This week, the Brunswick County Commission met for the first time since the deadly shooting in Southport. Plus, Pender commissioners considered raises for EMS and fire staff and Columbus touched on a pending lawsuit.

On today's show, WHQR's series CAFO Country, featuring environmental journalist David Boraks, takes a deep dive into North Carolina's hog and poultry industry — it's a major economic driver for the state, but also the source of serious environmental concerns. Plus, we sat down with Inside Climate News' Lisa Sorg to catch up on her latest reporting on CAFOs.

The newcomer candidate hasn't been endorsed by the Republican Party, but he's endorsed by many downtown businesses.

City Council passed a camping ordinance that has sparked debates about homelessness throughout the community over the past couple of months.

The city of Wilmington is moving forward on a plan to buy land for a new park.

The New Hanover County Board of Education agreed on Tuesday to send a roughly $320-million bond request to county commissioners. They voted to keep their current legal representation, but on a different contract schedule. And Board Chair Melissa Mason offered a public apology for the behavior of some board members.

After fourteen years with the county’s election office, including over eight years as director, Rae Hunter-Havens announced her retirement last night. While Hunter-Havens’ departure was abrupt, citing personal health reasons, she will provide consulting services through next year’s primary. Her departure comes after several clashes between the elections office and the county government.

This weekend, a local nonprofit will hold its fifth annual molestation survivor walk. WHQR’s Aaleah McConnell sits down with Tracy Harrison of Keep Your Hands Off Me, Inc. to discuss the importance of having a supportive community.

Questions: Wait, the city hired a chief of staff? Is that a new position? Whose idea was this, and what does the new hire do? How much are they paid — and where is the money coming from after June’s tight budget negotiations?Short answers: Yes, the new city manager identified the need for a chief of staff to help execute her vision for the city’s leadership team; staff vacancies have freed up funding for the $195,000 salary.

The newly opened One Banana ripening facility in Wilmington will bring in fruit from the tropics to sell to regional grocers. It's a tricky logistical process to make sure bananas are as ripe as customers want them (which is, admittedly, a matter of some debate).