Kevin O'Grady

Wilmington City Council looked at the issue of parking in the city, passing an ordinance to spend just over $130,000 to pay operating expenses and help city parking decks pay debt. The council also addressed the parking deck on Water street Full story...

After several months of campaigning both for and against building a ballpark in the Port City, results are in, and voters overwhelmingly said no. Seventy percent of Wilmington voters decided against the city building a $37 million ballpark. Full story...

To build or not to build. That is the question facing Wilmington voters. A new poll released today may give us some insight into how Port City voters are leaning heading into the election. A poll from the conservative Civitas Institute shows that overwhelmingly Wilmington voters are expected to say no. Full story...

Thursday night WWAY NewsChannel 3 and WHQR-fm hosted the only live debate focused on the ballpark bond referendum. Mayor Bill Saffo and Councilman Kevin O'Grady represented the city and Vote Yes Ballpark. Businessmen Scott Harry and Jim Rafferty spoke on behalf of Vote No Ballpark Tax. Full story...

WWAY and WHQR hosted the only baseball stadium debate Thursday night. Appropriately, with a big game comes fireworks, and the exchange was full of them. Full story...

WWAY NewsChannel 3 and WHQR-FM 91.3 will co-host Wilmington's only "OFFICIAL" baseball stadium debate featuring Mayor Bill Saffo and City Councilman Kevin O'Grady along with "Vote No Stadium Tax" spokesperson Scott Harry and Jim Rafferty, who is also with the group. The debate will be TONIGHT at 7 p.m. Full story...

According to experts, there are currently 80 to 90 potentially contaminated properties in the Wilmington area, also known as brownfield sites. Two of the properties are being considered by the city to build a minor league ballpark on the land. Full story...

The City of Wilmington's talks with Mandalay and the Atlanta Braves are done for the week, but there is still no deal for the proposed ballpark. With an August 7 deadline looming, Councilman Kevin O'Grady says there is still a lot to work out. Full story...

Wilmington voters, get ready for November. City Council voted unanimously to move the baseball bond referendum forward. Also at Tuesday's meeting, the Wilmington City clerk declared the petition against a taxpayer-funded ballpark not sufficient because it lacked affidavits which are required by state law and city code according to the city attorney. Full story...

The first draft of a ballpark lease agreement has some Wilmington City Council members scoffing at the deal. But some city leaders say this is simply the first step in formal negotiations. Full story...

Wilmington City Council continues to work on its budget for the next fiscal year. Council held a budget workshop today the morning after a public hearing on the spending plan. Also today, Council named a City Attorney. Full story...

At closer look, the petition against a taxpayer-funded ballpark is raising some eyebrows. City leaders say the petition, could affect established area teams, and those teams are worried, too. Full story...

The battle over plans for a ballpark in Wilmington continue to heat up. Yesterday, a group against using tax money to build a stadium in the Port City submitted a petition with about 4,000 signatures. If the Board of Elections verifies enough of the signatures, the City Council would have to accept the language of the petition as an ordinance or put it up for a public vote. Full story...

The City of Wilmington received a petition today with more than 4,000 signatures. If verified, it will force the city to either adopt an initiative blocking tax money for a ballpark or let voters decide. The move has city leaders fired up. Full story...

First, let me be absolutely clear, the WWAY NewsChannel 3 Newsroom is neither pro nor anti baseball or ballpark. It's our ultimate goal to just cover the story as it progresses and keep Cape Fear residents, as well as the taxpayers of Wilmington, informed. However, it's also our job to ask tough questions of our leaders and last night's city council meeting left me with a list of them. Full story...