Local Politics · Asheville, NC
Early in-person voting for the November 3 midterm election opened Thursday and continues until 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31 across North Carolina, with Buncombe County Elections Director Corinne Duncan emphasizing that voters may use any early-voting site within their county and can register on the spot. Voters must present an acceptable photo ID; those without one can obtain a free ID from their county elections office during early voting or cast a provisional ballot. The absentee ballot request deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, with completed ballots due by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. The ballot includes races for U.S. Senate, all House seats, the General Assembly, and local offices, plus three constitutional amendments; Buncombe County alone has 32 different ballot versions.
Housing & Development · Asheville, NC
On Tuesday, the Asheville City Council approved a $6 million grant for the Right at Home Initiative, a three-year pilot program providing rental assistance and case management to prevent homelessness. The City of Asheville serves as lead agency for the Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care, with Buncombe County among 10 participating communities. The funds will be used to administer contracts with local nonprofits delivering direct services to households at risk of losing housing, targeting at least 1,000 households over three years. Services are expected to be available by January.
Local Business · Asheville, NC
North Carolina's temporary gas tax suspension, signed into law by Governor Josh Stein and effective through November 30, is producing noticeable price drops for Asheville-area drivers, with one station going from $4.19 to $3.68 per gallon week over week. However, some smaller stations report difficulty passing savings along immediately because they hold fuel purchased at higher prices. Skyland Exxon Rescue One Towing general manager David Lindsay said he chose to absorb the cost of lowering prices rather than wait for existing inventory to sell through, but acknowledged not every independent operator can afford that approach. The suspension applies to gasoline, diesel, and alternative fuels statewide.
Public Safety · Asheville, NC
Asheville Police identified Phillip Douglas Penland, 74, of Arden, as the victim of a fatal single-vehicle crash on Oct. 14 at approximately 10:14 a.m. The crash occurred on Doctor's Drive near its intersection with McDowell Street, close to Asheville High School. According to police, Penland was driving south on McDowell Street in a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer when he suffered a medical emergency, lost control, and rolled over onto Doctors Drive. He was transported to Mission Hospital, where he later died.
