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

Asheville City Council delays a major hotel battle, expands (very slightly) the city’s borders and mulls what input on local election districts might look like Above: Asheville City Council member Julie Mayfield. File photo by Max Cooper. For awhile, it looked like Asheville City Council might begin 2017 like it

The Asheville Blade covered a lot of ground as we fought through a tumultuous, trying, important and groundbreaking 2016 alongside the people of the city we love Above: Fireworks over City Hall. Photo by Bill Rhodes. Well that was a hell of a year. As 2016 (finally!) meets its end

Local Democrats gather to vote on a new Buncombe County commissioner in a ‘basement election,’ with civil rights activist and former banker Al Whitesides emerging as the first African-American commissioner Above: Al Whitesides receives applause from Democratic Party members during the Dec. 5 ‘basement election,’ where the party chose a

National and statewide upsets, a resounding win for the bonds, a commission split continues and more in our election analysis. Also: why the Blade will never normalize the unacceptable Above: The precinct map of votes for Roy Cooper and Gov. Pat McCrory in Buncombe County. Well, that happened. After a

Survive. Organize. Resist. A few words that must be said, about what happened, where our city and country are going and what we have to do. Above: Protesters and police outside the Civic Center entrance during the Sept. 12 Trump rally. Photo by Max Cooper. I’m not in despair because

It’s that day, with major national, state and local races on the ballot. Here’s information about where to vote, and how to protect your rights at the polls. Welcome back, readers. Today is Election Day and while many of our readers and local voters already cast their ballots during early

For the first time in its 135-year history, WNC’s Central Labor Council is bringing together local unions in a united effort to get out the vote. A look behind local labor’s push to get people to the polls. Above: Representatives from local unions gather for a group photo during recent

Housing, inequity, the powers of county staff, HB2, education, development and more in our questionnaires for the candidates for the Buncombe County chair and commissioner seats Above: the Buncombe County Courthouse  Welcome back, readers. We’re in the middle of early voting right now. Today you can vote at eight locations

Name: David King Profession: Ferrier In up to two words, describe your political affiliation: Proud Democrat In one brief sentence, describe yourself and why you’re running: I believe county government and elected officials have a responsibility to serve every citizen of Buncombe County, not a political agenda, which is why I