ASHEVILLE
State sues HCA Health
N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein has filed a lawsuit against HCA Healthcare for failing to comply with the Asset Purchase Agreement it executed when it purchased Mission Health System in 2019.
“For-profit HCA has broken its promise to the people of western North Carolina and to my office,” Stein said in a release. “Quality health care is too important – in some cases, a matter of life and death. But HCA apparently cares more about its profits than its patients.”
When HCA purchased Mission, Stein negotiated additional health-care protections for patients because he was concerned that HCA would cut critical services that the community needs. HCA promised not to discontinue emergency and trauma services or oncology services at Mission Hospital until at least 2029.
However, over the last several years, the N.C. Department of Justice has heard from hundreds of North Carolinians about the issues at HCA and received more than 500 complaints. Patients specifically have raised concerns about emergency and trauma services and oncology services.
Details: ncdoj.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Timeline-of-Attorney-General-Josh-Steins-Oversight-of-HCA-Healthcare.pdf.
ROBBINSVILLE
No cells, etc., in courthouse
Effective Jan. 1, 2024, there shall not be allowed inside the District or Superior courtroom in a courthouse in which court is in session any telephone device, cell phone, iPhone, laptop computer device, iPad or other similar electronic device capable of internet access or telephonic communication or capable of recording whatsoever, according to a release.
Any person before entering any courtroom in a courthouse in which District or Superior Court is or is to be in session shall be subject to search of his/her person, I any such device as mentioned above is found, the same shall be subject to immediate seizure by the sheriff and held until further order of the court.
Any person so found in possession of such device prior to entry into the courtroom shall have the option of securing said device at some other location or place and then returning for entry into the courtroom. If any person does enter any courtroom with such device, he or she shall be subject to the contempt powers of the court.
Specifically exempted from this order banning devices are law enforcement officers, officers of the court and attorneys at law licensed to practice before this court. If at any time, there is a pro-se litigant, he or she shall be permitted to have their device in the courtroom for their trial.
MARBLE
T-Mobile, not thieves, here
Over the last few weeks, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office received several calls for service reporting a silver vehicle with an Illinois license plate stopping at mailboxes and possibly stealing packages.
On Thursday, sheriff deputies were able to locate the vehicle on Bluff Road. Upon investigation, they were able to determine that cellular carrier T-Mobile is measuring cell service signals in an effort to improve their service is in the area.
This vehicle – a silver, newer model Ford Expedition with a single flashing warning light on top – will be in the area for
several days, making stops at various locations across the county. The sheriff’s office said in a release that it appreciates the vigilance of community partners in pointing out suspicious activities.
Compiled from staff reports.