🌱 APD Investigates Two Home Shootings + Abortion Bill & Local Clinic

Hi all. It's me, Rose Mendez, your host of the Asheville Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with all the most important things happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Wednesday: Partly sunny. High: 75 Low: 51.
• Thursday: Pleasant with some sun. High: 76 Low: 54.

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Here are the top three stories today in Asheville:

1. The Asheville Police Department is investigating two separate shootings that occurred in Asheville on early Sunday morning, May 7. Investigators suspect the first incident was a drive-by shooting that took place around 3 a.m. near the 35 block of Huffman Road. Two units were damaged by several bullet holes. The second incident occurred around 4:19 a.m. at an apartment complex located on Future Drive. Officers said three unknown suspects were caught on surveillance footage wearing "pants and hoodies" while shooting into an apartment. The suspects then fled on foot toward Tunnel Road. (Fox Carolina)
2. Senate Bill 20, a 46-page bill that would reduce the number of weeks a woman may legally get an abortion from 20 weeks to 12 weeks, is closer to becoming law. The bill will also create rules that impact a number of abortion-related regulations, including new rules for medical “non-surgical” abortions, the required number of doctor visits needed to get an abortion, the location where a woman can get an abortion and at what point in her pregnancy, and new licensing requirements that would change the status of many clinics. Many clinics, including Asheville’s Planned Parenthood clinic, would be forced to close. Gov. Roy Cooper said, "[The bill] creates an obstacle course for women in all points of their pregnancy." (WLOS)
3. The Pot Stirred in Asheville is the first American-owned mushroom café and is 100 percent women and LGBTQ+ owned! Partners Taylon Breanne and Aislinn Dugan opened the café in March 2022 to help normalize the use of medicinal mushrooms by infusing them into coffee and other drinks. Taylon explained that their mushrooms are legal and will not make you "trip," but they are great for brain clarity, anxiety, and depression. The mushrooms are infused into their simple syrups so that the coffee does not taste like mushrooms or have "a weird" mushroom texture. (WLOS)

Today and tomorrow in Asheville:

Wednesday, May 10

• Puppet Playtime At East Asheville Library (10:00 AM)
• Well-Crafted Music With Matt Smith At Taproom At Highland Brewing Co. (6:00 PM)

Thursday, May 11

• Sunburned Hand Of The Man At Grey Eagle Patio Stage (5:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Asheville police said minor injuries were reported after a Buncombe County Schools bus crashed on Monday afternoon, May 8, in the area of Azalea Road. According to a Buncombe County Schools spokesperson, one student was taken to the hospital "out of an abundance of caution" and the rest of the students were picked up by their parents. (WLOS)
• The Asheville area community is mourning the loss of a well-known AB-Tech campus law enforcement officer, 31-year-old Jamil Alexander Hawes. On Monday, May 8, Hawes was killed when a vehicle collided with his motorcycle. (WLOS)
• Finding your next home shouldn't be a headache! Check out the latest homes for sale in the Asheville area, including a two-bedroom on Riceville Road for $390,000. (Asheville Patch)

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Featured events:

• Sip & Shop Mother’s Day Pop-Up at The Omni Grove Park Inn (May 13)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Wednesday! I'll catch up with you soon with another update.

— Rose Mendez

About me: Rose Mendez is a freelance writer. She is studying English Literature at Hunter College. She loves reading, walking around the city, and coffee!