Government

The City Council elections are months away, but for the candidates, the issues at hand are close to home. All this week we've been introducing you to the candidates. Today, meet local bartender Chuck Denson. He thinks he could be the change Wilmington needs. Full story...

House and Senate negotiators have reached tentative agreements on a two-year budget that would make a "temporary" sales tax increase permanent and let counties raise additional taxes for school construction and infrastructure. Full story...

North Carolina is one step closer to eliminating its winner-take-all system for presidential electoral votes. Full story...

Three candidates are vying for the City's top job. One of those candidates is the City's current mayor, Bill Saffo, who says he wants to keep his seat over the next term. He says he'll be campaigning hard over next few months. Full story...

New Hanover County commissioners are disagreeing over the decision to give a private soccer organization thousands of dollars. $150,000 will be given to the cape fear soccer association over the next three years. The money will help build seven soccer fields here at the park off Highway 421. Some people though, believe the money could be going to a more deserving cause. Full story...

The Cape Fear Soccer Association got a financial kick Monday. The County approved funding for $150,000 to go to the organization. That money will be distributed over three years. Full story...

The deadline has passed and the candidates are ready to go. A dozen candidates have filed to run for the Wilmington City Council. Some of them are already speaking out. Laura Padgett has been on Wilmington's City Council for 12 years and is running to keep her seat. Full story...

It was a busy day Friday at the New Hanover County Board of Elections. The filing deadline was Friday at noon, and 10 new candidates signed up to run for elected office. The headline today is former Wilmington Mayor Harper Peterson, filing to run for the office again. View a complete list of candidates here Full story...

There's a push in the state legislature to stop cities from providing free wireless internet for residents. Full story...

Two new faces are in the running for Wilmington City Council. Kristi Tomey announcing her bid, minutes before Ricky Meeks announced his. Full story...

The federal government is giving some much needed money to Carolina Beach for the inlet dredging project. Thursday the US House, Energy and Water appropriations committee granted $1.2 million for Carolina Beach inlet dredging. It's enough to cover the full cost of the project. Full story...

The House Finance Committee has approved a bill to include a school district's financial needs as well as attendance growth when distributing money from the lottery for school construction. Full story...

Thanks to all "red light" runners caught on tape, New Hanover County schools are getting a financial windfall. Ninety percent of all the revenue from the red light tickets will go to the county's school district. Full story...

Counties would be relieved of their Medicaid burden by mid-2009, but wouldn't be allowed to issue more taxes as well in a bill that finally cleared a Senate committee. Full story...

North Carolina and national Democrats still are looking for a candidate to challenge Republican Senator Elizabeth Dole next year. One Democratic consultant says the party may consider letting up on the search a bit. Full story...