Recently, parents and teachers have raised concerns about facility issues at two of New Hanover County’s public high schools, including flooding at Laney and mold at Hoggard. New Hanover County Schools has made progress addressing the problems, but they face hundreds of millions in capital funding needs — which officials hope the upcoming $320.5 million school bond will help address.

A coalition of environmental and community groups joined local governments in asking the region’s federal delegation to push for a reevaluation of the federal 135-foot clearance requirements for a Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement. The required height is a major driver of costs, which has led state officials to push for a toll to fund the project.

At this week’s agenda meeting, the New Hanover County school board set a date to consider disciplinary action against Libertarian board member David Perry, who stormed out of a meeting earlier this month.

Major grants include $8.5 million for new and renovated aquatics facilities at local YMCA and YWCA campuses, $3.5 million to support a park in Carolina Beach, and $1.5 million to expand the loop at Wrightsville Beach. The announcement also included over $2 million in grants, largely for child development and health.

Last fall, a Wilmington man claimed a New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office deputy used excessive force while arresting him. To better understand what happened, WHQR requested bodycam footage, and was represented in court by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the Duke Law School First Amendment Clinic. Last week, a judge ordered the release of the footage.

After a week occupied with the business of the pledge drive, WHQR’s newsroom is pivoting back to reporting. News Director Benjamin Schachtman catches up on a few stories from this month, with some postscripts and a few lingering questions.

WHQR’s arts reporter Demia Avery sat down with Wilmington native and artist Sydney F. Austin to talk about how her childhood working on a blueberry farm, half-century career in dentistry, and ‘coastal realistic’ style all connect. They also talk about her experience finding artistic community at theArtWorks.

The Living Hope Day Center is preparing to open a zero-barrier day shelter at a new location. This week, they held a meeting to discuss plans with neighbors – and heard a host of concerns. WHQR Senior Reporter Rachel Keith spoke with Aaleah McConnell, who attended the meeting.

Q: Listeners and readers have asked WHQR: Why are county social workers concentrating more efforts on the new downtown library and museum?A: For the last couple of months, the county has directed ‘Getting Home’ staff to focus on the area, and has paid out overtime to provide more coverage.

The Hilton Bluffs project in Sledge Forest recently had its technical plans administratively denied by the county manager. This week, a county board considered a separate appeal from neighbors. One county official called the increasingly complex situation a “nightmare,” and suggested developer Copper Builders start over with a new application; developers, however, think they may still have a way forward.