Local

By Catherine M. Welch

Wilmington, NC – Construction is under way in Columbus County on a new state prison.

The maximum-security prison is going up near Tabor City and will hold 992 cells.

Crews cleared the site last summer and a construction started back in June. John Harris is the senior project manager for Centex Construction, he says it's going to take thousands of workers to build the prison, most of them local.

By Carrie Wellman

Wilmington, NC – Cape Fear Community College is kicking off its seventh annual Wooden Boat Festival Friday in downtown Wilmington.

Tom Forrester may be over eighty and overheated, but the local woodwork enthusiast doesn't let that slow him down.

Forrester is happy to put in the hours at the riverside workshop where he's getting his exhibit ready for this weekend's festival.

By Megan V. Williams

Wilmington, NC – Less work on beach erosion, more on ocean exploration. That will be the shift if the Undersea Research Center at UNC-Wilmington is successful in lobbying congress.

UNCW's Undersea Research Center is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA.

A bill currently before congress could combine NOAA's undersea research with its ocean exploration program.

By Carrie Wellman

Wilmington, NC – State lawmakers are attempting to crack down on cell phone use in the car, but some traffic officials say the bill would be difficult to enforce.

A new bill prohibiting teens from chatting on cell phones behind the wheel contains a loophole allowing some calls. Lieutenant Everett Clendenin of the North Carolina Highway Patrol says such loopholes would make issuing citations difficult.

By Catherine M. Welch

Wilmington, NC – New Hanover County Republicans now have their candidates for two open races for the North Carolina legislature.

The New Hanover County GOP tapped Wilmington dentist Al Roseman for the 9th Senate District race.

In a 25 to 20 vote, voting members of the New Hanover County republican party chose Wilmington dentist Al Roseman over retired banker Beth Dawson to take on incumbent Julia Boseman.

Wilmington, NC – Last year's Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission designated the Adrian B. Wilmington Armed Forces Reserve Center on West Lakeshore Drive a surplus property. Now, under federal rules, groups that would use the facility for public benefit get the first shot at it, with homeless services taking a preferred role in the transfer.

By Catherine M. Welch

Wilmington, NC – State Health Officials are urging residents in eastern North Carolina to use insect repellent after diagnosing cases of West Nile and Eastern Equine Encephalitis in some chickens and a horse.

The chickens diagnosed with West Nile were in Craven and Beaufort counties.

The Eastern Equine Encephalitis cases were diagnosed in Columbus and Carteret counties.

By Catherine M. Welch

Wilmington, NC – State public health officials have found West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis in some chickens and a horse in eastern North Carolina.

The horse was diagnosed with Eastern Equine Encephalitis in Columbus County along with a chicken in Carteret County.

The chickens infected with West Nile were diagnosed in Craven and Beaufort counties.

State entomologists say residents should protect themselves during this prime mosquito season.

By Catherine M. Welch

Wilmington, NC – Dozens of volunteers converged onto a Wilmington parking lot to build a home for New Orleans' Musicians Village.

The projected called Home in a Box calls on volunteers to frame out a house in one day and put it into a big rig truck that will ship it to its destination.

The house built in Wilmington is headed to New Orleans' upper 9th Ward.

By Carrie Wellman

Wilmington, NC – Police are still looking for suspects in a copper theft that took place last week at Greenfield Lake Park.

Wilmington's Parks and Landscape Superintendent Nina Johnston says Greenfield Park closes at eleven o'clock each night, so the copper was probably lifted after that hour.

She says security measures will be increased in coming years.