This week, we took at two-part deep dive into the lawsuits between Carolina Beach and private property owners at Freeman Park. The town wants to use eminent domain to take large parts of the private land around the beach — private landowners accuse the town of violating the constitution, and of damaging their ability to market, sell, or develop the land. READ MORE (Part I) and (Part II)
Part Two: Property owners fight Carolina Beach over ability to market or develop Freeman Park land
The City of Wilmington has spent nearly $800,000 — and engineered the $3 million relocation of an ABC store — to get the Galleria project to happen. Now, the developer is asking for more, and it could cost millions. READ MORE
In most places, construction on oceanfront dunes isn’t allowed, blocked by either environmental and building code regulations (or both). Surf City recently voted to change that. READ MORE
Update: Surf City approves ‘megadecks’ on ‘unbuildable’ oceanfront dune lots
The holidays present a cruel combination of pressures for those with mental health and substance abuse issues: financial pressures, social drinking at holiday parties, and the stresses of both being around and away from family. The result? A spike in overdoses that’s become part of an annual pattern. READ MORE
New Hanover County opioid overdoses spike over the holiday season, again
Stuck in between Christmas and New Years’ Day, this law – which was passed over the veto of Governor Roy Cooper – wipes away a host of local and regional stormwater regulations. READ MORE
New lameduck law, overriding Cooper’s veto, appears to push back stormwater regulations
