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Ending Saturday, October 24th, this past week’s top stories include a City Council meeting amendment and Wilmington's only state-funded detox center high risk for closing. Listen for more.   

North Carolina’s Congressional District map has faced criticism for years.  In 2018, a federal court declared it unconstitutional and gerrymandered to favor Republican candidates.  

This week, Wilmington is losing a critical tool for dealing with mental health crises and substance abuse. Despite having several key stakeholders on board, a deal to save it appears to be falling apart.

Two productions – a horror film and a crime drama series -- are currently shooting in the Cape Fear region.  Another TV pilot is in pre-production, and five projects recently wrapped.

On Tuesday night, Wilmington's City Council tackled an amendment to the land development code. The issue prompted a lengthy debate over how to keep new projects in line with the city's vision, as well as what regulations would be too onerous for developers. 

North Carolina’s House District 20 has new boundaries in time for the 2020 elections.  What used to be a district that included northern New Hanover County is now a smaller area and no longer includes Kure Beach or Carolina Beach.  

New Hanover County Schools opened for in-person classes last week. WHQR checked-in with some school personnel to see how things went.   

This week, our airwaves sounded a bit different. The confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice nominee Amy Coney Barrett began on Monday morning and continued through Wednesday evening.    

North Carolina Senate District 8 includes the whole of Brunswick, Bladen, and Pender Counties.  But this year, there’s another piece added to the district – a very small slice of New Hanover County’s northernmost part. 

   October 15th is the first day of one-stop early voting, which continues through October 31st. WHQR spoke with New Hanover County’s Board of Elections Director about what you need to know.   

Ending Saturday, October 8th, this past week’s top stories include the 4-1 County Commisioners vote to sell NHRMC, a 10-year contract finalized at Tuesday's City Council meeting, and an economic outlook for the Port City. Listen for more.   

  On Thursday, October 8th, UNCW hosted its annual Economic Outlook Conference. WHQR takes a look at what forecasters are expecting for the coming year.    

North Carolina’s House District 18, redrawn for the 2020 elections, no longer includes any part of Brunswick County.  It’s now strictly a northern New Hanover County territory with more unaffiliated voters than those registered as Democrats or Republicans. 

With the 2020 election now less than a month away, Frank Iler and Tom Simmons are the candidates for NC House District 17. But it isn’t the first time the two have faced off in the race. 

The City of Wilmington has approved a ten-year contract with Live Nation Worldwide, Inc. to manage the Hugh Morton Amphitheater at Greenfield Lake. That's the latest news from this week’s Tuesday, Oct. 7 City Council meeting.

  New Hanover County Schools are opening for in-person classes on Monday. But as WHQR reports, parents and teachers still have questions.

Novant Health is set to become the new owner of New Hanover Regional Medical Center.  At Monday night’s county commission meeting, four of the five board members voted to approve the sale of the county’s largest asset, and to create a private community foundation to manage the proceeds.

Last week the Wilmington Fire Department hosted a series of conversations on divisiveness in the country entitled, ‘Perspective Change’. But as WHQR reports, the goal wasn’t to change anyone’s mind, but to provide space for firefighters to have an open discussion.  

North Carolina’s House District 19, redrawn for the 2020 elections, now includes a southern portion of Brunswick County – in addition to the southernmost part of New Hanover County.  It’s a district that has, for the last four-and-a-half terms, been served by Representative Ted Davis, Junior. 

  North Carolina House District 16 covers all of Pender County and the eastern portion of Columbus County. WHQR spoke with Debbi Fintak, the Democratic challenger to Republican incumbent Carson Smith, Junior.  

Ending Saturday, October 4rd, this past week’s top stories include an extension to the census, the opening of large outdoor venues in North Carolina, and a deep dive into the final sale of NHRMC. Listen for more. 

Monday night, New Hanover County Commissioners decide the future of New Hanover Regional Medical Center.  Since Commissioners announced the potential sale more than a year ago, opponents have argued the county should not let go of its single most valuable asset or control of local healthcare. 

After a federal judge ruled on Friday, October 2nd that the Census count will continue until October 31st, the Trump administration is expected to appeal. But as of now, WHQR reports Wilmington’s self-response rate still lags behind most major cities in the state.    

Controversy continues this week at UNCW. On Monday, the Coalition of Black Student Leaders issued a statement criticizing Chancellor Sartarelli's removal of Black Lives Matter banners on campus. 

Pat Sykes and Bill Flythe are the District 3 candidates for the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners. The two have very different perspectives, visions, and ideas.

This Friday, October 2nd, North Carolina moves into Phase 3 of its coronavirus response, and movie theaters, bars, and outdoor entertainment venues will be allowed to open at reduced capacity.

David Robinson and Sherrill Jolly are facing off for the Board of Education seat in Brunswick County’s District 2. Both candidates are newcomers to elective office -- but, they’re no strangers to the school system they hope to serve.

The sale of New Hanover Regional Medical Center is one step closer to reality.  At its final meeting Tuesday night, the Partnership Advisory Group voted to recommend the purchase agreement, as written, for approval. 

Last night, New Hanover County Schools held the first of three town hall meetings focused on reopening plans.

New Hanover County Commissioners vote October 5th on whether to approve the sale of New Hanover Regional Medical Center to Novant Health.  In advance of that vote, the county held a public hearing last night at the New Hanover County Courthouse to allow residents to voice their opinions about the sale.