Local

By Peter Biello

WHQR – A pregnant Marine who went missing from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina Marine base last month is dead.

Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown says authorities have not recovered the body of Lance Corporal Maria Lauterbach. They think she's buried in a shallow grave somewhere in coastal Onslow County.

Lauterbach was about eight months pregnant when she disappeared. The sheriff says they're still searching for 21-year-old fellow Marine Corporal Cesar A. Laurean. She had accused him of raping her.

By Megan V. Williams

Wilmington, NC – The region's youngest filmmakers may be skimping on their homework and chores over the next few weeks. But angry parents might want to cut the kids some slack if they're rushing to get their entries ready for the Cucalorus Kids film festival.

Now in its third year, the festival combines films by and for young people with workshops and other events.

Festival director Dan Brawley says he expects to see a lot of entries for this year that actually started at last year's festival.

By Catherine M. Welch

Wilmington, NC – Wilmington's ILM Airport says 2007 was a record-breaking year for business.

In a released statement the airport announced 801,187 passengers flew into or out of Wilmington last year. That's up 25% over 2006, which was a slow year for the airport compared to '05.

Airport officials say lower prices, better marketing, and more seats on more of the non-stop flights helped boost air travel out of ILM.

The Numbers

2007 = 801,187

By Peter Biello

Wilmington, NC – Myrtle Beach hosts its first ever Presidential Debate tonight during the slowest tourism month of the year.

The Republican Debate is expected to draw up to 4,000 visitors and could bring as much as $10 million.

Mayor John Rhodes says some tourists came for the debate, and others just want to see the giant sand-sculpture of the six GOP candidates.

By Peter Biello

Wilmington, NC – Testimony continues at a special tribunal at Camp Lejeune investigating a shooting that killed as many as 19 Afghan civilians.

A Marine in a Humvee told the special tribunal today that his convoy came under fire before Marines fired back.

Both sides agree the convoy was first hit by a car bomb. The question remains whether the Marines firing afterward was justified.

By Peter Biello

Wilmington, NC – A parent of children in Brunswick County Schools is circulating a petition to remove Ray Gilbert from the School Board.

Tracey Danka says Ray Gilbert's behavior makes him unfit for the School Board. Gilbert was banned from all Brunswick County Schools after a schools employee accused him of threatening her.

While the school board has censured Gilbert, Danka says she hopes to give the Attorney General more reason to remove him from office.

By Catherine Welch

Raleigh, NC – A House Committee investigating Representative Thomas Wright found probable cause to continue looking into charges of unethical and unlawful conduct. Wright and his attorney skipped Wednesday's hearing in Raleigh.

The House Select Committee found there was probable cause on eight counts of unethical conduct. The counts range from obtaining loans by false pretenses to failing to disclose scores of campaign contributions.

By Megan V. Williams

Wilmington, NC – Wilmington's City Council sent the developers of a planned mixed-use project alongside the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge back to the drawing board last night.

Council members voted to ask developer John Evans to retool his plans for a 14-story residential and commercial complex before they would consider his request to rezone the property it would sit on.

By Catherine M. Welch and Megan Williams

Wilmington, NC – A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday's Wilmington City Council meeting on rezoning property at the base of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge to make way for a high-rise development.

The Gateway development would put a 14-story high rise on the south side of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge. Office space, condos and a hotel would fill the nearly 185-foot building.

The development would also include 40 wet slips and a park.

By Catherine M. Welch

Wilmington, NC – A House Committee hearing centered on the finances of Representative Thomas Wright begins Wednesday afternoon in Raleigh.

Wright, a democrat, was indicted early last month on six counts of fraud and obstruction of justice. The House committee was formed to look into the indictments and determine if there is evidence of illegal activity.

Wright entered a not guilty plea to the charges last week. That's when his attorney told reporters that Wright would seek re-election.