Wilmington City Council voted unanimously to approve the 2013-2014 budget. The total budget is $141 million, including the $88 million General Fund. Full story...

The state's top educator wants to take some of the financial burden off North Carolina teachers. State Superintendent June Atkinson is urging lawmakers to consider exempting public school teachers from personal state income taxes. Full story...

A raccoon from New Hanover County has tested positive for rabies. It's the fifth confirmed case of rabies in the county this year. Full story...

A Wilmington boy is donating all of his upcoming birthday money to help replant Venus Flytraps recently plundered from a park. Full story...

Britt's Donuts has been a staple at the Carolina Beach Boardwalk since 1939. USA Today recently named Carolina Beach the eighth best boardwalk in the country when it comes to food, and Britt's was the reason why. Full story...

A Wilmington man is in jail in Chatham County accused of raping his estranged wife. The Chatham County Sheriff's Office Jesus Narciso Alvarez-Alba, 31, of Wilmington, had a domestic violence protective order issued against him by his estranged wife. Investigators say early Sunday morning he forced his way into her home in Moncure and raped her. Full story...

Weather permitting, the NC Department of Transportation plans to close a section of NC 211 in Southport Sunday for preservation work on the bridge over the Duke Energy Progress Discharge Canal near the Brunswick Nuclear Plant. Full story...

As expected, the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved its 2013-14 fiscal year budget Monday night. Full story...

In this week's Fit Minute, Brian Knox, a personal trainer, shows you how you can pump up your biceps. Full story...

Duke Energy's chief financial officer will take over for retiring CEO Jim Rogers at the end of the month. Lynn Good, 54, has been CFO since 2009. She will also take a seat on the company board. Full story...

Day one of the Fred Lynch Invitational is complete. This is a three day high school basketball event that's being held at four different venues in New Hanover County. Plus more! Full story...

We are finally getting answers about a shooting that happened at a DWI checkpoint in Brunswick county Friday night. Today the sheriff described what happened that left two men injured and facing charges and seven deputies from two counties under investigation. Full story...

Andy Griffith, Maya Angelou and even the talk show queen herself, Oprah Winfrey, have been recognized with one of the state's highest honors: the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Alongside these Hollywood names is UNCW Vice Chancellor, Mary Gornto. She discovered the news of her award a few weeks ago at a reception in honor of her upcoming retirement. Full story...

It's a dish that could help get your day started...or work as a perfect dessert. Whichever meal you want to have it, Alicia Ross has a great recipe for maple pecan granola in this week's Kitchen Scoop. Full story...

Cape Fear Community College has teamed up with New Hanover County to build a custom house for one special lady. Over the past year, students have been working hard designing, landscaping and building a brand new home Full story...