For years, city government has claimed to pay a living wage. But there’s a big exception that leaves some city workers making far less Above: Lauren Bacchus, in front of the U.S. Cellular Center box office where she worked. Along with 139 other city employees, Bacchus did not make a living

Routs, truces, clashing views and more as Council closes out its year with the latest chapter in the development wars Above: the future sites of the River Mill Lofts and Hazel Mill Roads projects, on the city’s development maps. Historically, few things pack Asheville City Council chambers like fights over

While law enforcement sees local turmoil and national scrutiny, Asheville’s police advisory board gives staff an earful about the need for public oversight Above: Several members of the Citizens Police Advisory Board gather with city staff around tables in a training room for their Dec. 2 meeting. Clockwise from top:

As APD Chief Anderson declares his retirement amid controversy, the city faces a police department with a fraught history and an uncertain future Above: APD Chief William Anderson, photo by Max Cooper. In the hallowed tradition of big government news announcements, this one came after the clock turned over to

Asheville City Council dishes out housing grants, passes rezonings, takes criticism and goes behind closed doors in a short meeting Above: A map of a proposed subdivision on South Charlotte Street, bordering downtown, from city documents. Compared to the multi-controversy cavalcade that was the last meeting of Asheville City Council,

Consultants sent in to solve police woes, controversial naming deal approved, Duke won’t shut down coal plant and more in a packed, contentious evening for Asheville City Council Above: the future SECU plaza outside the Asheville Art Museum, considerably more serene than Tuesday night’s debate over whether the slice of

An in-depth interview with Ben Scales, independent candidate for District Attorney, about priorities, the role of law enforcement and more. District Attorney is arguably the most powerful single local elected position, overseeing prosecution and exercising a great deal of discretion over how the law is enforced. This Spring, a petition

An in-depth interview with Todd Williams, Democratic candidate for District Attorney, about priorities, the role of law enforcement and more. District Attorney is arguably the most powerful single local elected position, overseeing prosecution and exercising a great deal of discretion over how the law is enforced. In this year’s Democratic

Asheville City Council mulls affordable housing solutions, forms ‘innovation districts’ in three neighborhoods and continues its long contemplation of graffiti Above: the borders for the South Slope “innovation district” Asheville City Council passed Oct. 14 Some of the biggest news at Asheville City Council’s Oct. 14 meeting happened before the

In a packed three hours, Asheville City Council hits issues including burying power lines, housing, graffiti and the surveillance of protesters Above: power lines over a stretch of grass behind the Aloft Hotel and city parking deck at 51 Biltmore Avenue. The city will pay $250,000 to bury the lines so