Today’s round of questions, my smart-aleck replies and the real answers:
Question: I want to know if I go to an Asheville Tourists baseball game and pay the full price for a ticket, and buy two beers and two hot dogs, what’s the total cost for that? And how much of that goes to the DeWine organization? How much goes to the city?
My answer: I’m pretty sure most baseball stadium food, including this proposed meal, comes with a personal defibrillator.
Real answer: As we’ve previously reported, the Asheville Tourists Baseball Club is owned by the DeWine Seeds Silver Dollar Baseball LLC, which is owned by the family of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. DeWine’s son Brian is the president of the team and the owner-operator with his wife, Kali.
It seems like whenever Gov. DeWine, a Republican, makes some news in Ohio, I get some questions about the local team here and where the money goes. As we reported in 2022, the governor “personally owns 32 percent of the team, according to records, but has no management role in the team.” Brian DeWine, a resident of Asheville since 2010, calls the Tourists ‘a local, family-owned business.’”
Now, about those dogs and brews. First, Brian DeWine tried to upsell the fan.
Brian DeWine is the president of the Asheville Tourists and the owner-operator with his wife, Kali. // Watchdog photo by Peter Lewis
“Are you sure your reader doesn’t also want to wash that down with a deep-fried moon-pie? Or a churro sundae?” DeWine asked.
Tempting, but I think they were hoping to live at least until Sunday.
“A beer is going to be $8-$9 and $1 and $3 on Thirsty Thursday,” DeWine said. “Hotdogs are $3.75, except on Fridays when they are $1.”
Tickets start at $9.50 for kids, $10.50 for military and seniors and $11.50 for an adult, he added, noting that all prices include sales tax. So under normal conditions, it looks like you’d be dropping $35 to get in, scarf down two ‘dogs and two beers, and enjoy the game.
The Tourists run the complete food and beverage operation, so the city, which owns McCormick Field, does not reap any financial benefits from it.
“The city does not collect a portion of food and beverage sales during baseball games at McCormick; we do however collect an annual rent payment from the team,” Chris Corl, the city of Asheville’s director of community and regional entertainment facilities, said via email. “This year’s rent is lower than ‘normal’ due to disruptions related to the construction project.”
The 2025 season at McCormick Field is being played “under construction,” as DeWine previously told The Watchdog. Some areas of the ballpark will be closed to fans during certain parts of the season, as the stadium undergoes a $38.5 million renovation project to comply with dictates from Major League Baseball to upgrade locker rooms and other facilities.
Corl provided the city’s rental rates for McCormick Field for last year, this year and next year:
2024: $100,000
2025: $50,000
2026: $450,000
The Tourists had their home opener April 8, although it was a rainy affair. The team’s 132-game schedule this year features 66 home games, including matchups on July 4, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day Weekend, and Labor Day Weekend.
Question: I haven’t heard any communications from the Asheville City Schools superintendent or the Buncombe County Schools district on how they are handling the Trump administration’s attack on DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion). I know that the ACS central office does have a fulltime staff member committed to equity, but I have not heard anything about changes in its programming or staffing. Might make for an interesting article to reach out to the Districts to ask what they are doing to respond to Trump’s and the Department of Education’s blocking of funding for districts with DEI policies or programs.
My answer: They’re keeping mum? Really? That’s odd in this climate …
Real answer: Asheville City Schools Chief of Staff Kimberly Dechant answered on behalf of city schools.
“At this time, Asheville City Schools remains committed to its mission of fostering an inclusive and equitable environment for ALL students and staff,” Dechant said via email (emphasis on “ALL” was hers). “There have been no changes to our programming or staffing related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.”
On April 3, the Trump administration’s Department of Education sent a “reminder” notice to school systems titled, “Reminder of Legal Obligations Undertaken in Exchange for Receiving Federal Financial Assistance and Request for Certification under Title VI and SFFA v. Harvard.”
The court reference refers to the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard University and UNC Chapel Hill, which essentially banned consideration of race in college admissions.
The reminder notice sent to schools further states: “Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides that ‘no person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”
As NPR reported last week, in its latest DEI directive to K-12 school leaders, “the Trump administration has asked every state and local school leader to recommit to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prevents race-based discrimination for federally funded programs. It says states that fail to recertify could lose their federal funds, including grants intended for low-income students.”
(On Thursday, a federal judge ruled that the Trump’s administration had overstepped the executive branch’s legal authority over local schools and had not provided a sufficient definition of DEI.)
Dechant said ACS is “closely monitoring developments at both the federal and state levels regarding any potential legislation or policy changes that may impact DEI initiatives.
“Until such legislation is passed and its implications are clarified, we will maintain our current approach and continue to prioritize equity in education for ALL students,” Dechant said, again emphasising “all.”
At Buncombe County Schools, spokesperson Ken Ulmer said the system “continues to comply with all federal, state, and local laws.
“Buncombe County Schools does not have any dedicated positions such as diversity officers,” Ulmer said. “As a school system, BCS is committed to serving each and every student in our district with the respect, support, and opportunities they deserve.”
The county system does have Assistant Superintendent Jamie Johnson’s role listed on its website as “Educational Equity and Student Support.”
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SUMMARY: Donald van der Vaart, a former North Carolina environmental secretary and climate skeptic, has been appointed to the North Carolina Utilities Commission by Republican Treasurer Brad Briner. Van der Vaart, who previously supported offshore drilling and fracking, would oversee the state’s transition to renewable energy while regulating utility services. His appointment, which requires approval from the state House and Senate, has drawn opposition from environmental groups. Critics argue that his views contradict clean energy progress. The appointment follows a controversial bill passed by the legislature, granting the treasurer appointment power to the commission.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-30 14:47:00
(The Center Square) – Called “crypto-friendly legislation” by the leader of the chamber, a proposal on digital assets on Wednesday afternoon passed the North Carolina House of Representatives.
Passage was 71-44 mostly along party lines.
The NC Digital Assets Investments Act, known also as House Bill 92, has investment requirements, caps and management, and clear definitions and standards aimed at making sure only qualified digital assets are included. House Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, said the state would potentially join more than a dozen others with “crypto-friendly legislation.”
With him in sponsorship are Reps. Stephen Ross, R-Alamance, Mark Brody, R-Union, and Mike Schietzelt, R-Wake.
Nationally last year, the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act – known as FIT21 – passed through the U.S. House in May and in September was parked in the Senate’s Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.
Dan Spuller, cochairman of the North Carolina Blockchain Initiative, said the state has proven a leader on digital asset policy. That includes the Money Transmitters Act of 2016, the North Carolina Regulatory Sandbox Act of 2021, and last year’s No Centrl Bank Digital Currency Pmts to State. The latter was strongly opposed by Gov. Roy Cooper, so much so that passage votes of 109-4 in the House and 39-5 in the Senate slipped back to override votes, respectively, of 73-41 and 27-17.
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
The article presents a factual report on the passage of the NC Digital Assets Investments Act, highlighting the legislative process, party-line votes, and related legislative measures. It does not adopt a clear ideological stance or frame the legislation in a way that suggests bias. Instead, it provides neutral information on the bill, its sponsors, and relevant background on state legislative activity in digital asset policy. The tone and language remain objective, focusing on legislative facts rather than promoting a particular viewpoint.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-30 11:04:00
(The Center Square) – Hurricane Helene recovery in North Carolina is being impacted by a federal agency with seven consecutive failed audits and the elimination of hundreds of its workers in the state.
Democratic Attorney General Jeff Jackson joined a lawsuit on behalf of the state with 23 other states and the District of Columbia against AmeriCorps, known also as the Corporation for National and Community Service. The state’s top prosecutor says eight of 19 AmeriCorps programs and 202 jobs are being lost in the state by the cuts to the federal program.
Jeff Jackson, North Carolina attorney general
NCDOJ.gov
The litigation says responsibility lies with the Department of Government Efficiency established by President Donald Trump.
“These funds – which Congress already appropriated for North Carolina – are creating jobs, cleaning up storm damage, and helping families rebuild,” Jackson said. “AmeriCorps must follow the law so that people in western North Carolina can confidently move forward.”
Jackson, in a release, said 50 of the 750 volunteers terminated on April 15 were in North Carolina. Three programs with 84 people employed were impacted on Friday when AmeriCorps cut federal funds to grant programs that run through the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service.
Project MARS was helping in 18 western counties, providing supplies and meals to homebound and stranded families. Clothing, crisis hotlines and school supports were also aided. Project Conserve was in 25 western counties helping with debris removal, tree replanting, storm-system repairs and rain-barrel distribution. Project POWER helped large-scale food donations for more than 10,000 people in the hard-hit counties of Buncombe, Henderson and Madison.
The White House has defended its accountability actions and did so on this move. AmeriCorps has a budget of about $1 billion.
Helene killed 107 in North Carolina and caused an estimated $60 billion damage.
The storm made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Dekle Beach, Fla., on Sept. 26. It dissipated over the mountains of the state and Tennessee, dropping more than 30 inches in some places and over 24 consistently across more.
U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., said last year AmeriCorps has a legacy of “incompetence and total disregard for taxpayer money.” She was chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, which requested the report showing repeated failed audits and financial management troubles.
“AmeriCorps,” Foxx said, “receives an astounding $1 billion in taxpayer funds every year but hasn’t received a clean audit for the past seven years. As instances of fraud continue, the agency has proven time and time again incapable of reforming itself and should never be given another opportunity to abuse taxpayer dollars.”
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: Center-Right
The article presents an ideological stance that leans toward the right, particularly in its portrayal of AmeriCorps, a federal agency, and its financial mismanagement. The language used to describe the agency’s struggles with audits, financial troubles, and alleged incompetence reflects a critical perspective typically associated with conservative viewpoints, especially through the quote from Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx. Additionally, the inclusion of comments from North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson and other Democratic officials highlights a contrast in political positions. However, the article itself primarily reports on legal actions and the consequences of funding cuts without pushing a clear partisan agenda, thus maintaining a degree of neutrality in reporting factual details of the case.
