N.C. Speaker of the House Thom Tillis spoke to the Council of Independent Business Owners in Asheville on March 22, updating them on the majority party’s accomplishments and goals.
(Photo by Bill Rhodes)
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State notes: water study hearing, redistricting costs, billboards in court, and would-be governors
The fate of the Asheville water system is back on the legislative docket; the state’s new billboard rules have moved to the court docket; a number of WNC officials have lined up behind WNC candidate for governor; and a steep redistricting price tag gets scrutinized.
Scenic NC requests legal block to new tree cutting in billboard zones
A temporary restraining order is being requested today to keep the N.C. Department of Transportation from permitting vegetation removal—primarily trees—under new state rules that allow larger zones and clear-cutting in the public right-of-way by outdoor advertising agencies.
Scenic NC’s 2012 lawsuit RE: tree-cutting for billboards
Opponents of the state’s new billboard law prepared a complaint and temporary restraining order request Feb. 29, 2012, in Wake County Superior Court. The legal action by Scenic NC, Inc., is aimed at keeping the N.C. Department of Transportation from permitting vegetation removal – primarily trees – in front of billboards and other outdoor advertising under new temporary rules set to take effect March 1.
New voting districts dramatically impact WNC
At a Feb. 22 forum hosted by the Asheville-Buncombe County League of Women Voters, Dr. George Peery sought to contextualize new Western North Carolina political districts that have “spawned shocked incredulity, smug sentiments of justifiable payback, outrage, support, and baffled indifference,” he said.
Public gives legislators an earful on water system
The public weighed in on the fate of the city’s water system today, Feb. 23, with the majority telling a study group of four legislators that the utility should remain in the city’s hands. (In this photo, Asheville City Manager Gary Jackson and City council members Jan Davis, Esther Manheimer and Chris Pelly talk with Henderson County Commissioner Charles Messer. Photo by Bill Rhodes)
Perfectly clear: New billboard law allows increased tree cutting
There are 8,000 billboards along North Carolina’s highways, and on March 1, all of them will be subject to a new state law that greatly expands their “viewing zone.” And for the first time in decades, that will mean clear cutting (up to 380 feet) in the state rights of way.
(Photo by Bill Rhodes)
Democrats running for congress in 10th District make their case
Two of the three Democrats running for Congress in the 10th District spoke at a Feb. 17 meeting of the Democratic Women of Buncombe County. Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy, Statehouse Rep. Patsy Keever and writer/musician Timothy Murphy are all hoping to be the Democrat that takes on Republican incumbent – and likely nominee – Rep. Patrick McHenry in the fall.
Don’t look now, but your polls are trailing
As various members of the N.C. General Assembly point their cars towards Raleigh for their — could it be? — eighth mini-session tomorrow, they carry the extra weight of a January poll that found only 19 percent approval from North Carolina voters for their last time together.
Whilden challenges Moffitt to rematch, will run for NC House
Kicking off what’s likely to be one of the most contentious local campaigns this year, former Democratic Rep. Jane Whilden announced Feb. 13 that she will challenge incumbent Republican Tim Moffitt to try to take back the N.C. House seat she lost to him in 2010.
It’s a date: Water study committee comes to town on Feb. 23
The legislative study committee examining the Asheville water system’s fate will hold a public hearing here on Thursday, Feb. 23, at the WNC Agricultural Center.
Keever says experience sets her apart from Bellamy
Rep. Patsy Keever huddled with a group of supporters in downtown Asheville on Jan. 19 to formally announce her candidacy for Congress in the 10th District, which stretches from the mountains to Gaston County. Now she faces Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy and a host of other Democratic challengers vying to be their party’s congressional nominee against Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry in the November election. Photo by Bill Rhodes.
Scrutiny of Asheville water system begins today in Raleigh
The study committee reviewing the Asheville water system and contemplating its future begins its series of four meetings today in Raleigh. Audio of the 2 p.m. meeting will be live streamed.
(Photo by Bill Rhodes)
NC lawmakers hear testimony from DENR, CTS neighbors on contamination case
A Statehouse committee chaired by Buncombe Rep. Tim Moffitt convened in Raleigh Jan. 17 to question DENR officials and hear from residents near the former CTS electroplating facility on Mills Gap Road south of Asheville. Here, Moffitt embraces CTS neighbor Dot Rice, whose family’s spring was contaminated by hazardous chemicals used at the plant; numerous Rice family members have become gravely ill.
Legislative committees focus on Asheville, Buncombe County
With constitutional arguments concerning the Jan. 4 and 5 convenings of the N.C. Legislature now in the court system and the next scheduled session a month away on Feb. 16, the legislative calendar is currently dense with committee activity. And three committees specifically affecting Asheville and Buncombe County are part of the out-of-session action.
What to do with our water system? An interview with North Carolina Rep. Tim Moffitt
On Jan. 11, Xpress Contributing Editor Nelda Holder sat down with Rep. Tim Moffitt and talked with him about Study Bill 925, which created a Statehouse committee charged with reviewing and, perhaps, determining the future of the Asheville water system.
Conservation Scorecard: Reps. Keever and Fisher rank high, Moffitt low
The North Carolina League of Conservation Voters scored Buncombe County’s legislators on their environmental votes for 2011. Rep. Patsy Keever ranked among the most “green” members of the Statehouse, and Rep. Tim Moffitt among the least.
Heads up: Legislative hearings involving Asheville water system begin
Hearings of the Legislature’s Metropolitan Sewerage/Water System Committee, headed by Buncombe County’s Rep. Tim Moffitt, are set to begin Jan. 23 in Raleigh. The study grew out of legislation filed by Moffitt that would have demanded “conveyance of a city water system to a metropolitan sewerage district” under certain conditions — conditions that happened to specifically match Asheville and Buncombe County.
Battery of activists and legislators vie for redistricting reform
State legislators and activists came together in a Biltmore Forest home last night, Dec. 8, to build support for redistricting reform in North Carolina.
WNC legislators recognized for their work on redistricting reform
Today, Dec. 8, at local bookstore Malaprops, Jane Pinsky (left) of the N.C. Coalition for Lobbying and Government Reform recognized Rep. Ray Rapp (center right) and several other Western North Carolina legislators who support redistricting reform. (photo by Max Cooper)
Grim forecast overshadows WNC budget briefing
Armed with grim statistics on a cloudy day in Western North Carolina, Alexandra Sirota of the N.C. Budget and Tax Center introduced herself on Tuesday morning, Dec. 6, by saying, “Hopefully by the end, we won’t leave you with too much discouragement.”