Local

The question of what to do with New Hanover County’s solid waste is still open. After hearing long-awaited presentations Monday from two private companies vying to haul local waste to neighboring counties, the commissioners were left dissatisfied with projected costs. While the outside companies have been invited to justify their numbers during next month’s commission board meeting, the county could simply continue to handle waste management operations on its own.

In the wake of UNCW’s Information Technology Conference and the release of the Garner Report, the question of how to spur economic development in the Cape Fear Region persists Should leaders be luring outside businesses, developing local industries, or encouraging start-up activity? In answer to this, UNCW’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, or CIE, is training local entrepreneurs to identify area business owners’ needs, develop solutions accordingly—and take these ideas to broader, out-of-state markets.  

Next week, Wilmington--along with seven other locations across the state--will begin hosting a new documentary film series. Its founders—the North Carolina NAACP and Wilmington-based nonprofit Working Films—have coined the summer-long initiative Moral Movies. Its four monthly features are intended to highlight hot-button state issues--and jump-start community dialog.

A second Brunswick County veterinarian is vying to represent the citizens of North Carolina’s Senate District Eight.  In fact, Democratic candidate Dr. Ernie Ward cites -- as a major impetus to run -- a January episode during which his district’s incumbent senator, fellow veterinarian Bill Rabon, rejected legislation to regulate commercial dog breeding. In addition to animal rights, this political newcomer—who is endorsed by the North Carolina Association of Educators and has served on Brunswick County’s Board of Health—champions accessible healthcare and middle-class job creation.

Unemployment is down across most of North Carolina.  That’s according to the latest analysis from the Department of Commerce.  

Wilmington lawyer Michael Lee is vying for a seat in state Senate District 9—with hearty endorsement from incumbent Senator Thom Goolsby.  Lee, a fellow Republican, has twice previously run for the same seat--to Julia Boseman in 2008, and to Goolsby in the 2010 primary. While Lee has never won an elected position, he serves on the Port Authority Board, as well as the state Department of Transportation’s board.  Lee views job growth, education reform and a balanced budget as integrated pursuits.

This week marks the fortieth consecutive Monday lunch-hour protest of Women Organizing for Wilmington, or WOW*. Since last summer, this grassroots group has been championing women’s rights and public education causes on a weekly basis, whether outside Senator Goolsby’s downtown office, or before the New Hanover County courthouse. But, WOW* has now left downtown altogether--to protest outside the Hobby Lobby at Hanover Center.

The expansion of the Digital Corridor is one of Charleston, South Carolina’s chief growth strategies.

Business owners in Southeastern North Carolina are more optimistic than they’ve been since pre-recessionary times—and many plan on doing some hiring. This is according to PNC Bank’s annual spring outlook survey. Yesterday, their economist presented survey findings on the financial state of the nation, the state—and of Wilmington. And the Port City is considered an area of major growth—yet in terms of residents’ income, it still lags behind state and national averages.

New Hanover County is well-positioned to serve international markets through its port facilities, but the area doesn’t have sufficient access to national markets.