Mountain Xpress

A fire erupted today at Hillcrest Apartments, consuming building 21. According to officials, no one was seriously injured. The woman who lived in the first apartment to catch fire believes it was arson. Xpress reporter Jason Sandford was on the scene. You can follow his updates here or on our Twitter feed. Click here to see a photo gallery of images from the fire. 1:15 p.m. leaving fire scene ... Full Story »

Local beer lovers, rejoice! Yes, Highland Brewing’s Cold Mountain Winter Ale is out and about. The first batch (there will be two this year) is hitting stores now in one-liter and 22-ounce bottles (find it at Green Life, Bruisin’ Ales, Hops & Vines, Earth Fare, Appalachian Vinters, Asheville Wine Market, and Weinhaus — to name a few retail locales). Kegs of the nectar are being loaded at the bre ... Full Story »

“Manheimer gets the bear vote: Four bears currently eating candy she left on her front porch in north Asheville,” @edgymama reported via Twitter on Oct. 31, in an early election report. “Don’t Vote, Don’t Complain,” tweeted @h0zae, who added, “11.16% of Asheville Voted in the Primary? In other words 11.16% of the people in Asheville make all the decisions for you.” @h0zae also wondered, “In ... Full Story »

The Mountain Xpress Photo Gallery is bursting with newly added images. Have a look — you might even see yourself: • The LaZoom Halloween tour, including a special on-the-bus performance by Now You Seem Them, by Joshua Cole. • Spookyblogapaloozananny — aka Asheville’s annual social-media shindig and awards, by Jonathan Welch. • The Runaway Circus yucks it up at a rehearsal, by Jonathan Welch ... Full Story »

One week more for Weaverville Route Annexation agreement keeps Asheville and Woodfin out of Leicester City in talks with CTS neighbors over water lines A sweeping overhaul of Asheville's transit system won preliminary support from Asheville City Council at its Oct. 27 meeting, but concrete changes to the routes, fares and infrastructure won't come before the new year. Developed over the past two ... Full Story »

According to a full but unofficial tally by Buncombe Election Services, 61 percent of Swannanoa voters have said no to incorporation. ... Full Story »

Click here to see the results of all the municipal elections in Buncombe County. ... Full Story »

The results from the SpookyBlogapaloozathon once again tally up the area’s best bloggers and online networkers. The awards were handed out at the Friday, Oct. 30, party at Phil Mechanic Studios. The list of winners, compliled at Blog Asheville, is below. But these weren’t the only winners: Proceeds from the party raised over $1,600 for Project AHOPE. And if you couldn’t be there on Hallows Eve ... Full Story »