Hurricane season started this Monday, and officials in the Cape Fear region are urging people to prepare.

On Wednesday, The Endowment held a public listening session. WHQR’s Ben Schachtman and Kelly Kenoyer take a look at some of the questions from community members

WHQR arts reporter Demia Avery spoke with Wilmington singer and guitarist Brandon Hawkins about getting into music, playing live around the Wilmington area, and writing original material.

At Tuesday evening’s public comment period at the New Hanover County school board meeting, about a third of the participants were educators. They shared concerns about funding and infrastructure improvements. Another third spoke about the controversial ‘during school hours’ Biblical program, LifeWise Academy. The board also supported a measure that would subject future members to a background check.

In New Hanover County, The Endowment has seven new members for its Community Advisory Council (CAC).

Council whittled down the recommended budget's tax increase of 5.75 cents, though some members remained uncomfortable with the final result or using the general fund to make ends meet.

This week, the chairman of Bladen County backed away from a controversial proposal to change how — and how many — commissioners are elected. WHQR’s Ben Schachtman spoke with Morgan Casey from the Border Belt Independent about her reporting on the issue.

At the City of Wilmington Budget Work session last week, housing and a possible homeless shelter were a substantial topic of conversation, including some renewed hope for the Living Hope Day Center.

Recently, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, NCDEQ, issued a warning for people and their pets to avoid contact with discolored water that may contain dangerous algae. Those risks are more pronounced in warmer weather.

New data show the Healthy Opportunities Pilots (HOP) program, which shut down last summer, saved North Carolina residents with Medicaid more money than previously estimated.