A local rally protests police brutality, shows support for Ferguson residents and pushes for a ‘Mike Brown Law’ requiring cops to wear cameras. Above: Shanita Jackson, one of the organizers of the rally against police brutality, holds a sign while surrounded by other protesters. Photo by Basil Soper. Early Sunday

Records requests shine more light on the military surplus‚ from automatic weapons to armored cars, in the hands of local law enforcement. Above: An armored car owned by the Asheville Police Department, photographed in 2008. Photo © Jason Sandford, used with permission. A week ago, I highlighted the Blade’s records requests for

The annual topless “rally” is an overhyped farce. But the reaction from government and business leaders is far, far worse. Above: One of the topless rally attendees — and onlookers — at the 2011 event. Photo by Max Cooper. It’s that time again. Every year (for the past three), the

Next Tuesday, Aug. 26, the Asheville Blade will cover the next meeting of our local city council. Here’s an interesting — and often hilarious — account Max Cooper, who photographed the last meeting for the Blade, wrote about photographing our local government meetings. I covered public meetings once or twice

In a changing Southside, a community rallies with a new event to support its youth as the school year begins. Above: Barber Don McMillan cuts a student’s hair as part of the Southside community’s Back to School Bash. Many local barbers and beauticians volunteered for the event. Photo by Robert

A look at the origins, costs and clashing views on city government’s $300,000 program to remove graffiti and tagging throughout Asheville Above: Before and after shots of graffiti painted over on a building in the River Arts District. Photo by Zen Sutherland. 123 Graffiti Free is its name. Launched July

I was kicked out of my studio in the Tannery, along with many other artists. There’s a better way for Asheville to treat its creatives. Above: The Tannery before its improvement by local artists, and after. Photo by Zen Sutherland. On July 12th I awoke to the alarming news that

The Asheville Blade and local media are seeking more information on the amount of military equipment in the hands of local law enforcement Above: An armored car owned by the Asheville Police Department, photographed in 2008. Photo © Jason Sandford, used with permission. The unrest in Ferguson, Mo. has raised a

Medicaid expansion will benefit tens of thousands of people, especially throughout WNC. The refusal to expand it threatens hospitals and families. Above: a doctor holds a sign supporting Medicaid expansion at a Moral Monday protest. Photo by Leslie Boyd. Imagine living in a place where 17,000 people die in a

For over a decade my family tried to make our lives in Asheville. But by this year, we simply couldn’t make it here anymore. Above: Downtown Asheville at night. Photo by Bill Rhodes. A few weeks ago, we ran a column by Noor Al-Sibai, a young journalist and writer who’d