Aaleah McConnell
Reporter/HostAaleah 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.
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The Pender County EMS merger took effect in early July of this year, and at Tuesday night’s meeting, the Board of Commissioners got an update on its progress, and tabled an appointment for a commissioner to a vacant seat. -
The replacement for the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge has drummed up a host of community concerns, including bridge design, traffic and whether to add a toll. The Wilmington City Council unanimously passed a resolution addressing some of those issues. -
WAVE Transit officials met on Thursday to discuss plans to add shelters and benches at its transit stops. They also discussed reigniting an Adopt-An-Amenity policy from 2015, with added revisions. This discussion comes after a weeks-long debate over the removal of dozens of benches installed by the local Democratic Socialists of America chapter. -
Paula Poundstone is a veteran comedian renowned for her observational humor and razor-sharp wit. As a frequent panelist on NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!, she’s no stranger to public media. WHQR’s Aaleah McConnell spoke with Poundstone about her longevity in comedy, and the comfort she’s found in hosting her own podcast, Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone. -
The Brunswick County Board of Commissioners met Monday night to decide whether to approve two rezoning request appeals to switch two residential tax parcels to commercial zones, and a special use permit for a proposed kennel that’s subject to new requirements under a recently passed law. The Board also considered the creation of a cemetery committee. Here are some highlight's from the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners Aug. 17 meeting. -
Creating Friendships for Peace works to teach youth from conflict-ridden regions of the world how to unite despite generational hostility. They launched their program in Wilmington for the first time in 2025. WHQR followed up with the CFP crew this year to meet their new cohort. -
The Wilmington City Council recognized a local Marine Corps veteran for his service to the country and economic contributions to the city after receiving the highest military decoration in the nation, the Congressional Medal of Honor. -
Earlier this year, 21-year-old Edilberto Espinoza Sierra was killed by law enforcement officers in a downtown Wilmington parking deck. WHQR's Aaleah McConnell digs into the decision not to charge officers involved in the shooting and the family's ongoing search for justice. -
A lover’s quarrel, a missing dog, and a trail of evidence leading to the perpetrator. Can a group of students in District Attorney Jason Smith’s leadership academy work together to deliver justice? -
This week, District Attorney Jason Smith announced there would be no charges against officers involved in the March shooting death of 21-year-old Edilberto Espinoza Sierra. Smith shared his office's case report and also showed segments of body-cam footage to reporters. Espinoza Sierra's family said they were "disgusted" with the decision.
