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Ruling explains why Asheville Blade reporters’ charges weren’t dismissed on First Amendment grounds
A Superior Court judge who refused to dismiss a case against two Asheville reporters convicted of trespassing based his decision on the First Amendment — not as protection for the journalists, but as grounds for him to uphold their conviction. In a ruling issued June 22 obtained by Newsline, Superior Court Judge Tommy Davis wrote […]
Asheville journalists convicted of trespassing again, this time by jury
Two Asheville reporters were convicted of trespassing in a jury trial in Buncombe County last week, a conviction scorned by press freedom advocates across the U.S. “The two journalists should never have been on trial. They were performing a public service and recording police activity,” Katherine Jacobsen, U.S. and Canada program Coordinator for the Committee […]
City of Asheville unsuccessfully tries to sanction journalists’ lawyer for records requests
The City of Asheville had warned attorney Ben Scales not to keep pushing his requests to force dozens of city employees to testify at a criminal trial. Officials had argued the attorney’s subpoenas were “patently improper,” that they subjected staff to “undue burden and expense,” and “deviated from applicable legal standards.” They’d told him that […]
Lawyer asks court to delay, dismiss Asheville journalists’ case as trial nears
An attorney for two journalists convicted of trespassing while reporting in a public park after-hours has asked a Superior Court judge to dismiss the case, or at least delay their looming appeal trial, based on the claim that the City of Asheville and Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office haven’t complied with his subpoenas or discovery […]
City, prosecutors resist records demand of lawyer for Asheville journalists
After two Asheville journalists were convicted of trespassing last month, their lawyer, Ben Scales, said he would get a bevy of documents and records before his clients appealed to Buncombe County Superior Court. On May 1, Scales attempted to make good on that promise, subpoenaing a long list of items from the Asheville Police Department. […]
Asheville prosecutors want journalists’ lawyer to stop talking to the press
The Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office has asked a judge to reprimand an attorney representing two journalists convicted last month of trespassing while reporting late Christmas night 2021 on police activity in Asheville’s Aston Park. The attorney’s offense, according to Assistant District Attorney Robert A. McRight: talking to the press. A rule set by the […]
Asheville journalists convicted of trespassing for covering police action at public park
Two Asheville journalists were convicted of trespassing Wednesday for covering the city’s police presence in a public park on Christmas night 2021. Chief District Court Judge James Calvin Hill found Veronica Coit and Matilda Bliss, two journalists for the self-described leftist news outlet The Asheville Blade, guilty of second-degree trespassing for failing to leave Aston […]
Asheville reporters scheduled for trial this week as a related one about protestors begins
Two reporters for the progressive online news source The Asheville Blade are scheduled to go on trial Wednesday after being arrested for covering a police sweep of Aston Park. Matilda Bliss and Veronica Coit are each facing misdemeanor trespassing charges, a low-level crime that can carry up to 20 days in jail and a $200 fine. […]
Pointless trial of Asheville journalists will undermine city’s progressive image
Authorities in Ohio dropped charges within days of the arrest of a journalist at a February press conference. Phoenix’s mayor personally apologized in January to a reporter detained while conducting interviews. In December, the Atlanta Police Department said it would investigate officers who threatened charges against a filmmaker documenting a protest. But Buncombe County prosecutors […]
Newly released body cam footage shows Asheville Police arresting journalists
Shortly after Aston Park had closed on Christmas night 2021, several Asheville Police officers surveyed the tents on the park grounds and strategized how they were going to get everyone off city property. “Why don’t we deal with the standing first, since they’re videotaping?” one officer asked. The people who were standing were Matilda Bliss […]
Homelessness and the First Amendment on trial in Asheville
City draws fire for its treatment of unhoused population and arrest of journalists attempting to cover police sweep of city park
It was Christmas night, so Veronica Coit hadn’t expected to stay at Aston Park for long. They had come to bring their colleague, Matilda Bliss, a plate from dinner: turkey, sweet potato- and green bean-casseroles, collard greens and a slice of pie.
Weekend reads: A conservative push to remake NC schools, budget stalls, and PFAS river worries
1. As UNC-Chapel Hill announces free tuition, political appointees raise questions, push back Campus Board of Trustees and UNC System Board of Governors weren’t informed, members said By Joe Killian When UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz announced last week the university would begin providing free tuition and required fees for students whose families make less […]
Weekend reads: Red-state voting, wetlands in jeopardy, LGBTQ restrictions, and PFAS in our pets
The week’s top stories on NC Newsline: 1. NC Republican proposed voting restrictions fit a red-state pattern By Lynn Bonner North Carolina is joining a group of Republican-led states that are imposing new restrictions on voting and exerting legislative control over elections boards. Republican senators passed controversial bills that would make it harder for people […]
Weekend reads: Veto rally sets up a legislative showdown, the latest battles in education, and a new face enters the 2024 race for NC governor
In this issue: 1. Crowd cheers Gov. Roy Cooper as he vetoes abortion ban A crowd cheered Gov. Roy Cooper as he vetoed a Republican-authored abortion ban in an unusual rally that capped off a week of attempts to pressure a small group of GOP legislators into letting the veto stand. Some bills are signed […]
Weekend reads: Targeting tenure, transgender sports, and ‘significant strides’ recovering from pandemic learning loss
In this issue: 1. New bill targets tenure, calls for scrutiny of research at UNC System campuses, community colleges Faculty tenure at UNC System universities and community colleges would end under a new bill filed Tuesday. House Bill 715 would “prospectively eliminate academic tenure and establish uniform contracting procedure for faculty at constituent institutions and […]
Weekend reads: Medicaid at long last, an environmental win, and reining in social media’s sway
More people in NC will have health insurance on Dec. 1, but there’s more to do to improve access By Lynn Bonner North Carolina will reach a milestone Dec. 1 when an estimated 600,000 low-income people become eligible to enroll in health insurance under Medicaid expansion. North Carolina is the 40th state to expand Medicaid […]