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Facing serious budget problems and potential position reductions and layoffs, board members discussed asking both New Hanover County and the New Hanover Community Endowment for additional support. One board member also raised concerns that some employees had already been notified their position was being cut — even though Superintendent Dr. Charles Foust and other top administrators have denied this was happening.
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In the wake of a shooting at a downtown Wilmington nightclub this weekend, City Councilmember Luke Waddell is calling on city staff to compile crime data on establishments he feels are a "catalyst" for violent incidents.
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The overdose emergency department visit rate in NC was 161 out of 100,000 people in 2022. This represents nearly 17,000 emergency department visits by NC residents for overdose in that year. Harm reduction efforts have been stigmatized as “enabling” drug use, however, others argue they’re an important tool in fighting the opioid epidemic.
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Every week, WHQR news director Ben Schachtman sits down with The Assembly's Johanna Still, to talk about our joint newsletter, The Dive. For this edition, a look at Heal Our People’s Endowment, a new nonprofit pushing the North Carolina Attorney General’s office to keep a closer eye on the $1.25 billion New Hanover Community Endowment.
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Several Brunswick County listeners and readers have written in to ask about James Geiger, a Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office deputy who was arrested in early January of last year for a DUI in Myrtle Beach. WHQR’s Ben Schachtman did some digging to find out.
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The stringent new standards will mean drastic reductions in the level of PFAS — harmful substances known as forever chemicals — in drinking water for millions of Americans. But the new regulations are largely unfunded, and lawsuits against polluters won't be able to fill all of the gap.
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The New Hanover County Commissioners are proposing an additional $7.6 million in school funding. That announcement was unveiled at a commissioners’ budget work session on Thursday, April 12. Initially, the New Hanover County Schools district had asked for a lower amount — $4.5 million — in additional funding.
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Last year, we reported on the abrupt closing of the Career Readiness Academy at Mosley — a little-known but beloved program in the New Hanover County Schools district. Public pushback saved the Mosley program, but developed into a debate over a 'newcomer school' for immigrants who had recently arrived in the United States, introduced as a possible replacement for Mosley. On this show, we unpack some of the narratives and misinformation that became part of that debate.
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After last month's chaotic meeting, the Leland town council decided to revisit their budget plans. The new proposal is much more scaled back.
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At Tuesday’s New Hanover County School Board meeting, members voted unanimously to conduct a districtwide climate survey of all employees. The board is working on some suggestions for questions, including topics such as discipline, safety, and overall morale.
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The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday announced its first-ever limits for several common types of PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Two types, PFOA and PFOS, will be limited to 4 parts per trillion, the lowest level that tests can reliably detect. The agency says it will reduce exposure for 100 million people and prevent thousands of illnesses, including cancer. Utilities groups, however, say the EPA is underestimating the rule's cost and overestimating its benefits. They argue water rates will go up and struggling utilities will only struggle more. The Biden administration has made protecting drinking water a priority.
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On March 15th, the Columbus County Board of Elections made a crucial decision about the May primary via email — but didn’t notify the public first. WHQR spoke to Joseph Williams of the News Reporter in Whiteville about this potential violation of state laws regarding public notifications of official government meetings.