Sara Wood

When changes to the GI Bill took effect in January, the revisions bridged a gap between the cost of public and private higher education for student veterans, leveling the educational playing field.

But WHQR's Sara Wood reports a new clause has created an unintended financial burden for several hundred student veterans in North Carolina.

As Cucalorus begins in Wilmington, another annual tradition, Dance-A-Lorus takes place Thursday night at Thalian Hall.

WHQR's Sara Wood reports the event features eight collaborative works between dance choreographers and filmmakers.

For the past six years, The Dance Cooperative has produced the festival in conjunction with Cucalorus. Choreographer Kate Muhlstein says it's an exploration of the two forms of art working in tandem.

Last night’s city council race in Wilmington proved suspenseful up until the end with two new candidates winning seats.

WHQR’s Sara Wood reports the race between newcomer Neil Anderson and incumbent Ronald Sparks was the evening’s most tightly contested.

Sparks and Andersen were neck and neck until the last precinct reported, inching Anderson ahead to victory with 14.95 percent of votes compared to Sparks with 14.23 percent.

Sparks says he spent all day on the campaign trail to gather support.

While many races in last night’s municipal elections were tightly contested, several mayoral candidates in New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties won by landslides.

WHQR’s Sara Wood reports that the mayoral race in Wilmington proved to be no exception.

Incumbent Mayor Bill Saffo defeated candidate Justin LaNasa by more than 40 percent of votes.

After capturing his fourth term as mayor, Saffo says he’s ready to continue working to improve the city’s existing issues as well as focus on the economy.

Saturday is the last day for early voting in New Hanover County where there are more than 87,000 registered voters eligible for municipal elections. WHQR’s Sara Wood reports that despite the county’s efforts to make early voting more accessible, turnout so far for this election remains predictably low.

With municipal elections less than a week away, WHQR News is talking to mayoral candidates, including former Carolina Beach Mayor Ray Rothrock, who is returning to the ballot, as well as current council members Dan Wilcox and Pat Efird.

The Governor’s Eugenics Task Force met in Raleigh last week to discuss its recommendations for compensating victims of the state’s sterilization program, which ended in 1974.  WHQR’s  Sara Wood reports the group heard recommendations for outreach options to help find more victims.

The groundbreaking ceremony for a new Courtyard Marriott hotel in downtown Wilmington took place Thursday on Grace Street.

The 124-room project is expected to cost between $14-16 million and be complete within 16 months.

Tushar Zaver is the vice present of hotel operations for CN Hotels and says the Marriott will feature a 1,000-square foot meeting space as well as a Starbucks bistro.