Sara Wood

Board votes to remove Berger as NHC commissioner

Sara Wood — Tue, 21 May 2013 06:16:22 +0000

Brian Berger is no longer a New Hanover County Commissioner. The board voted 3-to-2 to remove Berger during an amotion hearing yesterday, with Berger and Commissioner Jonathan Barfield dissenting.

The board heard arguments for and against removing Berger from office. The reasons for removal stretch from absences and tardiness, to accusations of delusional behavior and domestic disturbances. But the largest issue the board took up with Berger is concern over the personal safety of county employees, citing written threats in the form of emails and text messages.

Kickoff for the Cape Fear 2040 Transportation Plan

Sara Wood — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:03:05 +0000

Starting Tuesday, residents of Southeast North Carolina will be able to give their input into the future of transportation. The Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization, or MPO, will launch a public survey to consider a regional transportation plan for the year 2040.

Shifting the Tide, Part 3: Sgt. Stacy Blackburn-Hoelscher

Sara Wood — Wed, 01 May 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Shifting the Tide, Part 2: Lisa Ramos

Sara Wood — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

For 13 years, Lisa Ramos served in the Navy as a Religious Program Specialist. She served in a support role in Iraq, where front lines were invisible. While she wasn’t directly in combat, she experienced trauma from the line of fire. In part two of our series about women’s shifting roles in combat, WHQR’s Sara Wood speaks with Ramos about the physical realities of lifting the combat ban.

Business Brief: Aging in Place Downtown

Sara Wood — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:55:57 +0000

Most people do not dream of moving into a nursing home. But it’s a reality for half of the population, and the costs can be enormous. In this edition of Business Brief, WHQR’s Sara Wood talks to Susan Silver, the director of Aging in Place Downtown. She’s in the process of gathering resources and momentum for the non-profit. It aims to help Wilmington’s elderly population age in place, in their homes. To begin, Silver is focusing on downtown.

Shifting the Tide: Rosie Noel

Sara Wood — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

*Shifting the Tide is an ongoing series that captures the voices of women in combat. For Part One, we hear the story of retired Gunnery Sergeant Rosie Noel.

Author Ben Miller debuts first memoir with UNCW's Lookout Books

Sara Wood — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Business Brief: The USDA’s Strikeforce Initiative in South Carolina

Sara Wood — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 09:11:55 +0000

Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the expansion of its Strikeforce Initiative to 10 other states, including the Carolinas. In South Carolina, the program will target 19 rural counties stuck in persistent poverty.

UNCW and Fayetteville VA Medical Center sign affiliation agreement

Sara Wood — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 15:04:15 +0000

A new affiliation between UNCW and the Fayetteville VA Medical Center opens the door for students, researchers and VA staff to work collaboratively. The agreement, signed Monday, is a collaboration that aims to improve health care for veterans.

Marine's attorney says urination video is tasteless, but a coping mechanism

Sara Wood — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:01:09 +0000

A hearing for a marine charged with desecrating human casualties in Afghanistan was held yesterday at Camp Lejeune. Sgt. Richard Roberts is accused of filming footage of four marines urinating on deceased Taliban fighters in 2011. WHQR’s Sara Wood reports while the video shocked viewers when it appeared on YouTube in 2012, Roberts’ attorney says the marine’s act was a coping mechanism.