Wilmington North Carolina News

Iler, the region’s longest-serving legislator, challenged by Simmons BRUNSWICK COUNTY — Hurricane Florence recovery efforts, the opioid crisis and education are among the topics voters will have to consider as N.C. Rep. Frank Iler, R-Brunswick, faces a challenge from Democrat Tom Simmons. Iler is the longest-serving member of the General Assembly from the three-county Southeastern N.C. region, having been appointed in 2009 and re-elected by wide margins since then. Simmons is a former Boiling Spring…

NC Superintendent Mark Johnson pledges continued support after historic storm HAMPSTEAD — Ceiling tiles were still missing in many Topsail Elementary School classrooms Monday. But after 29 days out of school since Hurricane Florence, students and staff didn’t seem to mind. Pender County Schools reopened Monday morning and welcomed a special guest: State Superintendent Mark Johnson. The leader of North Carolina’s school system walked classroom to classroom, high-fiving students and thanking their teachers. Topsail, one of…

By Gareth McGrath StarNews Staff Monday Oct 22, 2018 at 9:50 AM Voters in W30 and H12 have new voting locations NEW HANOVER COUNTY — Due to impacts of Hurricane Florence, the New Hanover County Board of Elections has made temporary changes to two Election Day polling locations. Only voters who live in these precincts are affected by the change. All voters who reside in precinct W30 around Shipyard Boulevard and Carolina Beach Road will vote on Election Day at…

Share on Facebook Tweet on Twitter (Photo: WWAY) WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) – It’s been more than a month since Hurricane Florence, but the storm’s impacts continue, including leading to a couple of changes for Election Day. The New Hanover County Board of Elections has made temporary changes to two Election Day polling locations because of impacts from Florence. Only voters who live in these precincts are affected by the change. All voters who reside in…

‘Things like this don’t happen to people that we know. They happen to people far off in other places’ WILMINGTON — Hurricane Florence will be remembered for the way it pushed residents of the Cape Fear region to their limits and, ultimately, for how they came to each other’s aid in times of the greatest need. After lashing New Bern and causing flooding throughout that city’s historic downtown, Florence curved south, making official landfall near…

Wilmington and Southeastern North Carolina officials hoping FEMA will reimburse most expenses, from the cost of debris removal to repairing damaged government buildings, SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Local government costs to respond to Hurricane Florence were, in most cases, the highest ever, officials said. “I’d venture to say this will be the most expensive cleanup in the city’s history,” Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo said. During the storm, local governments responded with emergency personnel and officials coordinating…

Rabon looking for fifth term; challenged by Sink, Mascolo SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Longtime N.C. Sen. Bill Rabon, R-Brunswick, is looking to win a fifth term in the Senate against challenges from Democrat David Sink and Libertarian Anthony Mascolo. Rabon, first elected in 2010, has either won comfortably or faced no opposition in subsequent re-election bids. Sink is a former community college president who now owns the Meineke Car Care Franchise for Brunswick County. Mascolo is…

As local weather takes dramatic turns, more voters forced to reinforce — or question — their beliefs >>For more comments and the original story at The Washington Post, click here.<< WILMINGTON — It took a giant laurel oak puncturing her roof during Hurricane Florence last month for Margie White to consider that perhaps there was some truth to all the alarm bells over global warming. “I always thought climate change was a bunch of nonsense,…

Wilmington residents unite in wearing the Overflo t-shirts at the Saturday, October 20 event. (Photo: Monique Robinson/WWAY) WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Local businesses are trying to find unique ways to continue to support local charities in desperate need. Saturday, 2nd street was overflowing with music, drinks and family fun. Downtown Wilmington independent business owners joined together to support local charities including Nourish NC, Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, The Good Shepherd, The Salvation…

Local leaders give their views Kemp Burdette, Cape Fear riverkeeper: 1. Climate change is real. 99 percent of scientists agree. These severe weather events are becoming more frequent and more intense. We would be naive to pretend otherwise, and we would be reckless and foolish to not plan for climate change and do everything we can to slow and/or reverse its impacts. 2. Putting major sources of pollution in floodplains, things like factory farms, sewage…

Historic storm brought many challenges to the region; now officials want to learn from them SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — As Wilmington and its surrounding areas continue to limp back to normal, the process of unpacking the historic disaster that was Hurricane Florence has begun. Between Sept. 13 and Sept. 17, the storm dropped at least 24 inches of rain across the Cape Fear region, causing floodwaters to inundate homes, breach dams and render major roads impassable….

Share on Facebook Tweet on Twitter WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Churches from across the Southeast are pitching in to help each other recover after not one, but two devastating hurricanes. A church in St. Augustine, FL airlifted food to Saint Jude’s Metropolitan Community Church in Wilmington after Hurricane Florence left the church’s food bank nearly empty. Now, the pastor of Saint Jude’s says they are trying to repay the favor by reaching out to their affiliate…

Surf City (Photo: Matt Bennett/WWAY) SURF CITY, NC (WWAY) — A beach closed to visitors since Hurricane Florence is officially back open. Hundreds of homeowners and business owners filled a town meeting in Surf City this morning to find out the future of their beach town. – Advertisement – The town has been under a state of emergency for more than a month. Town council voted to not have a curfew on the island and vacation…

Sales took a hit, but officials say the recovery is well underway — although caution it won’t happen overnight WILMINGTON – Hurricane Florence had an impact on nearly every community and industry in the region, and the housing market has been no different. In the weeks since the storm cut a path through Southeastern North Carolina, local realtors have taken stock of their listings and assessed any damages that need to be addressed. But other…

Shannon Ward looking into his garage after clearing out all of the damaged equipment on October 18, 2018. (Photo: Basil John/WWAY) WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Businesses are still trying to find their footing after Hurricane Florence. But others are struggling to get help from the small business administration. “The hurricane comes in and lost everything in here,” OSC automotive and repair owner Shannon Ward said. – Advertisement – After the hurricane, Ward opened his shop…