Aaleah McConnell
ReporterAaleah McConnell is a Report for America corps member and a recent North Carolina implant from Atlanta, Georgia. They report on the criminal justice system in New Hanover County and surrounding areas. Before joining WHQR, they completed a fellowship with the States Newsroom, as a General Assignment Reporter for the Georgia Recorder. Aaleah graduated from Kennesaw State University with a degree in journalism and minored in African and African-American Diaspora studies. In their free time, Aaleah loves roller-skating and enjoys long walks with their dog Kai. You can reach them at amcconnell@whqr.org.
-
First Lady Anne Stein was appointed to the North Carolina Joint Reentry Council today by the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections. -
A diverse crowd gathered for Wilmington’s Stop the Coup Rally on Saturday to protest the running list of controversial policies coming out of the executive branch. -
Wilmington held its legislative breakfast last Friday, bringing local and state policymakers together to discuss the quality of life in Wilmington. Officials discussed concerns about hurricane relief, affordable housing, water contamination, law enforcement, and the overall economic needs of the city. -
On today’s show, Rachel Keith celebrates Sunshine Week, an annual event focused on open government and transparency. In honor of this year’s sunshine week, we’re taking a look at government speech policies — we’ll dig into how much public employees, including college professors, can say when they talk to journalists or speak out on political issues. And, later on today’s show, Aaleah McConnell takes a personal look a being a Blerd — that’s a black nerd – and the art, music, and film that exists at the intersection of those two cultures. -
Monday marked the start of the witness cross-examination process in the trial of 36-year-old Jonathan Casey Rashad Burgess, who is accused of shooting his ex-girlfriend, 25-year-old Alexandra Faith Gillikin in May of 2022 at a local apartment complex. -
In early 2022, Rothwell J. Simmons was involuntarily committed to New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Several days later, he attacked two nurses. On Monday, Simmons accepted a plea deal; he has been detained for roughly three years, which was applied against his sentence. -
"I'm Blerd all the way," says Chris Everett, a documentarian and creator of 3 Chambers, a festival in Wilmington that brings fans of hip hop, anime, and martial arts together under the umbrella of Blerd-dom. What exactly is a "Blerd"? Listen to find out, as WHQR's Aaleah McConnell gives you a guided tour of the 3 Chambers. -
Christopher Todd Evans, a New Hanover County man who was charged with multiple felony counts related to human trafficking in 2023, pleaded guilty to several counts in federal district court on Tuesday. As part of the deal, U.S. attorneys also dropped some charges. -
The New Hanover County Health and Human Services Department held a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) meeting earlier this week to collect input from community stakeholders about impacts on the health of overlooked populations. -
The Opioid Settlement Funds Joint Elected Sub-Committee met on Monday to discuss the allocation of money to programs offering treatment for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) — a leading priority for New Hanover County and City of Wilmington officials.
