Driver Leaves Scene Of Pedestrian Death (Asheville, NC)
Asheville Police are looking for the driver who fled the scene of an accident that killed a pedestrian Friday night. Joseph Styles was reportedly crossing the ramp from Patton Avenue to Westgate Parkway when he was hit by a white car. The driver never stopped. Styles was rushed to Mission Health, where he died later.
ICE Arrests 12 In WNC (Asheville, NC)
Immigration and Customs Enforcement says agents arrested 16 people in Western North Carolina over the weekend with a target on criminal convictions. Local activists and organizations gathered on Saturday afternoon at Asheville's Federal Building with concern over the ICE raids. ICE Southern Region Communications Director Bryan Cox told News 13-Asheville that they only conduct targeted enforcement, not random raids.
Former County Manager Pleads Not Guilty (Asheville, NC)
Buncombe County's former manager says she is not guilty of using more than 200-thousand dollars in public funds for personal purchases. Wanda Greene and her son were both recently indicted by a grand jury for wire fraud, conspiracy and embezzlement. Greene reportedly charged a county credit card to purchase gift cards for personal purchases. The gift cards ranged anywhere from Target and TJ Maxx to Walmart and Amazon. Greene retired as county manager last May.
Asheville Looks At Parking Increases To Fund Transit (Asheville, NC)
The Asheville city council is looking for ways to fund the "Asheville Redefines Transit" system. Additional evening shifts for some bus routes are expected to cost more money. One proposal is to raise more than one-million-dollars with increased monthly and daily garage parking rates. The increase would reportedly help prevent the transfer of money from the city's general fund. The monthly rate would increase by ten dollars.
Fire Damages Structure In Downtown Swannanoa (Buncombe County, NC)
Swannanoa fire officials are investigating a blaze that broke out near downtown last night. Fire Chief Anthony Penland says the fire damaged a garage building outside a home that was used for housing businesses. The home is reportedly supposed to be torn down this year. Windy conditions made the fire a higher hazard of spreading to surrounding buildings, but crews from four different departments got it under control.
DOT Holds Meeting Today On I-26 Widening (Hendersonville, NC)
The North Carolina Department of Transportation needs the public's input on a large interstate widening project from south of Hendersonville to Asheville. The I-26 widening is expected to cover the interstate interchange in Asheville south to the U.S. Highway 25 split. A public meeting lasts from four to seven this afternoon at the Biltmore Church's Arden campus in Hendersonville.