Despite deceptions from city hall, locals remain strongly against the downtown Business Improvement District as it heads to a final vote Above: The Asheville Chamber of Commerce headquarters. Despite recent claims to the contrary, the proposed Business Improvement District is still set to give them…

Once again a fight over firefighter pay reveals the callousness and corruption at the heart of how Asheville city hall spends the public’s money Above: City hall by night. File photo by Max Cooper Readers, this marks the 18th year in a row that I’ve…

City hall and the chamber portray a Business Improvement District as inevitable. But a broad array of locals are fighting back against this gentrifying power grab Above: A sign against the BID in the window of Sow True Seed, one of many independent spaces opposing…

Sadly, Asheville’s long covid wave continues to hit our communities. Here’s our regular alerts on what’s going on and what we can do to keep each other safe Graphic by Matilda Bliss You can support the Blade‘s covid alerts — and everything else we do…

Corruption. Harassment. Surveillance. Business Improvement Districts are gentrification on steroids, with a horrific record around the country. Now one is on its way to Asheville. It must be stopped. Graphic by Matilda Bliss If you’ve tuned in to local media or received one of their…

Thanks to Duke Law’s First Amendment Clinic and local attorneys, our journalists are appealing their convictions for doing their jobs while covering a 2021 police crackdown Above: Asheville police begin their sweep of the homeless camp and protest at Aston Park on Dec. 25, 2021.…

Asheville city council lets Islamophobia and racism run amok as they refuse to even consider a ceasefire resolution and treat a broad community movement with open contempt Above: Asheville city hall in the dark. File photo by Max Cooper Blade reporter Matilda Bliss contributed to…

A shadowy, pro-airbnb front group for the real estate industry is bankrolling Asheville city council candidate Tod Leaven’s ad blitz. Here’s who they are and what they’re looking to get in return Above: Mailers supporting Tod Leaven, paid for by the ‘Neighbors Helping North Carolina’…

Rules made up on the spot. Vague restrictions only enforced against critics. As calls for a ceasefire in Gaza grow Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer and city council become increasingly vindictive in curtailing public comment they don’t like Above: Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer. File photo by…

The Ohio governor is pushing the most draconian ban on trans healthcare yet. But his major business interest in Asheville — the Tourists baseball team — is still set to get millions from local governments. Until the ban is stopped, those incentives must stop, and…