Pender County News

The smoke that's filling our air is not from a fire in our area but from a wildfire up the coast in Dare County. Full story...

Spring is in the air, and it's starting to feel like summer. That means it's time to hit the beach. So in this week's edition of "And the Winner is..." we want to know which of the natural treasures along our coast is the best? Which has the softest sand and the wildest waves? Which is the best strand to soak in some rays, build a sandcastle or just frolic in the sun? Let us know which is the BEST BEACH in the Cape Fear. Here's how the votes are washing in (9 a.m. Thurs.):
Ocean Isle Beach - 57%
Carolina Beach - 11%
Sunset Beach - 9%
Wrightsville Beach - 9% Full story...

With Memorial Day weekend being one of the biggest beach weekends of the year, Carolina Beach businesses prepare for the crowds and hope for the best. Full story...

The unemployment rate in the Wilmington area dropped slightly last month. The rate was 9.5 percent in April, which kept pace with the state rate. Both were down two-tenths of a point from March. Full story...

Between the high school baseball state playoffs, the high school softball state playoffs and the CAA baseball tournament there's going to be a lot of tournament action around our region the next few days. Click full story for a schedule of playoff games and times. Full story...

When the tropics get active, the famous Hurricane Hunter aircraft are meteorologists' eye in the sky. These are more than just planes. They are working laboratories sent on missions that would make most queasy. Full story...

District Judge John Carroll has died. Carroll served New Hanover and Pender Counties. Full story...

Wil Thomas of Topsail is a state champion. East Bladen's CJ Melvin is a state runner-up, yet Melvin did beat her personal best throw in the shot put by three feet on Saturday. Full story...

North Carolina Marine Fisheries agents are warning fishermen and beach-goers to look out for endangered sea turtles as the large reptiles move into coastal waters as temperatures warm. Full story...

Several tennis standouts from Wilmington participated in Friday's sectional tennis play. Did any of them advance to Saturday's championship? Did a Topsail tennis player steal their thunder on the 2-A level? Full story...

After a shooting and stabbing at a Wilmington night club early Sunday morning, one man is dead and another injured. Tonight the family of the young man killed are speaking out about what happened. Full story...

The state legislature has to redistrict North Carolina using data from the 2010 Census, and it wants your input. Lawmakers are holding hearings across the state. They want feedback from the public on redistricting the state House, state Senate and Congressional districts. Full story...

More than 1.8 million homes along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts are at great risk of being damaged by a hurricane, three times the number located in federally defined flood zones, according to a report released Tuesday. Full story...

Due to expected severe weather conditions this afternoon New Hanover County and Pender County Schools have canceled all afternoon activities. Full story...

Unemployment dropped in 99 of North Carolina's 100 county's in March, including all five in our area, according to data from the Employment Security Commission. Full story...