North Carolina State

Wilmington, NC

Raleigh, NC

Riegelwood, NC

BLADEN COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) - Two men were arrested and over 80 grams of cocaine were seized in an investigation into community complaints in the Riegelwood area on Monday, March 27. The sheriff’s offices in Bladen and Columbus counties collaborated for the investigation over the past few months, and officials...

Over 80 grams of cocaine seized in local drug investigation

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - The Wilmington Police Department has announced that they are searching for 15-year-old Sharod Jaquan Chapple. Per the release, Chapple was last seen at around 2:30 on March 28 in the 4900 block of Vineyard Lane. He was last seen wearing black and yellow Jordan shoes, black ripped jeans and a black t-shirt with purple writing on it.

Wilmington police searching for missing juvenile

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) - A man was arrested with 60 drug charges, and New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office detectives seized 1,472 grams of meth in an investigation on Thursday, March 23. Kevin McClausley is being held under a $9.05 million secure bond at the county jail. “The...

Detectives seize over 1,400 grams of meth; man arrested with 60 charges

Clarkton, NC

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - A Clarkton man pleaded guilty on Monday, March 27, to drug and heroin charges in New Hanover County Superior Court, according to District Attorney Ben David’s office. The judge sentenced 41-year-old Justin Steele to 70 to 93 months on charges of trafficking heroin by transportation...

Clarkton man sentenced to six to eight years on drug and heroin charges

South Carolina State

Columbus County, NC

Whiteville, NC

COLUMBUS COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) - The Columbus County Sheriff’s Office has charged a man with drug trafficking following a vehicle stop on March 20. “During this investigation, a vehicle stop was conducted on a Jeep Patriot driven by the suspect, Paul Lee Howell, at the Murphy USA gas station located at 102 Columbus Corners Drive in Whiteville. K-9 Gunny was deployed on the suspect’s vehicle,” states an announcement from the CCSO.

South Carolina man charged with drug trafficking in Columbus Co.

WHITEVILLE, N.C. (WECT) - Team members with Grand Strand Health welcomed back a former trauma patient that recovered from several life-threatening injuries after a traffic collision in July of 2022 left him recovering for 20 days. The patient, Landon, was taken to Grand Strand Medical Center from Whiteville by first...

Former patient celebrates ‘Victory Lap’ at Grand Strand Medical Center after recovering from a Whiteville traffic collision

Bladen County, NC

White Oak, NC

BLADEN COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) - A White Oak home was damaged in a fire on Sunday, March 26 at around 8 p.m. The White Oak Fire Department responded to a call about a single wide mobile home fire near the intersection of Burney and River roads. Elizabethtown Fire Department along...

Bladen County home declared total loss following fire

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - The North Carolina Department of Transportation announced at 7:08 a.m. on March 27 that a lane of U.S. 421 had closed near Battleship Road NE following a vehicle crash. The right, northbound lane that had been impacted is now reopen, according to an update from the...

Lane reopen along U.S. 421 near Battleship Road NE following crash

Columbus, NC

Tabor City, NC

COLUMBUS COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) - The Office of District Attorney Jon David announced on March 27 that Lakeithy Keller, of Tabor City, has pled guilty to second-degree murder in a 2019 shooting case. According to the announcement, Keller received an active sentence of 189-239 months, approximately 15.75-20 years, for the...

Tabor City man sentenced to 16-20 years in 2019 murder case

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - A historic church that has welcomed the Wilmington community since the mid-19th century will soon close its doors. The North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church has announced the closure of Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church. The conference says it will be closing the church...

Members shocked as historic Wilmington church set to close after more than 170 years

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - The Wilmington Police Department announced that the southbound lanes of Independence Blvd. are reopen at the intersection with Canterbury Road. Previously, at 8:46 a.m., the WPD announced that lanes were closed as a result of a traffic incident. “Traffic incident at Independence and Canterbury. A vehicle...

Southbound lanes reopen along Independence Blvd. at Canterbury Road intersection

Belville, NC

BELVILLE, N.C. (WECT) - Temporary closures are expected as crews from Norris Construction make surface repairs along N. Olde Towne Wynd and Kingsworth Lane in Belville this week. Per the Town of Belville, signs will be posted and someone will be at the entrance of the road to direct traffic.

Closures expected as crews repair streets in Belville

Southport, NC

SOUTHPORT, N.C. (WECT) - The Brunswick Nuclear Plant’s outdoor warning sirens will be tested between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 12. As part of the quarterly testing, the 38 sirens within 10 miles of the plant will sound for five to 30 seconds on April 12. To ensure they are functioning properly, some sirens may be tested more than once.

Brunswick Nuclear Plant to test sirens on April 12

Bald Head Island, NC

BALD HEAD ISLAND, N.C. (WECT) - Bald Head Island Planning Board is set to consider a special use permit for Bald Head Island Academy at a meeting on Tuesday, March 28. According to documents provided in the meeting agenda packet, the school is expecting 10-12 students initially with room for 35-40 students. The school would be in one of four units at an under-construction commercial building at 2B Maritime Way.

Permit sought to open private school on Bald Head Island

COLUMBUS COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) - Columbus County Schools has announced a career fair to be held on Saturday, April 1 at the Whiteville District Office. According to the announcement, persons holding a GED, High School Diploma, Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree or above are encouraged to attend the event. Contracts may be offered on-site, and $5000 signing bonuses are available for some positions.

Columbus County Schools to host career fair Saturday

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - This week, we would like you to meet Ramello. “Ramello has a great smile, he can light up a room with his smile,” said Chelsea Gunnels, Child Advocate. “He loves to be outside, he loves sports. He is an active kid.”. Ramello says he...

Forever Family: Meet Ramello

Burgaw, NC

BURGAW, N.C. (WECT) - Burgaw Brewing, the town’s very first brewery, has launched with great success since it opened on Saint Patrick’s Day on Wright Street in the downtown area. The brewpub is owned and operated by Kevin and Emmaline Kozak, who say they are still putting the...

Burgaw’s first brewpub ‘Burgaw Brewing’ now open to the public

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - The Wilmington Police Department is scheduled to host a ribbon cutting ceremony for their museum and education center on Wednesday, March 29. According to their announcement, the grand opening event will take place at 2 p.m. at WPD Headquarters, located at 615 Bess St. “For years...

WPD to celebrate grand opening of museum, education center

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church is closing after over 170 years, the NC Conference of UMC announced on Monday, March 27. According to the NC Conference, the closure is due to declining membership. “While the decision to close Fifth Avenue UMC was not easy, we are...

Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church closing after over 170 years

BURGAW, N.C. (WECT) - The Town of Burgaw has announced that its “Easter Egg Scramble” will be held at Pender Memorial Park on Sunday, April 2. According to the announcement, the event was originally scheduled for March 26 but was postponed due to the threat of inclement weather.

Burgaw to host free ‘Easter Egg Scramble’ for families

Washington, DC

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo visited Washington D.C. on Monday, March 26, for the National League of Cities to advocate for the Cape Fear at the nation’s capital. Some of the items they discussed were working with our elected delegation, transportation and PFAS. Mayor Saffo says...

Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo attends National League of Cities, discusses PFAS concerns

Navassa, NC

Leland, NC

Wrightsville Beach, NC

Castle Hayne, NC

Winnabow, NC

Northwest, NC

Rocky Point, NC

Boiling Spring Lakes, NC

Kure Beach, NC

Bolivia, NC

Hampstead, NC

Delco, NC

Currie, NC

Topsail Beach, NC

Sandyfield, NC

Caswell Beach, NC

NewsBreak

Human remains found inside barrel in Lee County; man arrested, sheriff says

Resource fair for WHA residents to be held at Creekwood Community Center. An education fair and job training expo will be held at the Creekwood Community...

Human remains found inside barrel in Lee County; man arrested, sheriff says

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