Government

There may be some new faces on City Council next year. Friday was the first day for council members to file for election. Full story...

Gov. Mike Easley today announced that Operation Fan/Heat Relief is underway for the summer of 2007. The program provides free fans to eligible seniors living in North Carolina to help them better cope with the summer heat. Full story...

Bill Saffo wants to keep his job as Wilmington's mayor. He made it official Friday. The mayor of Wilmington says he's in. He filed his candidacy for mayor Friday. Mayor Saffo was greeted by a crowd of cheering supporters outside the board of elections. He says repairing the sewers and bringing good paying jobs to Wilmington are his top two priorities. Full story...

Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Cheney's former Chief of Staff, will serve no prison time for lying and obstructing justice. President Bush's decision to commute Libby's two-and-a-half year sentence has set off a wave of criticism. Full story...

Six months ago a New Hanover County grand jury accidentally indicted a former deputy on murder charges. Now a bill is making its way through State legislature that could have cleared up a lot of confusion in that case. If this bill is passed it would mean that what goes on in the grand jury room would no longer be kept secret. Full story...

Senate Democrats have agreed to keep a "temporary" sales tax on the books for at least another month. Full story...

The State Board of Elections has ordered a veteran House lawmaker to forfeit more than five-thousand dollars that investigators say she transferred from her campaign account to herself. Full story...

Governor Easley has named Jim Hardin to replace Mike Nifong as acting Durham County district attorney. Full story...

Tuesday night Wilmington City Council approved the budget for next year. Wilmington residents will pay about half a cent more in taxes to cover City costs. And they'll also pay a bit more to park in downtown Wilmington. Full story...

New Hanover County commissioners have approved the budget for the upcoming year. Next year home owners will have to pay 42 cents per $100 of their property value. That 42 cent tax rate is two cents above the revenue neutral rate. County commissioners originally proposed a property tax rate of 42.75 cents, but will use almost $5 million from savings to keep the rate at 42. Full story...

State legislators are trying to reach a compromise regarding the state budget. One possibility would cut funding for flood mapping programs. The proposal reduces the number of people working to create flood zone maps in North Carolina. Full story...

Representative Thomas Wright and Speaker Joe Hackney sit about 15 feet apart on the House floor. But Hackney is trying to make it feel like miles for the veteran New Hanover County legislator who's under investigation. Full story...

Thomas Wright is left out. House Speaker Joe Hackney recently appointed representatives to the budget committee. But Thomas Wright was the only democrat who didn't get a seat. Full story...

US District Judge Terrence Boyle will preside at the sentencing of former state House Speaker Jim Black. He's replacing a judge who removed himself from the case. Full story...

Long lines at the voting booths in Pender County during the last presidential election has brought about some changes. You may be voting elsewhere: Elections officials say back in 2004 some county residents had to wait more than four hours to cast their ballot. Full story...