At its only July meeting tomorrow, Asheville City Council will consider beginning two annexations, an incentive for a Montford development and handicapped onstreet parking in downtown.
Author: David Forbes
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The fight over a Bele Chere photo
Necessary documentation of the news or a privacy violation? A photo, by Citizen-Times reporter Jason Sandford, of medics treating an over-heated Hare Krishna at Bele Chere has set off a debate.
Photo copyright Jason Sandford, used with permission
Bele Chere after dark
This image of the moon and inflatable people from local photographer Jay Joslin was taken last night. Joslin writes that the photo was “taken after everything was shut down, all was quiet except for them…”
Rep. Bruce Goforth stepping down July 30
Democratic state Rep. Bruce Goforth, whose district includes most of Asheville, will step down from his post on July 30. He tells Xpress that the move comes so he can focus on the construction business and his family.
Tweet for beer (at Bele Chere)
Xpress is inviting Tweeters, photographers and videographers to join us in telling the tales of this year’s Bele Chere festival. Do so, and we’ll buy you a beer on Sunday.
URTV: “Mistrust and discontent”
Among other things, Buncombe County’s audit of the public-access channel’s finances and organizational structure” concluded that “Contrary to the May 2009 URTV bylaws and expectations of both the county and city governments, URTV has failed to adequately understand and comply with open-meeting law.” Released July 12, the report goes on to note, “This is an […]
Council member tweets committee meetings
Today Asheville City Council member Gordon Smith tweeted deliberations on re-opening the Hillcrest pedestrian bridge and other matters at meetings of the Public Safety and Planning and Economic Development committees.
Bench in front of Vanderbilt Apartments removed
The owner of Roman’s deli has removed a bench in front of the Vanderbilt Apartments due, he says, to landlord and customer complaints. The benches — often used by the residents of the building, most of whom are low-income and elderly — were the last sitting space left in the Pack Library area.
Top Secret Asheville
The Washington Post’s highly-touted Top Secret America investigation, chronicling the explosion of secret government projects, includes a handy map feature that reveals classified government work at four Asheville locations, all within the federal office complex on Patton Avenue.
The sound and fury of a media frenzy
I return from five enjoyable days in the woods to find the Asheville media world’s pulled out the long knives over the inappropriate use of Twitter. We do love to hear ourselves talk, don’t we?
Off target
South Buncombe resident David Bradley, 61, has dealt with health problems, watched his home-based insulation business stall amid a down economy, and seen his family’s well water contaminated. He’s also shared his neighbors’ frustration over the slow pace of government action to clean up the contamination linked to the nearby former CTS of Asheville plant […]
Bele Chere: boon or burden?
It’s just about that time again. In a little over a week, thousands will descend on downtown for Bele Chere, the massive annual street festival with which Asheville enjoys a love-hate relationship. What’s your take on the event?
Buncombe audit: URTV didn’t misuse funds, but failed to follow open meeting laws
An internal audit by Buncombe County on the state of public access channel URTV has found “no indication funds have been spent inappropriately [but] URTV has failed to adequately understand and comply with open meeting laws” and faces a “financial crisis.”
Into the Vault: Outlaws, contamination, sexual harassment suits
Now online in the Xpress Files: the sexual harassment suit against the city and the Asheville Police Department, the APD’s defense, a letter from the EPA targeting a man with a contaminated well, the Outlaws biker indictment, and more.
EPA letter to David Bradley
In this letter, Environmental Protection Agency officials demand information from David Bradley, a Chapel Hill Church Road resident who lives near the contaminated former CTS of Asheville site, about his small home insulation business as a possible source of contamination, as CTS’ lawyers have pointed the finger at a number of surrounding sites, instead of […]
Yes but no
[Editor's note: This story contains detailed allegations couched in sexually explicit language.] Attorneys for both the Asheville Police Department and Sgt. Eric Lauffer have filed defenses in the sexual harassment suit brought by former APD Officer Cherie Byrd. While admitting that Lauffer sent Byrd explicit text messages, both defenses (which often use identical wording) deny […]
At CTS’ request, EPA targeting resident with contaminated well
David Bradley, 61, runs an insulation business out of his home on Chapel Hill Church Road, near the contaminated former CTS of Asheville site. Now, based on a request from CTS, the Environmental Protection Agency has demanded that Bradley give out information on his home as a possible source of contamination or face stiff fines.
Dead homeless man found in French Broad River ***UPDATED 12:30 p.m. Tuesday***
On July 3, Asheville Police Department detectives found the body of Nolan Trent Baker, 55, a homeless man, in the French Broad River. Police are investigating the death, but so far have found no signs of foul play and preliminary autopsy results point to natural causes.
APD officer demoted in wake of sexual harassment case
Personnel records released by the city of Ashevile reveal that police Sgt. Eric Lauffer, the target of a sexual harassment suit by former Officer Cherie Byrd, was demoted in June to a police officer’s rank. In defenses filed last week, the city admitted that Lauffer sent lewd text messages to Byrd, along with ones she regarded as racially offensive, though it denies any wrongdoing.
Asheville unemployment declined in May
Driven by growth in government, leisure, and professional jobs, unemployment in the Asheville metro area declined again in May, dropping from 8.6 percent to 8.2 percent, according to statistics from the state’s Employment Security Commission.
Asheville City Council: Box-office bust
Asheville City Council June 22, 2010 meeting $136 million budget approved Council ponders reopening pedestrian bridge URTV suddenly solvent At their July 22 meeting, Asheville City Council members pulled the plug on the Asheville Film Festival not with a bang but a whimper, jettisoning the event on a 6-0 vote. Budget time: Mayor Terry Bellamy, […]