Local

By Catherine M. Welch

Wilmington, NC – Top executives at GE broke ground in Wilmington on what will become home to hundreds of employees working on the latest technology for nuclear reactors.

GE is one of a dozen companies working with The Department of Energy's Nuclear Power 2010 program, a private-public partnership to develop nuclear technology and make a case for bringing at least one new, advanced nuclear power plant online.

The research and planning of that technology will be done in the new building.

By Catherine M. Welch

Wilmington, NC – The North Carolina Beach Inlet and Waterway Association says while public access to beaches is improving, access to coastal waters is becoming a serious issue.

In its first report card for the North Carolina coast, the association handed out a D grade for public access to coastal waters.

Harry Simmons is the group's executive director and mayor of the southeastern coastal town of Caswell Beach.

By Catherine M. Welch

Wilmington, NC – The North Carolina Beach Inlet and Waterway Association says while public access to beaches is improving, access to coastal waters is becoming a serious issue.

In its first report card for the North Carolina coast, the association handed out a D grade for public access to coastal waters.

Harry Simmons is the group's executive director and mayor of the southeastern coastal town of Caswell Beach.

By Catherine M. Welch

Wilmington, NC – The deadline has passed to apply for the New Hanover County Planning Director's job. Former director, Dexter Hayes, retired at the beginning of this month.

As the search committee sorts through the applications there are other vacancies in the area of planning that the county will have to fill as well. WHQR's Catherine Welch reports.

By Megan V. Williams

By Megan V. Williams

Snipes Elementary School, Wilmington, NC – The tone was civil, but views were sharply divided at last night's school board forum. The meeting at Snipes Elementary was the first of three chances for the public to speak on the redistricting proposals for New Hanover County elementary schools.

By Catherine M. Welch

Wilmington, NC – City Council member Bill Saffo is the new mayor of Wilmington. Without the presence of council member Laura Padgett, the city council tapped Saffo. It was a special meeting in council chambers that literally took minutes.

Less than ten minutes after calling the special meeting to order the City Council selected Bill Saffo to serve as the next mayor.

By Catherine M. Welch

Raleigh, NC – A slate of bills greeted members of the House back to Raleigh as the short session kicked off at around noon. And on this first day many lawmakers from the region focused on the word short in this session's moniker.

By Catherine M. Welch

Wilmington, NC –

18th House District Race

In the democratic primary races for the state House seat in the 18th District, incumbent Thomas Wright beat challenger Laura Padgett.

Unofficial results for New Hanover County show Wright coming in with 69% of the votes to Padgett's 31%. In Pender County, Wright won 63% to Padgett's 37% of the vote.

By Megan Williams