Humpback whale spotted off Brunswick County coast

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The nonprofit organization Cape Fear Dolphin Research spotted a humpback whale offshore on Thursday, October 22, off the Lockwood Folly Inlet and Holden beach, noting a unique feature on its dorsal fin: a whale barnacle. Humpback whales are known to host specialized barnacles, namely...

Free holiday light display returns to Leland’s Founders Park

LELAND, N.C. (WECT) - Founders Park will light up nightly Nov. 21 through Jan. 3 for Leland in Lights, featuring new displays, live entertainment and an expanded Leland Express. Town officials say this year marks the first Leland in Lights in the fully renovated park, with a new centerpiece display...

Wilmington’s ‘Souls to the Polls’ march encourages early voting

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A crowd of people marched from St. Luke AME Zion Church to the MLK Community Center in Wilmington, chanting “Go vote” and encouraging community members to make their voices heard at the ballot box. The march was part of the New Hanover County...

Whatley stops in Wilmington, Cooper makes final push before early voting ends

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - Senate candidates are making their final pushes to voters with one week left until early voting ends. Michael Whatley stopped in Wilmington Saturday for his Defending Freedom press conference. Supporters gathered at the New Hanover County GOP headquarters. He was joined by Rep. David Rouzer. Whatley...

Coastal Comic Con returns to Wilmington this March for weekend of fandom and fun

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - Fans will gather in Wilmington for a weekend of fandom and pop culture at the 2027 Coastal Comic Con this spring. Organizers said the event will feature more than 150 artists, vendors, guests and cosplayers. Guests and specific attractions for 2027 have not been announced yet.

Burgaw announces Halloween street closures for Trunk-or-Treat event

BURGAW, NC (WWAY) — Drivers in downtown Burgaw should prepare for road closures Saturday, Oct. 31, as the town gets ready for its Halloween on the Square Trunk-or-Treat event. The Town of Burgaw announced that portions of Wright Street and Fremont Street will be closed throughout the day to...

“I think they’d be really happy with it”: Bench honors three Marines who died at Hampstead gas station

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - A bench now stands at the Speedway gas station in Hampstead to honor three Marines who died there in 2023. Loved ones gathered as the bench was unveiled, featuring images of 23-year-old Ivan Garcia, 19-year-old Tanner Kaltenberg and 23-year-old Merax Dockery. “I think they’re beaming. I...

Emergency planning zones around Brunswick Nuclear Plant to change in November

SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY) — Residents, businesses and schools near the Brunswick Nuclear Plant in Southport are being encouraged to check their emergency planning zone numbers as changes take effect next month. Starting Monday, November 2, Duke Energy will launch an updated interactive map allowing people to enter addresses for...

Development battles, business worries and election season in Brunswick

Development projects, early voting, fatal collisions , business closings and more are pushing Brunswick County residents to the brink as October winds down. While the end of year is slowly approaching, there's still plenty happening across Brunswick as the area continues to rise in development and housing costs . Housing and residential property are not the only costs rising. Southport's historic downtown is changing as buildings change hands and lease rates climb . With local artisan souvenir shop, Duck, Duck, Goose, departing, area business owners are getting anxious. Exclusive look: Who are Brunswick County's highest-paid employees? County planning board members are navigating some changes after three board members stepped away, county officials dispute in court over a denied Green Hill development and a new state law shifts final decisions. In nature news, Environmental Reporter Gareth McGrath dove into a new study finding coastal forest loss along parts of the North Carolina coast are accelerating . Though tourist season has come to an end, some of the county will continue to see visitors. A Brunswick beach has been listed in Southern Living's list of North Carolina’s 10 most beautiful beaches for the fall time. See which Brunswick beach made the list

Brunswick's only Harris Teeter submits plans for expansion

Brunswick County's first and only Harris Teeter is planning an expansion. The town of Leland received a sketch plan showing a proposed expansion of the existing Harris Teeter grocery store and increasing the building's footprint by more than 6,500 square feet. The grocery chain serves as the 50,000-square-foot anchor store to the Waterford Village commercial center off Olde Waterford Way. At the time, company officials said the store marked the chain's entry into a rapidly growing market west of Wilmington. Preliminary plans by Kimley-Horn submitted Oct. 19 show a roughly 6,600-sqaure-foot expansion is proposed. The expansion would extend the building and increase the total retail center building area to nearly 98,000 square feet. Initial coverage of Harris Teeter: Harris Teeter will be built in Leland The proposal also includes site improvements and a reconfiguration of parking areas. Though no major change to overall parking capacity is shown, plans propose cutting parking down from 487 parking spaces to 477 spaces. Waterford Village has evolved into one of the town's primary retail hubs since Harris Teeter's debut there around 17 years ago. Current shopping center tenants include Panera, Wells Fargo, Club Pilates, Jersey Mike’s, UPS Store, and Great Clips, Christopher’s Steakhouse and

‘It’s disappointing’: Political candidates report vandalized, stolen campaign signs in New Hanover Co.

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) - Political signs across New Hanover County have been vandalized or stolen as early voting continues, according to leaders from both the Republican and Democratic parties. Republican Party Chair John Hinnant said signs for Republican campaigns have been spray-painted with a black circle and slash.

Schoolkids saved this WWII battleship from the scrap yard, now she sits in North Carolina

A steel warship longer than two football fields sits on the Cape Fear River in Wilmington, North Carolina. The Battleship North Carolina stretches nearly 729 feet from bow to stern, and you can see her gray hull and towering guns from the downtown riverfront. She fought across the Pacific in...

Former inmates credit Onslow County jail parenting program for family reunions

For Sabrina Hooper and Brian Berman, a 16-week parenting and nurturing class offered inside the Onslow County Detention Center became a turning point they say helped them reconnect with their children and prepare for life after incarceration. The detention center’s START program serves about 60 inmates each day and has...

Veteran says Camp Lejeune victims aren’t pawns to win elections

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (WNCN) — A Marine veteran who helped fight for a law to compensate victims of contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is still waiting for his own settlement more than four years later. Now, he’s speaking out after President Donald Trump suggested those payments depend on Republicans winning the November election. “Trying to […]

ACCESS of Wilmington names Jessie Tait new director of Project SOAR

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — ACCESS of Wilmington has announced the appointment of Jessie Tait as the new program director of Project SOAR, an adaptive sports and recreation program serving veterans and first responders across southeastern North Carolina. Tait, a U.S. Air Force veteran brings extensive experience in veteran advocacy,...

New Hanover County library hosts discussion on 1898 Wilmington coup

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The New Hanover County Public Library hosted a discussion Saturday, led by two students, to raise awareness about the 1898 Wilmington coup and its lasting impact on the community. The event, held at the Pine Valley Library, featured National History Day students Olivia Stetler and...

Emails reveal monthslong dispute behind Wilmington Riverfest’s 2026 cancellation

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - WECT previously reported that Wilmington Riverfest’s board voted to cancel the 2026 festival. Now, emails and records WECT obtained show what led to that decision: a months-long standoff with the City of Wilmington over where to hold the festival. Riverfest dates to 1979 and has...

Gilbert Hadley, Co. D, 37th United States Colored Troops.

On 31 January 1864, Gilbert Hadley enlisted in the United States Colored Troops in Washington, North Carolina. Born in what is now Wilson County about 1844, Hadley likely was enslaved by Thomas J. Hadley III (who held dozens in bondage) or IV. Hadley was mustered into service at Norfolk, Virginia,...

Cape Fear Community College retires research vessel for reef use

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - Cape Fear Community College is retiring its research vessel and donating it to the state to serve as an artificial reef. The R/V Cape Hatteras served as a floating classroom for marine technology students for more than a decade. On Sunday, students and staff returned from their final training voyage on the ship.

Yes or No: Brunswick Co. School Bond Referendum