It was a day of high politics in downtown Asheville, featuring a rare meeting of the State Board of Elections far afield from its Raleigh headquarters. And with election season looming, the Aug. 24 agenda included a local judicial issue with statewide implications as well as the high-profile question of financial-reporting discrepancies by Gov. Bev […]
Author: Nelda Holder
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State Board of Elections opts not to combine two races for Buncombe County Superior Court seats
There will be two separate ballot listings — not one — this November for two vacancies for Buncombe County District 28 Superior Court judgeships. A controversy over the ballot format was decided this afternoon by the State Board of Elections, which met in Asheville.
State elections board fines Perdue campaign $30,000
The N.C. State Board of Elections voted 4 to 1 this afternoon to fine Gov. Bev Perdue’s campaign committee a total of $30,000 for failure to report certain air travel expenses in a timely manner, concluding that the failure to file was “not intentional wrongdoing.”
We are not TV
The recent headlines announcing the impending demise of URTV come as no surprise. The stories accompanying those headlines, however, claim the station (now an arm of the WNC Community Media Center, which manages public-access television for Asheville and Buncombe County) is failing because it lacks sufficient funding. I beg to differ. Unfortunately, URTV failed long […]
Three judicial races on primary ballot
Three judicial contests — one local and two statewide — will appear on the ballot for the May 4 primary in Buncombe County (see below). All told, they involve 10 candidates about whom voters may know very little. "Judicial races receive very little attention," notes Weaverville resident Kathleen Balogh, who is president of the League […]
State judicial candidates belly up to the reform bar
All 12 candidates in this year's state judicial races has signaled a willingness to abide by public-financing rules in their campaigns. North Carolina's 2002 Judicial Campaign Reform Act enables candidates for the state Court of Appeals or Supreme Court to opt for what are commonly known as "voter-owned elections," partly funded by a $3 checkoff […]
Home for good?
Editor's note: Child-custody cases fall under a peculiar category of the law, with special restrictions meant to protect both the child and those charged with ensuring his/her welfare. Tracing Ryan’s history:Lisa Baldwin combs through the “medical library” she has compiled documenting her son Ryan’s illnesses. (Photos by Jonathan Welch) In January, we reported on an […]
Home for the holidays
Editor's note: Juvenile court is a hard place: hard benches, hard stories, hard decisions that must be made. Children may be torn from families — or saved from them — by judges, social workers and lawyers who must navigate complex social vectors to arrive at solutions that are often less than ideal. Field of dreams: […]
Mahaney civil liberties award goes to Karen VanEman
The WNC Chapter of the ACLU will present their annual civil liberties award to Asheville resident Karen VanEman this Saturday.
Taxes proposed to help with state budget woes
The N.C. House debates a tax increase on the wealthy and other revenue proposals today, hoping to offset some service cuts in the state.
Town hall discussion on state budget and public services
Together NC will host a series of town hall discussions, including one in Asheville on Monday, May 18, on pending state-budget decisions and the importance of public programs and services.
Variety of bills—quiet or controversial—still on their legislative feet after crossover
Controversial as well as quiet bills made it under the legislative-crossover wire last week. Samples here, as well as a rundown of WNC’s primary bill sponsorships, illustrate the variety of subjects on the General Assembly’s plate.
State takes stronger stance on toxic air emissions
The N.C. Environmental Management Commission has voted to monitor toxic emissions more closely in the state by reviewing fossil-fuel facilities every five years.
Do-or-die date arrives for state legislation
Thursday, May 14, is this year’s crossover date for the N.C. General Assembly—when all legislation not requiring new funding must move from one chamber to the other to be eligible for passage.
Sex education, developer responsibility and bottled water all on tap at the Legislature
Action in the N.C. General Assembly for the past and current week addresses sex education in the schools, the misrepresentation of bottled “N.C. spring water,” and limits on developer responsibility for street construction.
Legislature rethinks video gaming for the state
The N.C. General Assembly is considering allowing video gaming in the state—and taking a cut of the action.
Nuclear power in Carolinas’ future?
After “no new nukes” for more than 20 years in the U.S., more than half of the 22 new nuclear-plant applications before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission are for the South — four of them in the Carolinas.
District Republicans convene this weekend
State Sen. Debbie Clary and former Congressman Charles Taylor will be guest speakers tomorrow at WNC’s 11th District Republican Convention.
Buncombe animal groups chosen for national program
Buncombe County has been chosen as one of only three sites in the country for a four-year Mission: Orange campaign, planned by the ASPCA to increase live-release rates for animal-shelter dogs and cats.
Legislature considers extending land-development permits
Buncombe County Rep. Bruce Goforth has introduced a bill in the House to extend “certain permits and approvals” affecting development or real property in the state. The extension period begins Jan. 1, 2007, and continues through Dec. 31, 2010,
High-speed trains: “We have a shot.”
The Southeast High-Speed Rail Corridor, planned to run through North Carolina and Virginia, could get a portion of the $8 billion in federal stimulus money designated for high-speed and intercity rail service.