Facing controversy over a domestic violence conviction involving his ex-wife during his successful 2009 bid for vice chair of the North Carolina Republican Party, then-Buncombe GOP Chair Tim Johnson produced a statement, supposedly from her, supporting his candidacy. Now, she says she never wrote that endorsement, or had any knowledge of it until after his election.
Unemployment in the Asheville metro area dropped last month, from 10.2 percent to 9.4 percent, according to statistics from the state’s Employment Security Commission. The decline was part of a drop in unemployment in every county in North Carolina.
Legislation approved by the North Carolina General Assembly last year lays out several ways local governments can promote energy efficiency, including bonds that property owners would pay off through a special tax assessment. In Asheville, the public push began April 19, when about 100 members of the public and elected officials from both the city […]
At its April 27 meeting, Asheville City Council:
• delayed a decision whether to cut its event-sponsorship support;
• transferred $2.4 million from health-insurance reserves to cover operating shortfalls;
• approved a plan to improve the city bus system, launch a new Transit logo and market the bus service
• waived fees for arts events in Pritchard Park, and
• passed a city-wide smoking ban on public property.
Before Asheville City Council at tomorrow night’s meeting are a smoking ban on all city property (including parks and greenways) as well as a new marketing campaign and hours for Asheville transit. Also, Council will discuss the budget.
Asheville Airport Police arrested Joseph S. McVey, of Coshocton, Ohio, yesterday afternoon after President Barack Obama had just departed the area. According to police, McVey said he wanted to see the President and was found listening to local law enforcement channels while carrying a pistol, with “rifle scope formulas” in his car.
President Barack Obama‘s visit this weekend means there will be no hot air balloon rides at RiverLink’s Earth Day picnic Saturday, April 24. Homeland Security and the Federal Aviation Administration cancelled the activity.
Council approves $1.7 million in new fees Asheville City Council April 13, 2010 City kicks in $100,000 for pharmaceutical school Council divided over municipal unions The Asheville City Council took a key step toward closing the city's looming budget gap April 13. On three separate votes, Council members approved new fees that, together, are projected […]
One of the primary season's most-watched races pits Rep. Bruce Goforth, a four-term incumbent who's the current Democratic whip, against former Buncombe County Commissioner Patsy Keever. Xpress conducted separate in-depth interviews with both candidates. Here are excerpts from those interviews. Full transcripts and video are available at www.mountainx.com. Rep. Bruce Goforth Mountain Xpress: You've been […]
Around 10 a.m. Saturday morning, April 17, a city bus crashed into 57 College St. in downtown Asheville. The crash damaged the Medierranean Restaurant, Stella Blue and Spa Theology, ruptured a gas line and seriously injured a pedestrian. The Asheville Police Department is asking for witnesses of the accident to come forward. Crashed: A city […]
Police will not charge a city bus driver — now identified as Ralph Dowdle, 52, of Arden — that crashed a bus into several College Street businesses Saturday, April 17. In an announcement today, the Asheville Police Department stated “Dowdle lost consciousness due to the rapid onset of an undiagnosed medical condition.”
After two days of swirling rumors, it’s official: President Barack Obama and his family will visit Asheville next weekend. There will be no public events.
With the political season heating up, Buncombe Democrats and Republicans are both gearing up for a party this Saturday, with Dems holding their annual convention, and the GOP celebrating the grand opening of their new headquarters.
The city of Asheville has appointed John P. Smith, a former city manager of Fayetteville, N.C., and North Myrtle Beach, S.C., as interim finance director as the city faces the tricky task of closing its budget gap.
With early voting beginning later this week, Xpress presents an in-depth video interview with Rep. Bruce Goforth, who’s running for a fifth term in one of the primary season’s most-watched races.
With early voting beginning later this week, Xpress presents an in-depth video interview with Patsy Keever, who’s running to unseat Rep. Bruce Goforth in one of the primary season’s most-watched races.
At this evening’s meeting, Asheville City Council voted to raise various construction, planning and transit fees, as well as water fees; decided what to ask our local delegation what to push for in Raleigh; heard a Civic Center report; and held off deciding whether to support a League of Municipalities effort to release local governments from having to bargain collectively with unions.
Asheville City Council will, at its meeting tomorrow, grapple with stimulus funds and state legislation. This will also be the first meeting where interested citizens can watch live, via the Internet.
The city’s bus service contract is up for renegotiation this year, including a provision for eight holiday days off that’s come under some criticism. The Asheville Transit Service also faces up to $600,000 in potential cuts.
Cities across the country are competing in an unofficial online poll for the title of “Most Deserving City” for Google’s proposed super-fast fiber-optic network, and two heavy-hitters have quickly emerged: Asheville and Greenville, S.C. Right now, Greenville is ahead.
Increased taxes, increased fees, cuts to transit, cuts to salaries, cuts to overtime, a four-day work week for city offices and more are all on the menu of possible ways to balance Asheville’s budget. But despite Council deliberating at length on possible remedies, a stubborn $1 million gap remains. How should the city close it?
