***UPDATED: 11:57 a.m. Wednesday**** A federal judge ruled Monday that former Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford will remain in jail, along with two of his former deputies, until his trial date, which could be in March. Another deputy will also stay in prison until the trial, the judge ruled Tuesday.
While it is the first time he’s faced criminal charges, Thursday’s arrest of former Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford and three of his deputies on federal extortion charges is not the first time Medford’s behavior has sparked controversy, or that accusations of corruption or abuse of his office have been leveled.
Former Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford was arrested Thursday morning along with three of his officers and charged, under a federal indictment, with extorting money from illegal video poker operations.
It took three years to make, attracting no small share of buzz, rumors and speculation. But now it’s done, and word came Nov. 28 that Anywhere, U.S.A, formerly known as Asheville: The Movie, will premiere in January at the Sundance Film Festival. Going places: Early publicity art for Asheville: The Movie, now on its way […]
A controversial poem slated for inclusion in the new WNC Veterans Memorial will probably be modified or replaced. The city’s Public Art Board postponed a final decision on the matter during its Nov. 29 meeting to allow time for alternatives to emerge. Board members plan to revisit the issue during a Dec. 28 retreat. Memorialized: […]
Lucky hand: Photographer Jenny Bowen’s self-portrait for the Faces of Asheville project, which has now been revived. Photos By Jenny Bowen Local photographer and artist Jenny Bowen‘s home studio was burglarized in August, putting the future of her “Faces of Asheville” project—an effort to get portraits of 100 of the city’s most unique denizens—in doubt, […]
Thanks to a lot of community support, the Faces of Asheville project — an effort to get portraits of the city’s unique denizens — is back.
Feel a rumbling this morning? That was a 3.1 magnitude earthquake, centered 27 miles southeast of Asheville.
The Asheville Film Festival proved to be quite an event this year, and Xpress was in the thick of it. Now we’re happy to present glimpses from this year’s awards gala.
La policía de Asheville ha instalado una línea telefónica para hablar con personas que hablan español.
The Carolina Stompers Web page features an angry-looking, anthropomorphic elephant chomping on a cigar and flexing an extremely well-muscled arm emblazoned with the letters “USA.” An audio track of an elephant’s roar starts up, and a banner below reads, “stomping liberals and RINOs [Republicans in Name Only] for our children’s future.” Ready to rumble: The […]
A controversial poem planned for inclusion in the City/County Plaza Veterans Memorial has received enough criticism that the city’s Public Art Board is reconsidering it.
Three years in the making, Anywhere, U.S.A, formerly known as Asheville: The Movie, will premiere in January at the Sundance Film Festival.
In a short meeting just before the Thanksgiving holiday, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved tougher storm-water rules. Monkey on his back: During public comment, Eric Gorney appeared with a stuffed animal — which he named “Buncombe County Taxes, Regulations and Red Tape Bureaucracy.” Commissioner David Young was compelled to comment that “that’s […]
In a Nov. 14 raid in Evansville, Ind., FBI agents seized gold, silver, platinum and other materials used to manufacture the Liberty Dollar, a private currency produced by Liberty Services and marketed through a series of regional offices. But it was an extensive investigation of the Asheville office by undercover federal agents that resulted in […]
Two smokestacks synonymous with the American Enka plant around which the town was built are scheduled for demolition in the coming weeks, sparking worries about asbestos and other chemicals—which inspectors say are unfounded—and concerns about the loss of a historical landmark. Standing up for the stacks: Citizen activist and Enka resident Jerry Rice says the […]
The economic impact of immigration, as well as its influence on education, health and justice, was the focus of a League of Women Voters-sponsored forum on Nov. 15. A panel representing several sides of the issue voiced concerns and personal experiences and answered written questions from the audience. About 60 people attended the forum, held […]
Citing excesses and instances of misconduct by local law enforcement, the activist group Citizens Awareness Asheville has formed a citizen’s police-review board, a “Copwatch” program and a telephone hotline to act on community concerns. Standing on the steps of City Hall on Nov. 14 with other members of the group, CAA spokesperson Gene Hampton said […]
In their last meeting before the Thanksgiving holiday, the Buncombe County Commissioners will consider declaring their support for a performing-arts center in Asheville and amending the county’s stormwater ordinance, and hear an update on the Meals on Wheels program.
Undercover federal agents extensively investigated the Liberty Dollar organization in Asheville, leading to the issue of a seizure warrant on Nov. 9 for a raid on the Liberty Dollar headquarters in Evansville, Ind., according to an affidavit obtained by Xpress.
UPDATED:*** 5:38 p.m. Friday*** The seizure warrant for an Nov. 14 FBI raid on a company that produces Liberty Dollars originated in Asheville. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is not commenting on the specific connection to Asheville or Western North Carolina.
