Council runs into multiple demanding situations, including the housing crisis and a public irate about the actions of a power giant, in a packed meeting Above: Asheville City Council member Gordon Smith. File photo by Max Cooper As our longtime readers know, our Council reports…

A deeper look at short-term rentals and how, in the hands of the wealthy, they will hollow out our city — something that’s already happened around the country Above: Part of the Carolina Lane/Chicken Alley area, where some former apartments have been turned into short-term…

Council moves forward with ‘minor’ fee changes — and ending the downtown fare free bus zone — sparking a debate about transparency Above: a sign on South French Broad Avenue noting the boundary of the city’s fare free bus zone. Asheville City Council’s April 14…

With little discussion or transparency, Asheville City Council moved this week to end downtown’s fare free transit zone, an important aid for some citizens. That needs to change, and any changes to the zone deserve a full public discussion Above: The fare free zone in…

Whooping cough is making a local comeback. More on this once-defeated disease, why it’s returning and how our society’s frayed Above: The Bortedella pertussis bacteria that causes whooping cough, image from the Center for Disease Control Whooping cough is an easy disease to ignore. With…

Once again, an important request for public records faces lengthy, unexplained delays from the city of Asheville. It’s time for this disturbing pattern to end Above: City Hall, file photo by Max Cooper. Update: The city of Asheville does track records of police complaints in annual…

Hoping for gridlock, mulling a whitewater park, diagnosing the police department’s woes and more as Asheville City Council tackles a bevy of reports Above: City Manager Gary Jackson, file photo by Max Cooper. As the March 24 Asheville City Council meeting drew near, word emerged…

It’s time to bring the focus on violence against trans people as the Fix Society movement pushes locally for justice, better services and an end to hate Above: A flier for the recent Fix Society rally and forum in Asheville. Photo by Jennifer M. Barge.…

Behind the numbers, criticisms, praise and efforts to reform how Asheville accesses public information about its own government and its records Above: Workers on scaffolding outside City Hall during recent renovations. Photo by Bill Rhodes. Every year Sunshine Week, which ended Saturday, marks a time…

An e-cigarette ban, delayed public hearings, repairing the Vance Monument and background checks for school board members in an unusually short Asheville City Council meeting Above: Council member Jan Davis, file photo by Max Cooper. “Short” is a relative term when it comes to Asheville…