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…

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…

‘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…