On this episode, WHQR’s Rachel Keith sits down with Dr. Aswani Volety, the newly appointed Chancellor of the University of North Carolina’s Wilmington campus. They’ll talk about his strategic plan for the University, and a host of challenges — from finances to diversity.
And WECT investigative reporter Michael Praats joins us for the latest on the lawsuit against top law enforcement officials in New Hanover County. We’ll trace the lawsuit’s origin to the change in management in the Wilmington police department crime lab — and what was allegedly behind that shake-up.
Links to Rachel Keith’s reporting on UNCW:
- New UNCW Chancellor Dr. Aswani Volety working on strategic plan, campus town halls
- Dr. Aswani Volety named as new Chancellor of UNCW
- The Newsroom: Open government is good government, plus UNCW’s Chief Diversity Officer
- UNCW Chancellor Sartarelli discusses efforts to tackle diversity, equity, and inclusion challenges with Board of Trustees
Reporting from Benjamin Schachtman and Michael Praats on the Wilmington crime lab:
- Years of drug cases under review after police department fires forensic chemist
- Funding, staffing issues prompt turnover of Wilmington police crime lab to county
- Follow-up: No convictions overturned or challenged after Wilmington crime lab incident
- NHCSO took over WPD crime lab, increased staff and funding, but hasn’t tested any drugs. Here’s why.
- Wilmington stuck with $166,000 lease for unused crime lab equipment
- Lawsuit claims authorities downplayed Wilmington crime lab issues, kept quiet about missing drugs
- New filing in Wilmington crime lab lawsuit alleges culture of gender bias at WPD