What’s news: Asheville’s downtown homeless shelter to double in size; more computer power for cops; a dispatch center debate and more

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Catch up on your news with the Mountain Xpress:

– Western Carolina Rescue Ministries to double the size of its homeless shelter on Patton Avenue.

– County officials are offering greater computer power to cops on the streets around Buncombe County.

– There’s a disagreement between Asheville and Buncombe County and it’s halting a move that could result in quicker emergency response times.

– Nobody else is covering the URTV controversy, which is meaningful. Sample:

But the nonprofit has been riven by internal disputes concerning membership, programming and the appropriate role of the channel’s board. And in recent months, those conflicts have gone public, with dissenting board members asserting that Executive Director Pat Garlinghouse and the board’s leadership have violated the state’s open-meetings law.

…

Meanwhile, outside events pose further threats to the station. URTV’s agreements with the city and county expire at the beginning of next year. And changes in state law opening cable service up to competition mean that the PEG funds—part of Charter’s exclusive franchise agreements with the city and county—could disappear at any moment. All this leaves URTV facing a conflicted present and an uncertain future.

– There’s also continuing coverage of ongoing tensions at WPVM. A new station manager was recently introduced. Meantime, nine station volunteers were asked to stay away from WPVM for six weeks.

It’s all online and in print, free at newstands, around Asheville. Check it.