Rachel Keith

On Monday, New Hanover County Commissioners voted 3-2 along partisan lines to provide $1 million in support of a new city park off Greenville Loop Road. Democratic commissioners voted against the proposal over concerns about cost and transparency.

On Monday, New Hanover County commissioners will vote to add $1 million in funding to help the City of Wilmington purchase a new park. For the edition of Ask a Journalist, WHQR’s Ben Schachtman and Rachel Keith tackle some questions about the plan.

Measles is one of the most contagious viruses out there — and it’s come to North Carolina. There are 18 cases reported so far, mostly in the western part of the state. However, local physicians and officials have been preparing in the meantime, which means getting out information about vaccination. One benefit: people who come in contact with the virus can avoid a three-week quarantine if they're vaccinated.

At Monday’s meeting, the New Hanover County school board voted 4-3 to extend its contract with the Crossley, McIntosh, Collier, Hanley, and Edes P.L.L.C. law firm for another year, through June 2027. Republicans David Perry, Melissa Mason, Pat Bradford, and Pete Wildeboer were in favor. They also voted down a resolution for Black History Month and tussled again with First Amendment rights during the public comment period.

StarNews reporter Renee Spencer and data scientist, Dr. Anna Casey of Cape Fear Collective, have joined the recently formed Coastal Journalism Hub, whose mission is to report on the health of New Hanover County’s residents. WHQR spoke with them about their first finding: there is an over 17-year life expectancy gap between two neighborhoods in the county.

A winter storm warning is in effect for the Cape Fear region as well as an extreme cold weather advisory, from Saturday evening through Monday evening. Officials with the National Weather Service Wilmington have increasing confidence that significant snowfall, at least 2 inches, will be coming to the area, starting Saturday morning, with the arrival window being anywhere from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. High-end predictions, with lower confidence, predict up to 13 inches.

The board made the decision just a day after acknowledging it was looking into an offensive social media post made by attorney Brian Kromke over the weekend. The board will explore its legal representation next week — and could stay with its existing firm, minus Kromke, or move on entirely.

Applications for New Hanover County’s preschool program for the upcoming school year open on Sunday. There are significantly more spots for kids aged four than for kids aged three, but NHCS officials are encouraging all families to apply.

On Sunday, the public was made aware of a Facebook post from one of the attorneys representing New Hanover County Schools. Brian Kromke, attorney for Crossley McIntosh Collier Hanley & Edes, P.L.L.C., posted a harsh comment on former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper’s social media about the ICE-related killings of protestors in Minnesota.

While legal bills wax and wane depending on a host of factors, New Hanover County Schools, on average, spent less for legal services contracting with Crossley McIntosh Collier Hanley & Edes, P.L.L.C., a local Wilmington firm, and the Sink Law Firm PLLC, compared to its two previous firms, Tharrington Smith, LLP and the Vogel Law Firm. Norwood Blanchard, one of the main Crossley lawyers that advise the district, said he’s mindful that the funds for their services come from the local taxpayer.