Bethanie Simms
News FellowBethanie is a freelance writer for WHQR. She was the 2021-2022 UNCW News Fellow during the pursuit of her M.A. in English. She holds a B.A. in Political Studies with a focus on Constitutional Law. Originally from California and Colorado, she is a Marine Corps Military Police Reserve officer and an Afghanistan War Veteran. Her civilian professional background includes corporate finance and legal litigation.
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Earlier this year, a man named Eric Cinotti was convicted of several felonies in connection with his impersonation of a Navassa police officer. An investigation by WHQR reveals a long history of dishonesty and deception, including attempts to gain access to military facilities. -
New Hanover County's public schools account for nearly half of the statewide use of seclusion rooms — but administrators haven't been able to explain why the district's numbers are so high. And that's not the only question that advocates have raised about their use. -
Earlier this month, the Lambda Legal Defense Fund announced a lawsuit seeking to reverse a requirement that transgender citizens undergo surgery in order to obtain a birth certificate that reflects their gender identity. -
The U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of North Carolina announced on Friday they have successfully prosecuted 18 local members of the nationally recognized gang, “The Gangster Disciples.” -
On the night of June 27th, Marine Corps officer First Lieutenant Justice Stewart was struck and killed while jogging along Highway 50 in Pender County. The preliminary investigation indicated the driver of the truck that hit her was impaired. But as the investigation unfolded, critical procedural errors on the part of law enforcement rendered some evidence inadmissible. -
New Hanover County School is facing a shortage of bus drivers, which means route redesign, larger collection points, longer wait times, and more overtime for drivers. All of which have become a focus for New Hanover County School’s transportation department. -
Late Tuesday morning police and fire departments responded to a call for service at New Hanover High School when a construction crew accidentally punctured a gas line. -
Military service members face unusual stressors in their lives and work. To cope with these demanding challenges, a North Carolina organization has launched a new effort to help active-duty personnel improve their health and performance ... both on and off the battlefield. -
At last night’s New Hanover County School Board meeting, members voted unanimously to change the policy that governs how and when School Resource Officers can question students in school. -
New Hanover County officials announced three arrests were made yesterday in connection with the July 24th Tru Colors murders. Officials asked community members for continued cooperation as the investigation moves forward.
