Major racial disparities in traffic stops and questions about police reporting, building for months, finally take center stage as Council dubs the situation an ’emergency’ Above: A chart from Open Data Policing‘s analysis of the Asheville Police Department, showing that black drivers are far more likely than white drivers to

Yes, this is actually happening. And Asheville’s political culture is absolutely, horribly unprepared for the coming years. That needs to change now. Above: protesters outside the Sept. 12 Trump campaign rally in downtown Asheville. Photos by Max Cooper. Over the chaos of the past few months, there’s a memory that’s

Early voting begins Thursday, Oct. 20. Here’s what you need to know and some handy tools to help you at the polls Above: An early voting sticker, a wonderful thing you’ll be able to get starting Thursday. You don’t need ID — A federal court struck down the state’s former voting

The historian and UNCA professor on African-Americans in WNC, facing the reality of American tragedy and the importance of power and democracy in public spaces Above: Darin Waters speaking at a Martin Luther King Day event at Kenilworth Presbyterian. Photo by Max Cooper. From informing Ashevillians about the reality of

As a major land battle is delayed, Council turns its attention to local organizing, a contentious consent agenda and several reports Above: Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer. File photo by Max Cooper. Asheville City Council’s Feb. 10 meeting began with the first appearance in the halls of city government of a new

The State of Black Asheville, Dwight Mullen and the call for consequences for this city’s institutions — and their failures Above: UNCA professor Dwight Mullen, speaking at a Martin Luther King Day event at Kenilworth Presbyterian. Photo by Max Cooper “It would be considered a state of emergency if you

Last night, hundreds gathered in downtown to protest the Ferguson grand jury decision. Here are images from photographer Max Cooper of that protest and vigil. Above: Vigil attendees in front of the Vance Monument last night. Photo by Max Cooper. Last night, a quickly organized rally saw hundreds gather in downtown Asheville

We live in a flawed system with imperfect candidates. But exercising the right to vote is now more important than ever Above: locals march to the West Asheville Library’s early voting site to cast their ballots as part of the Oct. 29 Roll to the Polls event. The roots of American

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