Sara Wood

The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office announced the largest heroin bust in the agency’s history. 

The Cape Fear Regional Airport in Oak Island will get a brand-new taxiway thanks to a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration. 

The Department of Transportation is proposing toll increases for several ferry routes, including the Southport/Fort Fisher ride.

North Carolina’s unemployment rate decreased from 9.7 percent in October to 9.5 percent in November.

President Obama marked the end of the Iraq war at Fort Bragg last week after nine years, more than 4,500 service members lost and more than 30,000 wounded.

Today marks the final story in a WHQR News series focusing on some of the 34 new laws that took affect yesterday in North Carolina, including the 2011 Justice Reinvestment Act which was created to reduce spending in the prison system. Sara Wood reports the law significantly changes the way crimes are sentenced in the state. 

The WHQR News Team continues a series on laws taking effect tomorrow in North Carolina. Laura’s Law focuses on drunk driving and as Sara Wood reports, it creates a new level of sentencing for defendants with three or more grossly aggravating factors.

To kick-off a series on new laws taking effect in North Carolina on Thursday, WHQR News begins with The Unborn Victims of Violence Act. Sara Wood reports the Unborn Victims of Violence Act or Ethen’s Law has been circulating through the state legislature for 25 years.

North Carolinians once eligible for federal assistance to help keep their houses warm may not receive funding this winter. Last year New Hanover County received $800,000 for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program. WHQR’s Sara Wood reports this year that number has dwindled to $226,000.

Governor Perdue stopped in Wilmington Tuesday to promote her Career and College Promise program, which will offer free community college credit hours to high school students across the state.