and penalties.


They said that following Tropical Storm Helene on Sept. 27, Harmony sent assistance and corporate staff. Residents received three hot meals a day, the business manager cleaned out their refrigerators, and staff came around twice a day to flush toilets, they said.

“We like to argue that we were literally the best-cared-for people in Buncombe County,” Stephenson said.

Huff said she’s encouraged by the most recent state inspection in January that found just one issue – a resident not receiving a vitamin supplement as ordered. Harmony remained out of compliance for medication administration but at a level no longer considered a violation.

“The important thing to me is that the new leadership, both the corporate leadership and the local leadership, are on top of it,” Huff said. “Serious changes needed to be made and they are making them.”

She said she and Stephenson “understand what’s happened, but we feel good about where we are and where we’re going, and we’re glad to be here.”


Asheville Watchdog is a nonprofit news team producing stories that matter to Asheville and Buncombe County. Sally Kestin is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter. Email skestin@avlwatchdog.org. The Watchdog’s reporting is made possible by donations from the community. To show your support for this vital public service go to avlwatchdog.org/support-our-publication/.

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News from the South - North Carolina News Feed

What is Chronic Venous Insufficiency? Will Trump be okay?

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www.youtube.com – WRAL – 2025-07-18 12:56:16


SUMMARY: President Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a common condition in people over 70 causing leg swelling due to blood pooling in veins. The White House confirmed no deep vein thrombosis, arterial disease, or heart issues were found, with normal cardiac function and no signs of systemic illness. Despite visible ankle swelling and bruised hands, attributed to frequent handshaking and aspirin use, the president remains in excellent health and experiences no discomfort. At 79, he stays active, working continuously. The White House emphasized these symptoms are minor and consistent with his busy public engagements and cardiovascular prevention measures.

Swollen legs led to President Donald Trump being diagnosed with what’s called chronic venous insufficiency. It’s a fairly common condition among older adults but requires a thorough checkup to rule out more serious causes of swelling in the legs. Here are some things to know.

Chronic venous insufficiency, or CVI, happens when veins in the legs can’t properly carry blood back to the heart. That can lead to blood pooling in the lower legs. In addition to swelling, usually around the feet and ankles, symptoms can include legs that are achy, heavy feeling or tingly, and varicose veins. Severe cases could trigger leg sores known as ulcers.

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US House votes to yank funding for NPR, PBS, foreign aid, sending bill to Trump’s desk

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ncnewsline.com – Jennifer Shutt – 2025-07-18 05:46:00

SUMMARY: On July 2, 2025, the U.S. House approved legislation to cancel $9 billion in previously authorized spending on public broadcasting and foreign aid, marking only the second time in over 30 years Congress approved a presidential rescissions request. The 216-213 mostly party-line vote sends the bill to President Donald Trump for signature. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting will lose $1.1 billion in funding for NPR, PBS, and local stations. The bill also cuts $8 billion in foreign aid but protects HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and maternal health programs. This follows Senate approval with some adjustments and reflects the White House’s push to focus spending on American interests.

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Missing voter information the objection of NC search

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carolinapublicpress.org – Sarah Michels – 2025-07-17 14:07:00


North Carolina State Board of Elections Executive Director Sam Hayes is launching the Registration Repair Project to rectify missing identification info in 103,270 voter records. Missing data include driver’s license numbers, last four Social Security digits, or affirmations of lacking both. The board will send letters in August requesting these details; non-compliant voters will be flagged and cast provisional ballots, counting only for federal contests. Voters providing alternate ID at polls can vote regularly but are still encouraged to update records. The plan, approved unanimously despite concerns about voting barriers, aims to ensure accurate rolls amid ongoing legal disputes and compliance issues.

North Carolina State Board of Elections Executive Director Sam Hayes is setting off on a mission to correct 103,000 North Carolinians’ voting records from which some information is missing. 

He maintains that the process, dubbed the Registration Repair Project, will not remove any eligible voters from the state’s voter rolls. 

According to the state elections board, 103,270 North Carolina registered voters have records that lack either their driver’s license number, the last four digits of their Social Security number or an indication that they have neither. 

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Last year, this missing information became the stuff of headlines, lawsuits and the high-profile election protest of Republican Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin, who lost his bid for state Supreme Court to the incumbent justice, Democrat Allison Riggs, by 734 votes. 

In April, the North Carolina Supreme Court declined to remove ballots from the count based on missing identification numbers; they said the state elections board, not voters, was responsible for a faulty voter registration form that didn’t make it abundantly clear that this information was required. 

While Griffin lost, the issue he raised remains salient for a newly Republican elections board and the U.S. Department of Justice, which promptly sued the state board over alleged violations of the federal Help America Vote Act’s voter registration provisions.

Thursday, Hayes told reporters that a process he unveiled in late June to gather these missing identification numbers had begun in earnest.

“We must put this issue behind us so we can focus our attention squarely on preparations for accurate and secure municipal elections this fall,” he said. 

The plan to collect missing information

There are two groups of voters under Hayes’ plan. 

The first group includes registered voters who have never provided a driver’s license, the last four digits of their Social Security number or an affirmation that they lack both. The state elections board has asked county election boards to check their records for these numbers, in case they were provided but not correctly entered into the voting system. 

In early August, the state elections board will send letters to the remaining voters in this group requesting the missing information. If affected voters do not comply, they will vote provisionally in future elections. The elections board will create a flag on these voters’ records for poll workers. 

The second group includes registered voters whose records do not show that they’ve provided an identification number, but have shown additional documentation at the polls proving their identity and eligibility under HAVA. These voters may vote a regular ballot. 

However, the elections board will still send them a letter in a second mailing asking for the missing identification number to bolster the state’s voter records. Even so, if they do not oblige, they still will not be at risk of being disenfranchised, NCSBE General Counsel Paul Cox said. 

County election boards have already made progress, and their work will continue as the mailings go out, Hayes said. 

Voters can check to see whether they’re on the list of those with missing information by using the Registration Repair Search Tool. If voters don’t want to wait for the August mailing, they can submit an updated voter registration form using their driver’s license through the online DMV portal or visit their county elections board in person with their driver’s license or Social Security card. 

“We anticipate the number of voters on the list will decrease quickly as word spreads about this important effort,” Hayes said.

The State Board of Elections unanimously approved the plan last month, despite some concerns from Democrat Jeff Carmon about putting up an extra obstacle for voters because of a problem with missing information that the voters didn’t cause. 

“It’s hard to understand starvation if you’ve never felt the pangs of hunger,” Carmon said. “It’s the same situation with voting obstacles. Your perspective of an obstacle may not be the same as someone who’s consistently had their identity and their validity questioned.” 

Nonetheless, Carmon and fellow Democrat board member Siobhan Millen ultimately voted in support of the plan.

Same ballot, different rules 

Normally, when a voter casts a provisional ballot, the county elections board determines whether their ballot counts by the post-election canvass, held nine days after an election. 

Voters may have to provide documentation or information to prove their eligibility to vote in order to be accepted. 

The same process applies to the 103,000 affected voters, with a catch. Their vote may be accepted for federal contests, but not state contests, due to a difference in law. 

According to the DOJ’s interpretation, the National Voter Registration Act requires all provisional votes of “duly registered voters” to count, Cox said. 

But the state elections board has interpreted the state Supreme Court and North Carolina Court of Appeals’ decisions in the Griffin case as requiring a driver’s license, the last four digits of a Social Security number or an affirmation that a voter has neither before accepting their votes in state and local contests. 

Under a recent election law change, county election boards have three days to validate and count or reject provisional ballots. 

But sometimes, mismatches happen during validation due to database trouble with reading hyphenated names or connecting maiden and married names, for example, Cox said. The board has designed a “fail safe” in case this comes up. 

When there’s a mismatch during the validation process, state law allows voters to provide additional documentation — like a driver’s license, bank statement or  government document with a voter’s name and address — to prove their eligibility. 

“A big chunk of these voters will have already shown HAVA ID, and that’s because in the past, when this information was not supplied, the county boards would still require these voters to show that alternative form of HAVA ID when they voted for the first time,” Cox said. 

Poll workers will ask provisional voters to provide this additional documentation so that they can mark it down for later, if validation doesn’t work, he added.  

Democrats threaten countersuit 

Last week, the Democratic National Committee threatened the state board with litigation if they went ahead with their plan regarding those with missing information. 

The letter claimed that the plan would remove eligible voters from the rolls illegally. 

Hayes disagrees. In his view, he’s just following the law. 

“It’s not the fault of the voters,” he said. “But at the same time, we’re required by the law to go back and collect this information, which should have been done at the time, and it certainly should have been done in the intervening time.”

He also clarified that North Carolina’s photo voter ID requirement won’t suffice for the impacted voters. They still have to vote provisionally so that their identification numbers can go through the validation process, he said. 

As for whether his fully fleshed out plan will appease the DNC? 

“We hope so,” Hayes said. 

This article first appeared on Carolina Public Press and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The post Missing voter information the objection of NC search appeared first on carolinapublicpress.org



Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

This article presents a balanced and factual report on North Carolina’s voter registration issue, focusing on the administrative process and legal context without overt editorializing. It includes perspectives from both Republican and Democratic figures, highlights legal rulings and procedural details, and covers concerns from Democrats alongside the state elections board’s explanations. The language is neutral, aiming to inform about the complexities of voter ID requirements and the Registration Repair Project without endorsing a particular political stance or framing the issue through a partisan lens.

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