Amendment One

The controversial Amendment One, which will declare in the state constitution that “marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized" in North Carolina, won statewide by a wide margin, despite losing in Asheville and some other urban centers. Sixty-one percent of state voters approved […]

A week later, effect of Amendment One still unclear

A week after the passage of Amendment One, declaring “that marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized” in North Carolina, its impacts on everything from domestic partner benefits to protections for unmarried couples remain unclear, with both local and state legal experts scrambling to make sense of the new rule.

Images from Friday’s WE DO protest

Friday, same-sex couples went into the Buncombe County Register of Deeds office to request marriage licenses — knowing they would be denied — as part of the WE DO campaign. Eight people were arrested in the ensuing sit-in. The protests originated in Asheville last year and have since spread to other cities throughout the Southeast, garnering national and international media attention. Images of WE DO’s return to its home city. Photos by Max Cooper.

APD Chief stays mum on evidence room details, looking for new manager

Speaking with media this morning, Asheville Police Department Chief William Anderson wouldn’t answer questions about the extent of missing, guns, drugs, and money from the APD evidence room, or when the public will see the unrevealed audit. The APD is looking for a new, civilian evidence room manager, something Anderson believes will hasten “the healing process.” Photo by Max Cooper.

Anti-Amendment One coalition urges supporters to continue fight

Full statement from the Coalition to Protect All NC Families: Tonight’s results were disappointing, not just for gay and lesbian North Carolinians, but for the hundreds of thousands of non-traditional families who may face the harmful impact of Amendment One. Our campaign may have fallen short this evening, but your work over the past several […]

APD, Buncombe Sheriff apply for Justice Assistance grant

Full announcement from the Asheville Police Department: ASHEVILLE – The City of Asheville is applying for funding through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) 2012 Local Solicitation program. This US Department of Justice funding is provided to enhance partnerships between federal, state and local governments to create safer communities through preventing or reducing […]

Bill Reynolds, Republican­, candidate for Buncombe County District 2

Bill Reynolds Party: Republican Slogan: “Less Government Control” Profession: Owner of mail service Residence: Black Mountain Funding: $600-$700 raised. Pledged to raise no more than $1,000 for his campaign. Endorsements: None reported 1. Do you favor A) creating a regional water authority, B) giving the existing system to the Metropolitan Sewerage District or C) leaving […]

APD, Sheriff release joint statement on capture of suspected bank robber

Joint announcement from the Asheville Police Department and Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office: Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan and Asheville Police Chief William Anderson held a press conference on 4/12/2012 at 4:30 pm. The conference announced the identification of Clyde Nixon as the person responsible for several area bank robberies in the early part of this […]

Greenpeace: Activists plead guilty to trespass for Progress Energy protest

Full announcement from Greenpeace: 16 Greenpeace activists have pleaded guilty to trespass and were fined today in Buncombe County Court. The activists took part in a protest at the Asheville Progress Energy coal plant in February this year. “These activists were compelled to take action because of the great harm coal does to the community’s […]