🌱 Asheville PD Arrests Local For Arson + Short-Term Rental Bill

Hi all. It's me, Rose Mendez, your host of the Asheville Patch newsletter. Here's all the local news you need to know right now.

But first, your local weather:

• Wednesday: Mostly sunny and nice. High: 75 Low: 40.
• Thursday: Nice with plenty of sunshine. High: 76 Low: 50.

Interested in reaching our local readers with targeted messaging that drives traffic to your business? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

Here are the top three stories today in Asheville:

1. Asheville police arrested and charged 42-year-old Allen Lee Honeycutt with arson and felony breaking and entering. On Apr. 11, Asheville firefighters found Honeycutt walking out of an enclosed area of a downtown Asheville business after extinguishing multiple fires throughout the building. According to officials, Honeycutt confessed to setting the fires in the building on the 50 block of Southside Avenue. (WYFF 4)
2. State Sen. Tim Moffitt has sponsored a bill that would "effectively end Asheville's ban on short-term rentals in city limits." Currently, Asheville and Wilmington do not allow owners to rent out an entire house for less than 30 days. But the new bill, "An Act to Limit the Regulation of Short-Term Rentals by Local Governments to Protect Private Property Rights," would allow Asheville property owners to do whatever they want with their home, including any type of rentals. (WLOS)
3. Jen Hampton of Asheville Food & Beverage United said several recent restaurant closures in Asheville are hurting the restaurant industry workforce, most of whom "work paycheck to paycheck."According to Hampton, the workers at the recently closed Holeman and Finch had little to no warning before the restaurant closed. Asheville Food & Beverage United helps connect struggling workers with local resources and restaurants looking for staff. (WLOS)

From our sponsor:

Today’s Asheville Patch newsletter is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. T-Mobile has invested billions to light up their best network ever, covering 99% of people in America with LTE, which helps to keep communities like ours informed and connected. We thank T-Mobile for their support and for making today’s Asheville Patch newsletter possible.

Today and tomorrow in Asheville:

Wednesday, April 12

• Well-Crafted Music With Matt Smith At Taproom At Highland Brewing Co. (6:00 PM)

Thursday, April 13

• Hops Around Comedy: Carlette Jennings At Eurisko Beer Company (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Biltmore Avenue Parking garage, located under the Aloft Hotel in downtown Asheville, will be closed for renovations from Tuesday, Apr. 11 through Tuesday, Apr. 25. The closure will take away 412 parking spaces in the downtown area for two weeks. (WLOS)
• The South Slope Street area pedestrian "walkability project," which received a $2 million grant from the Tourism Development Board, is now on hold in Asheville. The Asheville City Council approved redirecting the funds from the Coxe Avenue Green Street project to the McCormick Field upgrades. (WLOS)
• If you’re looking for a new job or thinking about a career change, the best place to start looking for the perfect fit is close to home! Check out the latest job openings in the Asheville area including front office agent, data entry sales, and overnight pressure washer. (Asheville Patch)
• The local housing scene is always shifting, and a variety of homes are available to choose from these days. Check out the latest homes for sale in the Asheville area, including a three-bedroom home on Wisteria Court for $325,000! (Asheville Patch)

Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. I'll see you soon!

— 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!