From Staff Reports 

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Despite warnings on Nov. 14 by city officials that Asheville could be a target city of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as of the Daily Planet’s early morning Nov. 24 press deadline for this edition, no substantiated reports could be found of a major federal immigration crackdown in the Asheville area. 

Instead, AI Overview noted early Nov. 24 that, “after its work in (nearby) Charlotte, which concluded around Nov. 20, federal immigration enforcement is redeploying to New Orleans for an operation named ‘Operation Catahoula Crunch.’ Federal sources indicate that approximately 200 agents are expected to be moved from Charlotte to New Orleans to begin enforcement actions in that city, according to PBS NewsHour.”

As for Asheville, city Mayor Esther Manheimer on Nov 14 released a Facebook statement referencing North Carolina Governor Josh Stein’s statement about ICE and Border Patrol agents, adding that Asheville “may be a targeted city.”

Stein’s statement said in part, “As this situation develops, I will continue to stay in touch with local and state officials to keep people safe, respect the rule of law, and support our people,” 

Manheimer and Stein’s statements followed a report — of the impending arrival in Charlotte of U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents — by Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden.

From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Following the recent stationing of ICE/Border Patrol agents in nearby cities, including Charlotte, city leaders in Asheville hammered out a resolution  to ban the aforementioned federal agents from city-owned facilities here, but the proposal has yet to be placed on Ashevlle City Council’s agenda for a vote.

Among those proposing the resolution is Councilwoman Kim Roney.

“Across our country, Trump’s domestic deployment of military, ICE and often unidentifiable federal agents has terrorized American cities, violating constitutional rights of residents, including refugees, immigrants and citizens of our United States, including children,” Roney, a West Asheville resident who is running again for mayor, stated. “Now they are deployed in North Carolina.” 

From Staff Reports

TAMPA, Fla. — H.K. Edgerton, a black U.S. Army veteran from Asheville, N.C., who is a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, was forcibly removed from the Hillsborough County Veterans Day on Nov. 11 for wearing his re-enactment uniform and carrying a Confederate battle flag. 

Edgerton, 77, is “a proud SCV member who shatters stereotypes,” an SVC statement noted afterward..

In a Facebook posting, Alex Whisonant, who said he was at the ceremony, stated that Edgerton “was told he had to leave a Veterans Day event yesterday ... All because ‘what he was wearing and him flying that flag,’ he was told he had to leave the event — even though he told the police that he is a retired veteran of the U.S. Army.

“I’m here to tell the world that this will not stand,” Whisonant noted. 

“We Support you 110 percent, H.K. Edgerton. 

“And we proudly stand with you — always and forever .

“Thank you for your service, Sir!

“Deo Vindice!!!”

(“Deo Vindice” is a Latin phrase meaning ‘With God as our defender’ or ‘God will vindicate.’ It was the national motto of the Confederate States of America, engraved on the official seal and representing a belief that God was on their side. The phrase appears on official Confederate seals and is associated with the Confederate cause during the American Civil War.)

Meanwhile, a YouTube video by Save Southern Heritage promoted an interview with Edgerton immediately after his ejection as follows:

“Watch this Southern U.S. Army veteran tell the shocking story of how he was removed for showing his Southern pride while singing his service song at the 61sth Annual Veterans Day Ceremony at Hillsborough County Veterans Memorial Park on U.S. 301.”

In the interview, Edgerton said he was told by a contingent of armed police that he not only had to leave the Veterans Day ceremony at once, but that he also had to “get off” the park property.

From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The University of North Carolina at Asheville has announced “a new partnership with a real estate consulting firm to establish and guide the university’s Millennial Campus Development Commission,” Asheville television station WLOS (News 13) reported on Nov. 11.

The firm, HR&A, will “provide facilitation, support and guidance for the formation and administration” of the commission, according to a news release from UNCA on Nov. 11. HR&A has previously worked with other institutions within the UNC System.

“We did not have a relationship with HR&A before this,” UNCA Chancellor Kimberly van Noort said in the release. “They’ve worked with NC State, UNC Chapel Hill, UNC Greensboro, and NC A&T. We always look to known partners with a strong track record within the UNC System.”