The 10th and 11th congressional districts have primaries on Tuesday, June 7. Mountain Xpress’ 2016 congressional primary election guide has questions and answers with all six candidates, along with other voting resources.
Democracy North Carolina releases findings on North Carolina’s voter ID law
This past March, 700 Democracy North Carolina volunteers spread out across the state to assure that no voter was illegally turned away from the polls on account of the state’s 2013 voter ID law. In addition to providing voters with information on their rights, volunteers also handed out short surveys asking voters about their experience. […]
Buncombe County Commissioners set to hear more budget requests
Buncombe County Manager Wanda Greene is recommending a total budget of just over $407 million that would hold the property tax rate at 60.4 cents per $100 of valued property. However, property revaluations will take place this year with new values expected to sent out mid-January 2017.
Chadmanian Devil
McCrory vows veto as new coal ash legislation passes House
Contentious behind-the-scenes negotiations on coal ash spilled out into the open this week as the House took up and ultimately passed new legislation despite threats of a veto and lawsuit from Gov. Pat McCrory.
Early voting for congressional primaries underway
Early voting began May 26 for a special primary for candidates in the 10th and 11th congressional districts and for North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice. Early voting will run through June 4, with polling places closed over Memorial Day weekend, May 28-30.
Race course
INTERVIEW: Gov. McCrory offers his views, amid protests at the Western Residence
Spring is a beautiful time to visit the Governor’s Western Residence on Town Mountain. Governors and their spouses have traditionally opened the residence to the public twice a year — once in the spring when the rhododendrons are in full bloom, and once during the winter holidays. Last December’s gathering saw record attendance, according to a tour guide […]
UPDATED: Miranda DeBruhl vacates seat, exits election
On Monday, May 16, Commissioner DeBruhl sent an email stating she would be vacating her seat on the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners and also dropping out of her race for Chair.
Protest planned for Gov. McCrory’s western residence open house
Despite some economic gains the state has made since he took office as North Carolina’s governor in 2013, Pat McCrory isn’t a popular guy with those on the left. In conjunction with McCrory’s planned Governor’s Western Residence open house on Saturday, May 14, a broad spectrum of social and environmental advocacy groups plan to protest legislation McCrory has signed. […]
Tow and do likewise
Isaac Coleman, civil rights activist and community leader, passes away
According to the Asheville Buncombe County chapter of the National Association of Colored Persons, local civil rights activist and community leader Isaac Coleman has died.
Buncombe County commissioners approve sale of property worth nearly $1 million
During a brief meeting, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution to sell a piece of property at 32 Compton Drive, off New Leicester Highway, in West Asheville. The county will begin accepting bids effective immediately and will not sell it for less than $915,001.
Buncombe County Commissioners to consider selling property worth nearly $1 million
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners will likely make short work of its upcoming meeting on Tuesday, May 3. The bulk of the heavy lifting is announcing four proclamations. There are no public hearings or new business agenda items.
Small bites: Waynesville celebrates historic ties to ramps
Waynesville honors one of mother nature’s most pungent offerings for the 86th year; Farm Burger adds a South Asheville location; and Belly Up Food Truck helps out those in need of food with a new pay-it-forward initiative.
200 attend meeting to learn more about HB2, how to fight it
What Emily Dawson wants in life is a workplace where she doesn’t feel threatened. At least that would be a good start. Instead, she feels more threatened since the passage of House Bill 2, which she says relegates her to a restroom full of men, who likely will be hostile at the thought of seeing […]
Carlvin and Stomps
Ban the Box, June-primary budget amendment set to go before Buncombe County Commissioners
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners has a decidedly lighter agenda for its upcoming meeting compared to this month’s previous seven-hour slugfest. There are no public hearings scheduled and the four new business items don’t appear to be inherently contentious in nature when commissioners tackle the agenda on Tuesday, April 19. Among those issues are amending the budget to pay for June’s Congressional primary and consideration of removing the question regarding an candidate’s criminal past on the county’s hiring application.
In photos: A rally in support of HB 2 and protesters against it share Pack Square
On Saturday, April 2, supporters and opponents of the recently-passed North Carolina legislation House Bill 2 demonstrated in Asheville’s Pack Square. The new law overturns a Charlotte ordinance that would have allowed people to use the bathroom that corresponds to their gender identity rather than the sex that matches their birth certificate. It also prevents other municipalities from passing similar ordinances to Charlotte’s, and it limits legal recourse for those who believe they have experienced discrimination based on race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex or disability.
Sign sense
Democracy North Carolina volunteers safeguard voters’ rights
Over 700 Democracy North Carolina volunteers fanned out across the state on March 15, primary election day. They were helping ensure that no one was illegally turned away from the polls as a result of North Carolina’s 2013 voter ID law, which took effect this year.