Benjamin Schachtman

Sunday Edition is a weekly newsletter from WHQR's News Director Benjamin Schachtman, featuring behind-the-scenes looks at our reporting, context and analysis of ongoing stories, and semi-weekly columns about the news and media issues in general. This week: a deep dive on the stakes and concerns for the AI-security pilot in New Hanover County schools.

Every week, WHQR's Ben Schachtman and The Assembly's Johanna Still tackle stories from around the greater Wilmington area in our free weekly newsletter, The Dive. This week, UNCW's institutional neutrality policy faced a stress test, with underwhelming results. And, a Rouzer-less town hall was fun ... until it wasn't.

The decision split the board, with supporters saying the district badly needs help addressing campus safety, and opponents voicing concerns about data security, long-term costs, and details of the contract with Eviden, the company behind the proposed AI technology. Board Chair Melissa Mason ended up being the swing vote and, after calling Eviden “not trustworthy,” voted against the program — though fellow Republican, vice-chair Josie Barnhart, questioned her rationale.

Sunday Edition is a weekly newsletter from WHQR's News Director Benjamin Schachtman, featuring behind-the-scenes looks at our reporting, context and analysis of ongoing stories, and semi-weekly columns about the news and media issues in general. This editorial is the second part in a series, excerpted from the original version.

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.

Every week, WHQR's Ben Schachtman and The Assembly's Johanna Still tackle stories from around the greater Wilmington area in our free weekly newsletter, The Dive. This week, Wilmington was the last man standing when it came to contentious red-light camera programs — but it looks like even the Port City might put red lights in the rearview. Plus, Shibumi has dominated the beach-shade market along the North Carolina coast. But so far it looks like South Carolina isn't having it.

For the next two and a half weeks, the New Hanover Community Endowment is currently accepting applications for two different programs with grants up to $5,000 for New Hanover County nonprofits. WHQR spoke with CEO Dan Winslow.

CEO Amy Beros spent years working for the Food Bank before leaving to help run another hunger-relief program. She returned just as federal funding cuts and significant increases in food insecurity present new challenges.

Sunday Edition is a weekly newsletter from WHQR's News Director Benjamin Schachtman, featuring behind-the-scenes looks at our reporting, context and analysis of ongoing stories, and semi-weekly columns about the news and media issues in general. This is an excerpt from the original newsletter.

On today’s show, I’m sitting down with Republican New Hanover County Commissioner LeAnn Pierce about her thoughts and goals as the county’s budget negotiations move forward. We asked Pierce, vice-chair of the Board of Commissioners, about her thoughts on where the tax rate should go — and ways to make the county more efficient, including calls to eliminate DEI and have The Endowment step in to support some previously county-funded programs.