Wilmington’s public email terminal, once a key resource for accountability reporting, became increasingly difficult to access before it was removed entirely. I think that’s a loss for the community and a policy mistake the city should reconsider.

A little more from this week’s Sunday Edition — a postscript on the pros and cons of New Hanover County’s budget, and the apparent fate of the county elections director.

This week’s column: Every year I get questions, earnest and otherwise, about the comparative funding for law enforcement versus public education. So, we crunched some numbers, asked some questions, and tried to come up with an even-handed answer.

This week’s column: We’ve been here before — Novant says things have improved, some remain skeptical. I think there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic, but also that there’s a ways yet to go before the public is won over.

More from this week’s Sunday Edition: A round up of other stories and issues that came across our desks this week. And, yes, a few thoughts about NHCSO’s choice of quotes for its recent redecoration.

This week’s column: Some thoughts on the settlements in the child abuse lawsuits against New Hanover County Schools, an ambivalent milestone in a long, sad story.

This week’s column: New Hanover County’s budgetary physics have been warped by the gravity of its $300-million reserve fund. Short version: Mo money, mo problems.

This week’s column: Thoughts in the wake of last week’s fatal stabbing.

This week’s column: A recap of one of the messiest Marches on record (with April off to quite a start).

A little extra from this week’s newsletter: notes and updates on the seller in Wilmington's new park land deal, the increasingly depressing chances of having a toll-free replacement for the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, and a sad postscript to the school board candidate scandal.

This week’s column: A conversation with State Auditor Dave Boliek, talking about one thing we can definitely agree on — government accountability.

I’ve covered some unholy messes in local government, but this one takes the cake. The tensions here have been simmering for some time, but this week they started boiling over.

Since the day I met him, Ronald Canty was concerned with one thing: justice for his son. As a journalist, I probably wasn’t the best choice for an advocate. But I can at least pay respect to his dedication.

Not surprisingly, we had a lot of questions, comments, and — yes — some criticism of this week’s reporting on Democratic school board candidate Rick Southerland. We don’t have a public editor or ombudsman, so I thought this week’s column would be the next best thing.

Honestly, for better and worse, I wish this story could have come out a month ago, but we didn’t get the tip until yesterday afternoon. We worked through the night to vet out what we could and get the clearest picture of what happened and why. We’ll see what happens next.

This week’s column: The woman alleging she was harassed and abused by a New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office deputy talks about her experience — and what it’s been like since speaking out.

I’ve had a few people call me about this, so here’s an update. I can’t say too much more about what’s going on than what’s in the article, but the tips I got were pretty concerning. We’ll be watching to see what the SBI comes back with.

This week’s column: Novant’s $1 billion investment is a major step toward fulfilling its promises. That should be recognized — but it shouldn’t occlude other concerns.

This week’s column: More on the departures from the top ranks of the City of Wilmington.

There’s been a lot of turnover for City of Wilmington administrators and top staff. Often, we don’t know why. In this case we do: systemic mismanagement, misconduct, fraud and substance abuse, according to the city.

This week’s column: Channel was founded in 2021 by Live Oak Bank to help minority entrepreneurs get access to the resources they'd traditionally missed out on. Now it's been shuttered. Getting honest answers about why has been tricky.

This week’s column: A starting point, not the conclusion, in my attempt to think through where we’re at with public higher education.

This week’s column: 2026 is gonna be busy.

This week’s column: This week The Endowment held their latest listening session, but I was paying attention to what they said — and how they said it.

This week’s column: A profile of Wilmington City Councilman Charlie Rivenbark, who this week hung up his hat after six terms, spanning four decades.

I love Thanksgiving, with all its flaws, challenges, and mess. But I’ve been wondering about the way our holiday tables have been getting shorter. It might be the best, or at least sanest, option for now. But can we go on this way?

This week’s column … so much to get to!

This week’s column: A preview of the 2026 elections as we shift from city politics to county, state, and federal races. Buckle up!

This week’s column: Dems swept the local races. Why?

This week’s column: Democrats ran the table on Tuesday. Why? Plus, some notes on evolving stories.

I have a new series out on WHQR @whqr.bsky.social in Wilmington about industrial animal farming in NC. It's become big business across the state. Today: the view from above, with help from @capefearriverwatch.bsky.social and @southwings.bsky.social Join us for the ride! www.whqr.org/local/2025-0...

This week’s column: A memorial to Charlie Kirk, painted on one of UNCW’s ‘Spirit Rocks,’ became a flashpoint for political tensions on campus, and then spun out into a social media frenzy, online threats, and a chaotic three-hour hunt for a phantom gunman. Plus, the latest on The Endowment.

A long conversation about The Endowment with founding board member Spence Broadhurst. It was a long time coming, and — I hope — a refreshingly transparent look inside one of the most important boardrooms in the region.

This week’s column: Thoughts on the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the responses to it, and what it means for our political moment.

Ok, so, after a couple of weeks of interviews, we now have all the candidates for Wilmington City Council and Mayor online (and available as podcasts)! My thanks to all eleven candidates for making the time to come into the studio and let me pepper them with policy questions!

This week’s column: Faced with a vitriolic speaker openly expressing hate for the LGBTQ community, some New Hanover County school board members wanted to shut the speech down. That’s both understandable and unconstitutional — so what should the board do?

This week’s column: There’s been a lot of confusion and frustration over the recently announced early voting plans for New Hanover County. There are still some loose ends, but I did my damndest to get to the bottom of it — and it seems like there are still some options on the table.

This week’s column: A quickie press conference is a terrible way to unpack a mountain of nuanced, ambivalent data. But politicians do it anyway, the press goes along with it, and we’re all dumber for it.

This week’s column: I love my country dearly, in spite of its flaws and failings, and I show it the only way I know how — by being a relentless pain in the ass.

This week’s column: How we decide whether to report on a death, or leave it to other outlets.

As promised, a bit more clarity on how the county will eliminate dozens of positions, including layoffs — or as the county calls it, “off-boarding.”

This week’s column: Is Rail Realignment on the (rail) road to nowhere? Plus, more budget follow-ups: private emails, The Endowment ‘ends’ its Northside Co-op grant, and confusion over Board of Elections funding.

This week’s column: A look at New Hanover County’s new budget: what it cuts, what it saves taxpayers, and what’s left uncertain after its 24-hour path to approval. Plus Chef Dean Neff on Shrimpgate.

On Monday evening, a divided New Hanover County board of commissioners opted not to vote on its budget. After previously signaling he supported the proposed fiscal plan for the upcoming year, Chairman Bill Rivenbark now said a vote would be premature.

This week’s column: Elected officials often tout their budget priorities, and pay a political price when budget decisions are unpopular. But how does a local government’s fiscal plan actually get made, and who’s doing most of the work of making it?

This week’s column: The Endowment had teased “transformational” change ahead of Wednesday’s public meeting. I don’t think that’s what we got — but Endowment CEO and President Dan Winslow believes he’ll prove me wrong. As he told me, “Hold my beer.”

I spent the last month or so speaking with current and former Novant and NHRMC employees, working through federal and independent safety reports, and finally sitting down with NHMRC’s new president.

This week’s column: The Endowment CEO Dan Winslow said he’d meet people anywhere, anytime.I dropped in on one of his living room meetings to see what that looks like. Plus, folks had strong feelings about our reporting on Josie Barnhart’s book ban request — and that’s raised some good questions.

This week’s column: It’s no state of love and trust between New Hanover County and the school district. That’s not gonna help tackle a facilities need to-do list with a nine-figure price tag.

This week’s column: Yes, the mayoral race is gonna be messy. But, at the same time, it’s a good opportunity to dig deep on policy issues.