Benjamin Schachtman
News DirectorBen Schachtman is a journalist and editor with a focus on local government accountability. He began reporting for Port City Daily in the Wilmington area in 2016 and took over as managing editor there in 2018. He’s a graduate of Rutgers College and later received his MA from NYU and his PhD from SUNY-Stony Brook, both in English Literature. He loves spending time with his wife and playing rock'n'roll very loudly. You can reach him at BSchachtman@whqr.org and find him on Twitter @Ben_Schachtman.
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Q: What's up with the county employee posted outside the New Hanover County building at 320 Chestnut Street?A: After contractors were found parking in spots reserved for county staff, the employee was temporarily assigned to monitor the lot. -
The Endowment's leadership recently said, "We could not be more transparent.” That’s hard to square with their founding documents and some of their approach to openness and public discussion. So, maybe it's time for a level-set on what the word “transparency” means, at least to journalists. -
Last month, the trial started for two men arrested in the Tru Colors double-murder case — Omonte Bell and Dyrell Green — who are now facing charges including murder, conspiracy, and more. The third defendant, Raquel Adams, was convicted and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences last year. WHQR News Director Ben Schachtman caught up with reporter Aaleah McConnell, who's been following the trial. -
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 -
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. -
For a long time, the City of Wilmington maintained a public terminal, allowing the press — and the public — to easily review city emails. Over the last few years, accessing the terminal became more difficult. Now, the city has discontinued it entirely, citing security concerns. That’s made it harder for journalists to cover Wilmington, which can be slow to reply to public records requests. -
From this week's Sunday Edition, a few notes on The Endowment's $116-million grant announcement, and a different perspective on New Hanover County Schools' 2024 budget crisis. -
Aaleah McConnell has an intimate look at how the family of Edilberto Espinoza-Sierra is coping with grief and searching for justice, after the 21-year-old was killed by law enforcement in March. Plus, Rachel Keith and Ben Schachtman dig into public school funding, with a look at this year’s budget – and some potential issues on the horizon. -
New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Alec Rauf resigned two weeks ago, the same day he was charged by the Carolina Beach Police Department on ten counts, including two felonies. -
On Thursday, The Endowment announced a proposal to help support the renovation and construction of educational facilities identified in the $320-million school bond. The grant is contingent on the bond passing in November, and would help pay down the resulting debt, reducing the estimated tax increase from 1.75 cents to half a penny.
