USS NC Sub Leaves Town

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-05-05) Wilmington bid farewell to the submarine USS North Carolina yesterday after spending more than a week at the Port of Wilmington for its commissioning this past weekend.

The 140 crew aboard the spent the nearly 10 days leading up to the commissioning of the USS North Carolina touring the Wilmington area.

Read the full story here.

Father's Complaints Prompt Inspection of Ft. Bragg's Barracks

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-04-30) A father who complained about his son's living conditions in a Fort Bragg barrack has sparked a national campaign to inspect Army barracks across the country.

Ed Frawley was visiting his son as he returned to Fort Bragg from Afghanistan, when he took pictures of his son's barrack.

Those pictures, some of which featured mold, peeling paint, and a clogged drain, appeared in a slideshow on YouTube.

Read the full story here.

Oyster Shell Recycling Increasing in Pender County

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-04-22) More oyster shells in Pender County are being put back into the ocean for the next generation of oysters than previous years.

When put back into the ocean, the shells serve as a bed where new oysters can grow.

Read the full story here.

Camp Lejeune Kicks Off "Operation Change Out" for Earth Day

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-04-22) Five military bases across the Carolinas celebrated Earth Day today by switching out light bulbs.

The Secretary of Energy joined Marines at Camp Lejeune to replace incandescent light bulbs with more efficient ones.

Read the full story here.

NH County Board of Elections Prepares for National Spotlight

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-04-14) The New Hanover County Board of Elections expects record turnout on the May 6th primary and is planning carefully to avoid mistakes while underneath the national microscope.

Voter Registration in North Carolina ended last Friday, but Bonnie Williams with the New Hanover County Board of Elections says voters, registered or not, can vote early during the one-stop voting period.

Read the full story here.

Hewett Receives Pay While Suspended

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-04-13) Brunswick County Sheriff Ronald Hewett has received his first paycheck while suspended.

Hewett, who makes $108,000 a year, was temporarily suspended last month after several of his current and former employees petitioned to remove him.

Read the full story here.

Cpl. Cesar Laurean Caught in Mexico

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-04-11) The Marine accused of killing a pregnant fellow Marine has been captured in Mexico after running from authorities for more than three months.

Police arrested Corporal Cesar Laurean last night in the small western Mexico town of Tacambaro.

Read the full story here.

Ohio Congressman Calls Marine Response "Inadequate"

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-04-10) The Ohio Congressman for the district where murdered pregnant Marine Maria Lauterbach's family lives says the Marine Corps' response to his questions about her death is "totally inadequate".

Ohio Congressman Michael Turner asked the Marine Corps last month what it did to protect Lance Corporal Maria Lauterbach after she was allegedly raped by fellow Marine Corporal Cesar Laurean.

Read the full story here.

Suspended Sheriff's Salary in Question

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-04-02) Brunswick County has until next week to decide whether it will pay suspended Sheriff Ronald Hewett his salary during his suspension.

Brunswick County policy does not allow suspended employees to receive pay unless they are elected officials, like the sheriff. But North Carolina's state constitution says employees can only be paid for services rendered.

Read the full story here.

Brunsco. Democrats say it's too soon to replace Hewett

WILMINGTON, (2008-04-01) The Brunswick County Democratic Party says the County Commissioners' vote to find a replacement for Sheriff Ronald Hewett is premature.

Brunswick County Commissioners voted last night to ask the Brunswick County Democratic Party to nominate a replacement for Hewett within thirty days.

Read the full story here.

Brunsco. Sheriff Hewett Indicted

Brunswick County Sheriff Ronald Hewett was indicted today on three counts of embezzlement and one count of obstruction of justice.

Hewett was temporarily suspended from his post last week when more than 20 of his current and former staff members petitioned to remove him from office. Today Hewett was expected in court to explain why he should remain sheriff.

Read the full story here.

Media ask Brunsco. Commissioners to Open Agenda Meetings

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-03-17) Local media outlets are urging Brunswick County Commissioners to open their agenda meetings to the public.

In a letter delivered to Brunswick County Presiding Chairman Bill Sue, local media outlets urged Brunswick County Commissioners to open their weekly agenda meetings.

Read the full story here.

Feds Set to Reject Center Re-Use Plan

A soon-to-be decommissioned military reserve center near Wilmington's Greenfield Lake may eventually become transitional homeless housing, over the city's objections.

Federal law allows local governments to decide how best to develop surplus military property. But it also requires that homeless services get first consideration unless the city doesn't have a homeless problem or there are more pressing local economic needs.

Wilmington officials last year decided the facility isn't needed for the homeless but the federal government isn't so sure, accusing the city of 'inconsistent reasoning'...

Read the entire story here.

Gov. Easley Sets Special Hearing on Wright

The governor granted House Speaker Joe Hackney’s request to hold the special session next Thursday. That’s when the full House will consider recommendations to kick Wright out of the state house.

Read the full story here.

Wilm. Chosing Convention Center Contractor...

Wilmington may soon have a company to build its convention center, one that already has a history in the region.

J.M. Thompson Company of Raleigh came in with the low bid for the project's construction contract...

Read the full story here.

Lawsuits Against Brunsco. School Board Re-Filed

The attorney for parents accusing Brunswick County Schools of failing to protect their children from predators has re-filed the lawsuits against the School Board.

Last year three incidents of Brunswick County Schools employees having inappropriate relationships with students prompted lawsuits against the School Board.

Read the full story here.

Wilmington Completes NEI Sewer Repairs

Burst pipes are usually the beginning of a city's sewer headache, but this week, a split pipe could herald the end of Wilmington's current round of wastewater woes.

Engineers used a new technique of pipe bursting to install a half-mile of new line along Greenville Loop Road, running the new pipe inside the old and then expanding it. That final section of repairs completes the city's promised improvements to the Northeast Interceptor sewer line...

Read the full story and find more of our sewer coverage here.

Beach Towns Growing Up

Carolina and Kure Beach want to make sure you have a reason to get out of your car before you get to their beaches.

The two towns that make up Pleasure Island are taking an active hand in their future growth, with a focus on developing their commercial areas.

Find the entire story and supporting materials here.

Public Meetings:

Carolina Beach:
Monday: Steering Committee Meeting: 6-8pm
Tuesday: Presentation to Town Council: 6-8pm

Kure Beach
Monday: Public hearing: 6:30pm

Shag Dancers Compete in N. Myrtle Beach

Teams of shag dancers will show off their pivots and duck walks in North Myrtle Beach tonight for the first day of the 25th annual National Shag Championships.

Shag, or beach, music is unique to the Carolinas. A mix of big band swing, R-n-B, and rock-and-roll; the style swept coastal dancehalls in the forties and fifties...

Read the whole story here.

WHQR's Mental Health Care Series, pt I

This morning marks the start of WHQR's month-long exploration of North Carolina's mental health care system. Every Wednesday in March our reporters will bring you the stories of people in different stages of treatment. But we start today with an overview of the system from one of its new co-directors...

Listen to WHQR's interview with Leza Wainwright here.

(you will also find a link to Wainwright's full interview at that site)