Ashvegas Hot Sheet: N.C. lawmakers to consider repealing HB2

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More of what’s going around:

-North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory has called a special session of the state General Assembly for Wednesday so that lawmakers may consider repealing the state’s controversial “bathroom bill” known as HB2, the Charlotte Observer reports. The bill requires people to use the bathroom of the gender recorded on their birth certificate, and came as a response to Charlotte City Council’s nondiscrimination ordinance approved earlier this year. Charlotte City Council met Monday in a surprise session and voted to rescind its ordinance.

-In case you missed it, Buncombe County District Attorney Todd Williams last week ruled that an Asheville Police Department officer’s fatal shooting of Jai “Jerry” Williams this past summer was justified. In announcing his decision, Williams took the unprecedented step of uploading supporting documentation, including audio and images, to a public Google Drive site here.

-PennyCup Coffee at the YMI will be open late on New Year’s Eve with 50 percent of sales during normal hours and 100 percent of sales from 6-9 p.m. going directly to Our VOICE. Volunteers from Our VOICE will be tabling, accepting donations and providing information on their programs from 6-9 p.m. The Facebook event is here.

-Lonely Planet has teamed up with Explore Asheville and the Biltmore Estate for a big giveaway. The prize includes a $2,500 travel voucher from Lonely Planet, a three-night stay at Village Hotel on the Biltmore Estate, VIP seats for an Orange Peel show and  tickets for the Asheville Art Studio Experience Tours, Tumblestone Waterfall Tours and Asheville Farm to Table Tours.

-The city of Asheville is selling a pottery kiln. The starting bid is $50.

-The city of Asheville is selling a Kimball piano. The starting bid is $50.

-The city of Asheville has launched a new small business development online tool called Open Counter Asheville.

-The city of Asheville has released a request for proposals for a disparity study of the city.

-Spoken Word, an audiobook publishing company, hopes to raise $250,000, according to this wraltechwire.com report. More:

Spoken Word Inc. filed a Form D with the SEC earlier this month. The filing listed a total offering amount of $250,000, which the company hopes to raise through an “investment contract,” which would provide investors with the right to a stream of royalties, Spoken Word said.

The money hasn’t been raised, yet, and the minimum investment being accepted is $2,500, the Form D said. No other details were provided regarding the use of money raised through this offering.

A new limited-edition calendar by Mark File, owner of RomanticAsheville.com, features seasonal pictures of 12 of Western North Carolina’s exquisite waterfalls. Here’s more from a press release:

Each month features a seasonal waterfall photo. The calendar also includes 365 things to do in the North Carolina mountains and foothills, one for every day of the year. Calendars are now available for a limited time for $10 each. All of the proceeds of calendar sales will benefit the work of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership, whose mission is to protect, preserve, interpret, and develop the unique natural, historical, and cultural resources of Western North Carolina for the benefit of present and future generations, and in so doing to sustain our heritage and stimulate improved economic opportunity in our region.

Calendars may be purchased at both Diamond Brand Outdoors locations and the Frugal Backpacker in Asheville, and online at blueridgeheritage.com. For quantity orders or to purchase directly from the BRNHA, please contact Amy Hollifield, 828-298-5330, ext. 303, or email amy@blueridgeheritage.com.