Wilmington, NC

Burgaw, NC

Ocean Isle Beach, NC

BURGAW, N.C. (WECT) - Burgaw and Ocean Isle Beach are two of 15 communities receiving part of a $1.1 million grant from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management to assist coastal communities with technical assistance in risk assessment and resilience planning work. The money...

NCDEQ awarding grant funds to Burgaw and Ocean Isle Beach for technical assistance

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - Each year, the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons on average receives more than 10,000 missing person reports. To assist families, a volunteer group located in Wilmington offers services nationwide to help those that are searching for loved ones. The Community United Effort (CUE) Center for...

17th annual missing persons conference taking place this weekend

Columbus County, NC

Whiteville, NC

COLUMBUS COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) - The Columbus County Sheriff’s Office has released details concerning four arrests that stemmed from an investigation in the Whiteville area. According to the announcement, the CCSO and Whiteville Police Department completed multiple controlled purchases at 419 Britton St. A search warrant was subsequently executed at this residence and, with assistance from the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, investigators found and seized:

Four arrested in Whiteville investigation related to drug, firearm possession

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - The Wilmington Police Department announced on March 23 that they are currently looking for 14-year-old Gabrielle Vain. According to the WPD, Vain was last seen on March 23 at around 7:15 p.m. on Braxton Ct. It is believed that she may be traveling by foot. Vain...

Wilmington police searching for missing juvenile

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - A two-car crash was reported at 2:12 p.m. near the intersection of Carolina Beach Road and Wellington Avenue on Thursday, March 23. According to the Wilmington Police Department, EMS, fire and police responded to the crash. The southbound lanes of Carolina Beach Road are blocked, and the cars received moderate to heavy damage.

Two cars crash near Carolina Beach Rd. and Wellington Ave.

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - New Hanover Co. sheriffs are searching for Ruby Faye Reaves, 16, who was last seen at 209 Cheyenne Trail on March 23. She has long brown hair with red highlights and blue eyes. She is five feet and two inches tall and has a thin build. She has a henna tattoo on her wrist that says ‘OK’.

New Hanover Co. Sheriff’s Office searching for missing teen

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - People from across the community showed up Saturday for a walkathon at Laney High School to honor a student who passed away earlier this month. The Walk-a-Thon raised money for the family of DJ McLeod, who died in early March after battling cancer. “As many stories...

Community hosts walkathon in honor of Laney High School student

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - As more people start to head down to the beaches during the first weekend of spring, local business owners are preparing for busy days well ahead of tourist season. Wilmington has already broken record highs for temperatures around this time, with Saturday’s highest at 83, set...

More people visiting NC beach towns amid record warm weather

Leland, NC

LELAND, N.C. (WECT) - Classical Charter Schools of Leland has eased enforcement of the school’s grooming policy. The announcement comes days after WECT reported a first-grader was told to cut his long hair. School administrators told Ashley Lomboy that her son Logan’s hair needed to be in line with...

Charter School relaxes grooming policy for current school year after child told to cut hair

Raleigh, NC

Bolton, NC

BOLTON, N.C. (WECT) - The North Carolina Education Lottery announced on March 24 that Steven Brown, of Bolton, won a $135,000 prize by playing Carolina Keno. According to the announcement, the prize is the largest won by a single player in the game’s history. The only larger win occurred in 2021 when two people split a $150,000 prize.

Columbus Co. man wins largest individual prize in Carolina Keno history

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - Cape Fear Craft Beer Week is officially underway, with 18 local breweries entering Ultimate Brewing Championship at the Hannah Block Community Arts Center on Friday night. Each competing brewer created their own custom beverage with unique ingredients in a wrestling-themed competition, with bragging rights on the...

18 local breweries compete in Cape Fear Craft Bear Week’s Ultimate Brewing Championship

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - Colon cancer is treatable if caught early enough, but doctors are now seeing more cases in younger patients. The recommended age for your first colonoscopy is now 45 years old, unless you have a family history that would warrant an earlier screening. Dr. Michelle Fillion with...

‘I am really worried’: Alarming new data from local hospital shows more colon cancer patients are being diagnosed at later stages than any other hospital in the state

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - The 5th Annual Bluegrass Bash is being held on Saturday, March 25, at the Historic Thalian Hall. The event will host BBQ from local food trucks, local brews, and bluegrass music, with the following bands providing entertainment:. The Brewer Brothers. Folkstone Stringband. Massive Grass. The show...

5th annual Bluegrass Bash to be held at Thalian Hall

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - UNCW is inviting the public to attend Soledad O’Brien’s talk ‘Hungry to Learn: How Students Are Struggling with Food Insecurity on Campus’ as part of the college’s Campus Life Leadership Lecture Series. The lecture will take place on Tuesday, March 28,...

Soledad O’Brien to speak at UNCW on food insecurity in college campuses

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - Good to see you this Sunday! Warmer breezes will continue to steer your First Alert Forecast through the end of the weekend. Expect temperatures to ride the southwesterlies this afternoon with highs in the 70s for the beaches of the Cape Fear Region and for most of the mainland. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has labeled the majority of southeastern NC under a slight risk of severe weather through early Monday morning; meaning, scattered severe thunderstorms are possible with the main threats being damaging winds and an isolated tornado. Here’s your reminder to stay weather alert throughout the day today!

First Alert Forecast: increased storm chances, remaining warm

Belville, NC

Navassa, 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

Riegelwood, NC

Currie, NC

Topsail Beach, NC

Southport, NC

Sandyfield, NC

Caswell Beach, NC

NewsBreak

Commissioners approve ordinance to prevent people from sleeping on county property, appoint register of deeds

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...

Commissioners approve ordinance to prevent people from sleeping on county property, appoint register of deeds

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