SOUTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA (WWAY) — New Hanover and Pender County are currently under a Tornado Warning, until 5 p.m.

Affected areas include Murraysville, Ogden, Hampstead, and Kings Grant.

WWAY’s Chief Meteorologist Lee Haywood is live on our air at this time, with the latest details on the severe weather.

Click here to see our live stream.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more details become available.

LELAND, NC (WWAY) — We want to hear your thoughts on the latest top news topics!

Click HERE to cast your vote and let your voice be heard.

Tune in to WWAY to see how the rest of the community votes.

WASHINGTON, DC (WWAY) — The Smithsonian National Museum of American History wants copies of your trips to Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California.

The museum is looking for pictures for all decades to show how the parks has changed over time.

Candid photos, posed phots, and even blurry photos are all OK and the museum wants your story behind the photos too.

Not all photos will be used due to limited space and privacy and permissions rules will be in place, but a great number are expected to be catalogued and kept for posterity.

To send your photos click here.  Don’t forget to include contact information!

 

 

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Omicron variant is making an already challenging year even harder for restaurants across the Cape Fear. Even the most successful shops in Wilmington say supply shortages, staffing issues, and price increases are burning local eateries.

Molly Kurnyn, co-owner of Cheesesmith says they close the restaurant Mondays to give staff a break. Though crowds are back, prices for basic supplies like to-go containers and food have gone up 25 percent.

“Everything. Cheese, bread. All the things we use in our food,” Kurnyn said.

Supply chain shortages also pushed back the brick and mortar’s opening.

She continued, “We literally were waiting to open to get refrigerators because they’re not manufacturing them.”

Kurnyn and her husband applied to the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, which according to NC Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Lynn Minges quickly ran dry last year.

“During that time, we saw about 2,500 restaurants in North Carolina receive funds,” Minges said. “But essentially there were about 6,000 that were eligible, that have not yet received funding.”

Congress will consider renewing the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) this February. In the meantime, Kurnyn and her husband take on multiple shifts to make up for labor shortages. They hope customers will support local businesses more and complain about cost less.

“A lot of people come in and think that it’s insane there’s a 13 dollar grilled cheese,” the business owner explained. “But we just take a number of what it costs for us to make it, add in labor, and come up with this little sliver that’s left. And that’s what we keep. And as soon as a pipe breaks or our heat breaks, or whatever, that profit margin gets chipped away.”

Without grants, she worries hundreds of local restaurants could shut down by winter’s end. According to the National Restaurant Association, replenishing the RRF could save 1.6 million jobs.

Kurnyn hopes in spite of COVID-19 and the typical slowdown that comes with winter, people will step up and help out.

“It’s time for a beer and a grilled cheese,” she grinned. “Right now.”

 

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington is kicking off the new year with a huge list of programming for children and adults.  The events include Martin Luther King holiday programming for kids, homeschooling help, painting classes, readings, yoga, and the return of Jazz@cam.

Here is the complete list:

January 2022

Saturday and Sunday January 15^th and 16^th

KIDS @ CAM – I Have A Dream Peace Flag weekend

In-Person: Saturday, January 15^th or Sunday, January 16^th

Cameron Art Museum honors the life and work of civil rights activist Martin Luther King with the “I Have a Dream” Peace Flag Project. We invite the community to take inspiration from King’s iconic speech from 1963 and think deeply about our own hopes and dreams for ourselves, our city, our nation, and the world. These dreams will be written on squares of cloth, emblematic of the peace prayer flags created for centuries in Tibet. Your peace flag will be included in a community installation that will be displayed around the CAM pond. Together, these flags represent our collective desire for racial unity, community healing, and peace.

Packages for classes will be available. Please check our website for registration and participation details, or email education@cameronartmuseum.org to find out ways to involve your students!

 

Sunday, January 16

2 pm

Members: $16 Nonmembers: $20 Students: $12

USCT Public Programs Series: Mary D. Williams

Join us as musician, educator, and historian Mary D. Williams explores the legacy of the USCT through song. Williams has performed and provided her voice to the soundtrack of Blood Done Sign My Name (February 2010). She has also performed at the North Carolina State Capitol and has been featured on Dick Gordon’s The Story, as well as on National Public Radio. Williams is both a scholar and a musician, whose breathtaking voice takes listeners on a journey through time.

Tuesdays, January 18 – February 8

10am – 12pm

 

Homeschool Tuesdays

Instructor: Renato Abbate

CAM member price: $108; non-member: $120

This clay class will cover all the basic hand building techniques:  pinch, coil, and slab. Students will also discuss 3-D design elements as well as bisque and glaze firing.

Tuesdays, January 18 – February 22

10am – 1pm

 

Principles of Drawing

Instructor: Todd Carignan

CAM member price: $234; non-member price: $260

The foundation of all representational art is drawing. This class covers how to start a drawing, measuring, mark-making, arranging your subject and lighting, creating texture and depth.

Tuesday, January 18 – February 8

4pm – 5:30pm

 

Create a Story

Instructor: Carolyn Faulkner

CAM member price: $85.50; non-member: $95

Draw an outline using your favorite bird, insect, animal or whatever you choose. Even an anime character that you create! Then draw a story inside using designs and/or memories. This can be make believe or something personal you wish to express. You will then color with markers or colored pencil. Your story can be hidden, by attaching another cutout layer (such as a wing on the bird). It will be like opening a book! We will continue to explore more pieces and movement on your art as time permits.

Wednesday, January 19

9 – 10 am

 

Gentle Yoga with Steve Unger

Donation $5

Wednesday, January 19

1:30 pm

 

Public Tour

Free with admission

Wednesday, January 19

 

Capturing our Colorful Coastal Skies

Instructor: Carolyn Faulkner

CAM member price: $153; non-member: $170

Living in coastal Carolina you most likely have witnessed the variety of skies; from brilliant sunrises/sunsets to threatening thunder skies and everything in between. This course will provide you with the basic concepts of achieving some of those classic features found in our colorful skies. In this class you will learn the balance between soft and hard edges while creating beautiful multi-colored sunrises, sunsets, and storm clouds, using acrylic paints. This course will provide you with the confidence to be bold with your brush and colors as you softly blend colors to achieve that memorable look. Some key features of this course are understanding that nothing is truly white in the sky and the use of a variety of colors becomes an asset. Both sky and clouds have some of the softest edges found in nature. A balance between soft and hard edges are important to the painter to describe the volume of the clouds and their translucency.

Thursday, January 20

All Day

 

Member Preview of Confluence

Member tours at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 5:00 pm, and 7:00 pm

Friday, January 21

 

Public Opening of Confluence

11:00 am Gallery Talk with Artist Gene Felice

CAM Member $15/ NonMember $20

Thursday, January 20

10am – 4pm

 

Watercolor Fresh Market workshop

Instructor: Janice Castiglione

CAM member price: $171; non-member: $190

Spend two days painting still lives. There’s something to be said about painting from life and having it right in front of you. Each participant will be asked to bring in a fresh fruit or vegetable to add to existing backdrops. What fun! On Day Two, we will change places to work on new compositions, so bring a camera.

 

Educators Night

Thursday, January 20^th

4pm to 7pm

FREE for teachers

Spend a fun and relaxing evening at CAM with free admission during an exclusive event for educators and view our new exhibitions. Docents in the galleries will answer your questions and provide information about the exhibitions. Our Educators Night will provide information and materials about tours, workshops, and other free resources for area educators. All educators and administrators – from Pre-K to College – welcome and encouraged to attend and explore fun ways to bring art into your classroom and spark creativity in your students.

Thursdays, January 20 – February 24

6 – 9pm

 

Thursday Night Clay

Instructor: Renato Abbate

CAM member price: $225; nonmember: $250

A fun class for all skill levels. Make your own custom plates or mugs. Work on some wild sculpture. Explore how clay can work for you and gain a new appreciation for handmade pottery.

 

Gallery Talk: Antoinette Vogt

Saturday, January 22

1pm-2pm

Artist Toni Vogt will discuss the prints by Willy Cole in the Shadow We Create exhibition.  His printing process is akin to a collagraph, where found objects are used to create a printing plate.  By using ironing boards, Cole finds a new means to explore a familiar motif.

Antoinette Angela Vogt received a B.F.A. with a concentration in Drawing from the State University of New York at Purchase and a Master of Architecture from New Jersey Institute of Technology. She worked in Architecture for several years while teaching drawing at night through Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, NC. After moving to Norman, Oklahoma in 2011, she began volunteering at Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art assisting in the classroom for their educational programs. Antoinette also taught drawing at a small art school in Norman before moving on to teach Drawing and Art Appreciation at Oklahoma City Community College.

Sunday, January 23

2 pm

 

Reading: Jason Mott, Hell of a Book, winner of the 2021 National Book Award

CAM members $10/ Nonmembers: $15

Free for students

Admission includes entry to the galleries

***2021 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER***

Winner of the 2021 Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Fiction

Longlisted for the 2022 Carnegie Medal Fiction, the 2021 Joyce Carol Oates Prize and the 2021 Aspen Words Literary Prize

A Read With Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick!

One of Washington Post‘s 50 Notable Works of Fiction | One of Philadelphia Inquirer‘s Best Books of 2021 | One of Shelf Awareness’s Top Ten Fiction Titles of the Year | One of TIME Magazine’s 100 Must-Read Books | One of NPR.org’s “Books We Love” | EW’s “Guide to the Biggest and Buzziest Books of 2021” | One of the New York Public Library’s Best Books for Adults | One of Entertainment Weekly‘s 15 Books you Need to Read This June | On Entertainment Weekly’s “Must List” | One of The NY Post‘s Best Summer Reading books | One of GMA’s 27 Books for June | One of USA Today‘s 5 Books Not to Miss | One of Fortune‘s 21 Most Anticipated Books Coming out in the Second Half of 2021 | One of The Root‘s PageTurners: It’s Getting Hot in Here | One of Real Simple‘s Best New Books to Read in 2021 |One of The Philadelphia Inquirer‘s Best of 2021

Join National Book Award Winner Jason Mott for a reading from Hell of a Book. Hell of a Book is an astounding work of fiction from a New York Times bestselling author Jason Mott, always deeply honest, at times electrically funny, that goes to the heart of racism, police violence, and the hidden costs exacted upon Black Americans, and America as a whole. Jason Mott has published four novels. His first novel, The Returned, was a New York Times bestseller and was turned into a TV series that ran for two seasons. He has a BFA in Fiction and an MFA in Poetry, both from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. His poetry and fiction have appeared in various literary journals, and his most recent novel, Hell of a Book, was named the winner of the National Book Award for Fiction, 2021.

Wednesday, January 26

9 – 10 am

 

Gentle Yoga with Steve Unger

Donation $5

Wednesday, January 26

1:30 pm

 

Public Tour

Free with admission

Thursday, January 27

10 am – 11 am

 

Art Explorers with Airlie Gardens

Thursday, January 27

10am – 1pm

 

The Power of Pastels Returns to CAM!

Instructor: Jerri Greenberg

CAM member price: $171; non-member: $190

Come along and explore the sheer joy of painting in pastels, learn to use different brands, softness, papers, and lighting to make the “ordinary EXTRAordinary”. Each week we will work from a still life setup or a model, to expand your repertoire and your comfort zones, working with this wonderful, immediate medium.

Thursday, January 27

6pm – 8:30pm

 

Art Buzz- Mixed Media Fashion Illustration

Instructor: Jennifer Gironda

CAM member price: $45; non-member: $50

Join us for a fashion sketching session featuring mixed media collage materials.  We will work from various images from fashion magazines (feel free to bring images from YOUR favorite runway looks!) and we will go over how to do a quick croquis and then add the garments using a variety of 2D collage materials.  An assortment of papers and adhesives will be available, but please feel free to bring any scrap papers, magazine pages or other materials for your looks!

Thursday, January 27

7 pm

 

Exhibitions After Dark: Gallery Talk with Zedrick Applin

Learn about Stephen Hayes’s exhibition Voices of Future’s Past from the unique perspective of community member Zedrick Applin, Program Manager, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Community Involvement at nCino. Join Zedrick for this interaction conversation and grab dinner and a cocktail from CAM Café before or after. Free with admission.

Fridays, January 28 – March 4

10am – 12pm

 

Interactive color

Instructor: Lois DeWitt

CAM member price: $153; non-member: $170

Interaction of Color by Josef Albers was published by Yale University in 1963. A seminal study, it provided new perspectives on color and how it is perceived visually. Through a series of visual projects using Color-aid papers, students develop new cognitive and visual skills towards seeing and analyzing the perception of color. These skills can transfer easily to other artistic skills like painting, drawing and printmaking.  Keeping close to Alber’s instruction and projects, this six-week course leads students through a series of fascinating, unique and informative color theory using Color-aid and found papers.

Saturday, January 29

11– 4pm

 

Memory Jar – Capturing Your Past through Narrative and Assemblage

Instructor: Fritzi Huber and Dina Greenberg

CAM member price: $72; non-member: $80

Why is it so difficult to throw away all the “stuff” we accumulate? Perhaps these objects carry meaning beyond simple explanation. In this five-hour workshop: (1) We’ll first use (your chosen) objects to spark a brief work of creative writing: poetry, prose, or hybrid (2) create a three-dimensional “memory jar” to capture the meaning of your treasures.

  

February 2022

Wednesday, February 2 – 23

6pm – 8pm

 

VIRTUAL- Winter Words on Paper – Telling our Stories in Memoir

Instructor: Dina Greenberg

CAM member price: $108; non-member price: $120

You, dear writer, are uniquely qualified to tell the stories of your past, present, and perhaps even an imagined future.  This creative writing workshop in memoir for adult writers is open to community participants with varying degrees of writing expertise. The workshop follows a traditional format where group members critique one another’s work with the instructor’s guidance. Literature and craft articles will also be presented for discussion. The goal is to instill respect and compassion in the critique process while helping participants improve their writing and literary analysis.

Thursdays, February 3 – March 10

4:30 – 6:30pm

 

Foundations of Drawing: Teen and Young Adult

Instructor: Antoinette Vogt

CAM member price: $148.50; non-member: $165

Learn how to draw realistically through the study of still life. Students will develop drawing skills by understanding and improving ability to see objects in space to better represent them on the page. Learn how to see and draw objects in proportion and understand perspective. Topics covered will include working with line; blind and modified contour drawing; seeing and drawing negative space (the space around objects); visual perspective (perceiving angles using sighting technique); proportion (objects in relations to one another).

Friday, February 4^th

12pm

 

‘Resilience’ Community Screening

View the award-winning documentary ‘Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope’. The film screens in our spacious reception hall from 12 PM to 1 PM, followed by an optional brief discussion with other community members. Learn about the New Hanover County Resiliency Task Force. https://www.nhcbouncesback.org/

The CAM offers free screenings of ‘Resilience’ on the first Friday of each month (unless there is a holiday and then it moves to the second Friday). Feel free to grab lunch at the CAM café, or bring your own lunch!

No fee and no registration necessary.

Fridays, February 4 – 25

1pm – 3pm

 

Introduction to Ikebana

Instructor: Karen Chevrotee

CAM member price: $117; non-member: $130

IKEBANA, the Art of Japanese Flower Arranging. Originally used in Temples, simple, elegant, at once meditative. Following prescribed rules to create Beauty for your home or office with natural flowers, leaves and branches.

Friday, February 4

8-9am

 

All Levels Flow Yoga with Kim Gargiulo

Saturday & Sunday, February 5 – 6

10am – 4pm & noon – 4pm

 

Rock, Paper Stitches – Joomchi & Embroidery  – Virtual

CAM member price: $144; non-member: $160

‘Rock’ two slow-process crafts in one unique class! Day 1 will concentrate on learning an ancient Korean paper craft to create a ‘felted’ paper called joomchi. Joomchi utilizes layers of thin hanji papers that, through agitation and manipulation, create a sturdy piece that can be used alone or in other artistic endeavors. One such endeavor will be achieved on Day 2. Taking the previous day’s joomchi pieces, you’ll use simple hand stitches for mark making, to add found objects, or to stitch several joomchi together for a larger, dramatic piece of finished paper art. (This is not a paper making class.)

Thursday, February 10

7pm-8pm

 

Exhibitions After Dark: Gallery Talk with Cedric Harrison

Cedric Harrison, a Wilmington native, is the founder of both Support the Port and wilmingtoNColor. Harrison has dedicated his professional career to supporting and creating opportunities for economic growth and advancement for African Americans in the Wilmington area. He is a local historian (in his own right) and passionate about the rich history of African Americans in Wilmington, NC.

Due to his impactful efforts and work, Harrison has earned several accolades and much recognition in this space. Most recently, Harrison was a recipient of the 40 under 40 award presented by StarNews meds and Wilmington Chamber of Commerce – an award which recognizes professionals who are high performers in their field.

In 2019, Harrison was selected out of over 400 applicants to be part of the inaugural cohort of the All for NC Fellows. Since the fellowship, Harrison has seized the opportunity to continue his journey of bringing transformational change to his local community.

Cedric Harrison also had the opportunity to deliver his first TEDx talk in 2019 at the TEDx Airlie event in Wilmington, NC. His speech, Bridging the Racial Gap of Socio-Economics, provided viewers with a compelling history lesson on Wilmington in conversation with his personal experiences and journey.

Friday, February 11

8-9am

 

All Levels Flow Yoga with Kim Gargiulo

Saturday, February 12 & February 19

10 – 1pm

 

Collagraph Printmaking Workshop

Instructor: Antoinette Vogt

CAM member price: 81; non-member: $90

A two-day workshop to learn the art of collagraph printmaking using plates created by collage. In this workshop students will create printing plates by gluing elements onto the printing surface to create an image. Students are asked to gather collage supplies ahead of time and bring them to the first-class session. Collage items should not be more than 1/8″ thick and can include scraps of cardboard; textured item such as sandpaper, fabric, burlap or lace; string or twine, leaves. seeds, buttons, etc. Students will create their plates during the first session and print them during the second session.

 

Saturday, February 12

1pm – 2:30pm

CAM Members $20/ Nonmembers $25

 

Book Buzz- Women Who Misbehave

Instructor: Sayantani Dasgupta with Heather Wilson

Join author Sayantani Dasgupta for a discussion of her new novel, “Women Who Misbehave”. Dasgupta states, “Well-behaved or not, woman or not, each of our lives is made up of stories. How you tell it is where the art lies. Each of us lives through historic moments every day, and ends up with thousands of stories. Now who gets to tell stories, whose stories are valued and heard is another matter altogether.” Registration includes a glass of wine or sparkling water. Studio dinner and half-priced bottles of wine available from the CAM Cafe.

Sayantani Dasgupta has taught creative writing in the United States, India, Italy, and Mexico. She is an essayist, a short story writer, and the author of Fire Girl: Essays On India, America, & The In-Between- a finalist for the 2016 Foreword Indies Award for Essays- and the chapbook The House Of Nails: Memories Of A New Delhi Childhood. Born in Calcutta and raised in New Delhi, Sayantani received a BA in History from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, an MA in Medieval History from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Idaho.

Saturday, February 12

11am – 2pm

 

Woven Hand built Ceramic Basket

Instructor: Shannon Gehen

CAM member price: $50; non-member: $55

Learn how to make a woven ceramic basket, combining the tradition of basket weaving with the ease of a glazed surface for your kitchen, coffee table, or special event.

Sunday, February 13

 

WSO Sunday Concert Series

2-3pm

Thursday, February 17

 

Jazz@ CAM

6:30-8:00pm

$25 for CAM and CFJS members, $30 for non-members, $15 for students and military

The John Brown Quintet

The multi-talented John Brown brings his quintet to the CAM on February 3. The performance is part of our ongoing concert series, which begins at 6:30 PM.

A successful bassist, composer, educator and actor, John currently serves as Vice Provost for the Arts at Duke University. He has a long history of performance excellence. At the age of 13, he began performing with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. He was playing Principal Bass with that orchestra and performing with the Florence Symphony in South Carolina while still in high school.

John has performed in the United States and abroad with artists that include Wynton Marsalis, Ellis Marsalis, Delfeayo Marsalis, Elvin Jones, Nnenna Freelon, Diahann Carroll, Rosemary Clooney, Nell Carter, Lou Donaldson, Slide Hampton, Nicholas Payton, Frank Foster, Larry Coryell, Cedar Walton, Fred Wesley and Mark Whitfield.  He also has a Grammy nomination for his performance and co-writing on Nnenna Freelon’s 1996 Concord release, Shaking Free. His extensive experience includes performances at notable venues like Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Blue Note, Blues Alley, and the Hollywood Bowl and at major jazz festivals like the Playboy Jazz Festival, the JVC Jazz Festival, the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Free Jazz Festival (Brazil) and Jazz e Vienne (France).

For more information on any of these events click here.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Cameron Art Musuem’s Floating Lantern Ceremony is Sunday, January 9 on the museum’s grounds.

This year it returns to an in-person event at the Reflection Pond.  It is called an expression of remembrance, reflection, and gratitude.

CAM admission lets you into all the indoor exhibitions, but the Lantern Ceremony is free.  There will be live music near the pond, hot chocolates, beverages, and light food service from the CAM Cafe.

Lantern sales are happening now for you to decorate for $12 at the CAM Museum Shop.  The ceremony is from 4 – 7pm.

Click here for more information.

BOLIVIA, NC (WWAY) — Country music megastars Shenandoah will bring ‘The Every Road Tour’ to Brunswick Community College’s Odell Williamson Auditorium on January 15.

Led by Marty Raybon’s distinctive vocals, the group is celebrated for hits like “Two Dozen Roses,” “Church on Cumberland Road,” and the Grammy winning “Somewhere in the Vicinity of the Heart.”  The band’s latest album includes collaborations with Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, Lady A, and Brad Paisley.

The stop in Bolivia comes just days before the band returns to the Grand Ole Opry stage on January 21.

Tickets are available by clicking here.

RUTHERFORD COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Two people including a state highway patrol trooper were killed in a traffic crash Monday night.

The accident occurred around 8:58 p.m. in Boiling Springs near the intersection of High Shoals Church Road and Goodes Grove Church Road.

Trooper John S. Horton had pulled over a driver and both of were standing alongside the road prior to the deadly crash.

The trooper’s brother, Trooper James N. Horton, also responded to the scene to assist. According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Horton collided with his brother’s patrol vehicle striking Trooper John Horton and the detained driver.

Trooper John Horton was taken to a hospital in Spartanburg, SC, where he later died from his injuries. He was a 15-year veteran assigned to Rutherford County.

The detained driver died at the scene and the highway patrol has not released that person’s identity at this time.

Trooper James Horton was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital and released.

“Our hearts are broken with the loss of our friend and our brother, Trooper John Horton” said Colonel Freddy L. Johnson Jr., commander of the State Highway Patrol. “For all involved in this tragic event, the coming days will undoubtedly be difficult but we are committed to stand alongside with them with our thoughts, prayers and unwavering support.”

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the crash along with assistance from the NC State Highway Patrol Collision Reconstruction Unit.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — John Madden, the Hall of Fame coach turned broadcaster whose exuberant calls combined with simple explanations provided a weekly soundtrack to NFL games for three decades, died Tuesday morning, the league said. He was 85.

The NFL said he died unexpectedly and did not detail a cause.

Madden gained fame in a decade-long stint as the coach of the renegade Oakland Raiders, making it to seven AFC title games and winning the Super Bowl following the 1976 season. He compiled a 103-32-7 regular-season record, and his .759 winning percentage is the best among NFL coaches with more than 100 games.

But it was his work after prematurely retiring as coach at age 42 that made Madden truly a household name. He educated a football nation with his use of the telestrator on broadcasts; entertained millions with his interjections of “Boom!” and “Doink!” throughout games; was an omnipresent pitchman selling restaurants, hardware stores and beer; became the face of “Madden NFL Football,” one of the most successful sports video games of all-time; and was a best-selling author.

Most of all, he was the preeminent television sports analyst for most of his three decades calling games, winning an unprecedented 16 Emmy Awards for outstanding sports analyst/personality, and covering 11 Super Bowls for four networks from 1979-2009.

“People always ask, are you a coach or a broadcaster or a video game guy?” he said when was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “I’m a coach, always been a coach.”

He started his broadcasting career at CBS after leaving coaching in great part because of his fear of flying. He and Pat Summerall became the network’s top announcing duo. Madden then helped give Fox credibility as a major network when he moved there in 1994, and went on to call prime-time games at ABC and NBC before retiring following Pittsburgh’s thrilling 27-23 win over Arizona in the 2009 Super Bowl.

“I am not aware of anyone who has made a more meaningful impact on the National Football League than John Madden, and I know of no one who loved the game more,” Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in a statement.

Burly and a little unkempt, Madden earned a place in America’s heart with a likable, unpretentious style that was refreshing in a sports world of spiraling salaries and prima donna stars. He rode from game to game in his own bus because he suffered from claustrophobia and had stopped flying. For a time, Madden gave out a “turducken” — a chicken stuffed inside a duck stuffed inside a turkey — to the outstanding player in the Thanksgiving game that he called.

“Nobody loved football more than Coach. He was football,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “He was an incredible sounding board to me and so many others. There will never be another John Madden, and we will forever be indebted to him for all he did to make football and the NFL what it is today.”

When he finally retired from the broadcast booth, leaving NBC’s “Sunday Night Football,” colleagues universally praised Madden’s passion for the sport, his preparation, and his ability to explain an often-complicated game in down-to-earth terms.

“No one has made the sport more interesting, more relevant and more enjoyable to watch and listen to than John,” play-by-play announcer Al Michaels said at the time.

For anyone who heard Madden exclaim “Boom!” while breaking down a play, his love of the game was obvious.

“For me, TV is really an extension of coaching,” Madden wrote in “Hey, Wait a Minute! (I Wrote a Book!).”

“My knowledge of football has come from coaching. And on TV, all I’m trying to do is pass on some of that knowledge to viewers.”

Madden was raised in Daly City, California. He played on both the offensive and defensive lines for Cal Poly in 1957-58 and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the school.

Madden was chosen to the all-conference team and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, but a knee injury ended his hopes of a pro playing career. Instead, Madden got into coaching, first at Hancock Junior College and then as defensive coordinator at San Diego State.

Al Davis brought him to the Raiders as a linebackers coach in 1967, and Oakland went to the Super Bowl in his first year in the pros. He replaced John Rauch as head coach after the 1968 season at age 32, beginning a remarkable 10-year run.

With his demonstrative demeanor on the sideline and disheveled look, Madden was the ideal coach for the collection of castoffs and misfits that made up those Raiders teams.

“Sometimes guys were disciplinarians in things that didn’t make any difference. I was a disciplinarian in jumping offsides; I hated that,” Madden once said. “Being in bad position and missing tackles, those things. I wasn’t, ‘Your hair has to be combed.’”

The Raiders responded.

“I always thought his strong suit was his style of coaching,” quarterback Ken Stabler once said. “John just had a great knack for letting us be what we wanted to be, on the field and off the field. … How do you repay him for being that way? You win for him.”

And boy, did they ever. Many years, the only problem was the playoffs.

Madden went 12-1-1 in his first season, losing the AFL title game 17-7 to Kansas City. That pattern repeated itself during his tenure; the Raiders won the division title in seven of his first eight seasons, but went 1-6 in conference title games during that span.

Still, Madden’s Raiders played in some of the sport’s most memorable games of the 1970s, games that helped change rules in the NFL. There was the “Holy Roller” in 1978, when Stabler purposely fumbled forward before being sacked on the final play. The ball rolled and was batted to the end zone before Dave Casper recovered it for the winning touchdown against San Diego.

The most famous of those games went against the Raiders in the 1972 playoffs at Pittsburgh. With the Raiders leading 7-6 and 22 seconds left, the Steelers had a fourth-and-10 from their 40. Terry Bradshaw’s desperation pass deflected off either Oakland’s Jack Tatum or Pittsburgh’s Frenchy Fuqua to Franco Harris, who caught it at his shoe tops and ran in for a TD.

In those days, a pass that bounced off an offensive player directly to a teammate was illegal, and the debate continues to this day over which player it hit. The catch, of course, was dubbed the “Immaculate Reception.”

Oakland finally broke through with a loaded team in 1976 that had Stabler at quarterback; Fred Biletnikoff and Cliff Branch at receiver; tight end Dave Casper; Hall of Fame offensive linemen Gene Upshaw and Art Shell; and a defense that included Willie Brown, Ted Hendricks, Tatum, John Matuszak, Otis Sistrunk and George Atkinson.

The Raiders went 13-1, losing only a blowout at New England in Week 4. They paid the Patriots back with a 24-21 win in their first playoff game and got over the AFC title game hump with a 24-7 win over the hated Steelers, who were crippled by injuries.

Oakland won it all with a 32-14 Super Bowl romp against Minnesota.

“Players loved playing for him,” Shell said. “He made it fun for us in camp and fun for us in the regular season. All he asked is that we be on time and play like hell when it was time to play.”

Madden battled an ulcer the following season, when the Raiders once again lost in the AFC title game. He retired from coaching at age 42 after a 9-7 season in 1978.

Survivors include his wife, Virginia, and two sons, Joseph and Michael. John and Virginia Madden’s 62nd wedding anniversary was two days before his death.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Cape Fear Public Utility Authority will be closed for New Year’s Eve on Friday, December 31.

The Customer Service Centers at 235 Government Center Drive and 305 Chestnut Street will reopen for regular business at 8am Monday, January 3.

Customers may manage their accounts using the Interactive Voice-Response system by calling 910-332-6550 or online via the Customer Self-Service portal by clicking here.

To report a water or sewer emergency during the holiday, call CFPUA’s emergency hotline at 910-332-6565.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Nobody won the Powerball or Mega Millions drawings this week, so there a lot of money on the line right now.

Tonight you have a chance to win more than 378 million dollars in the Powerball drawing. It has a cash value of nearly 276 million.

If you don’t win tonight you have another chance on Friday.  The Mega Millions Jackpot stands at 187 million dollars.  It has a cash value of more than 134 million.

Your chances of winning are estimated to be about 1 in nearly 14 million.

 

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The holidays can be difficult for military members, veterans, and military families.  Festive events can trigger feelings of loneliness, isolation, grief, survivor’s guilt, and sadness.  Large crowds and loud noises can bring on PTSD symptoms.

Coastal Horizons and the nonprofit Save A Vet Now (SAVN) are working to help veterans and military members get outpatient treatment services.  SAVN has a special account to cover any co-pay or self-pay costs for treatment at its Brunswick, New Hanover, or Pender outpatient locations.

Coastal Horizons offers services to promote healthier lives, stronger families and safer communities. Telemental Health Therapist and veteran Justin Gibson says “there is no need for them to ‘go it alone.’ Help is just a phone call away.”

If you need help reach out to Coastal Horizons at the following numbers:

•  New Hanover County        910-343-0145
•  Brunswick County              910-754-4515
•  Pender County                    910-259-0668

For immediate help call Mobile Crisis at 1-866-437-1821.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Saint Nicholas Foundation is spreading cheer near and far to make sure no child or elderly person is forgotten at the holidays.  The foundation gives toys and gifts to more than 500 people in six states.

Founder Nicholas Newell was born on Christmas day and is lovingly referred to as St. Nick.  The organization says it’s goal is to “Spread holiday cheer near and far.  Making sure no child or elder in need is forgotten.  Everyone makes our nice list.”

Newell says the pandemic changed how things were done the past two years but now he is “happy that we can at least bring them gifts.”  He adds that he “started this organization informally 8 years ago asking family and friends to donate so I could purchase stuffed animals for kids in hospitals. In 2018 we expanded to those in assisted living facilities.”

The foundation is accepting donations in various ways.  You can donate through Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, and Corning Credit Union as well as other options.

Learn all you options by visiting here.

 

SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY) — It’s a candy cane Christmas in Southport!  The Southport Garden Club displaying dozens of handmade candy canes in Keziah Park as part of Winterfest and to support a more beautiful and green city.

The Candy Cane Garden Party kicks off at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Keziah Park in downtown Southport.  It features candy canes decorated by local businesses, organizations, and individuals.  The event is free and includes hot chocolate and entertainment.

Other Winterfest events this week:

•  Annual Cookie Contest, December 8, 3 – 5:30pm, Community Building
• Supper with Santa’s Elves, December 8, 5-7pm, 209 Atlantic Ave., beside Southport Gym
• Christmas movie ‘Polar Express,’ December 9, dusk, Garrison Lawn
• Costumed Holiday History Tour, December 10, 3pm, 204 E. Moore St.
• Caroling with The Sea Notes, December 10, 5:30pm, Franklin Square Park Stage
• Light Up the Night Christmas Parade, December 10, 6:30pm, Howe St.
• Winter Craft Festival, December 11, 9am – 4pm, Franklin Square Park
• Winterfest Performing Arts, December 11, 9am – 4pm, Franklin Square Park
• Book Sale, December 11, 9am – noon, 727 N. Howe St.
• Santa’s Workshop, December 11, 10 – 11am, 209 Atlantic Ave., beside Southport Gym
• Southport Christmas Flotilla, December 11, 7pm, Southport Waterfront

For more information click here.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Family Promise of the Lower Cape Fear looks to a world in which every family has a home, a livelihood, and the chance to build a better future.  It is celebrating 25 years of providing case management, transitional housing, and emergency shelter to families in need.

The 25th Anniversary Celebration Low Country Boil has a happy hour, dinner, and entertainment from comedian Orlando Jones.

Board member Karon Tunis says the event is about “educating people about Family Promise and letting them know that we have been active in the Lower Cape Fear for 25 years.”

The event is at Plaza on Princess in downtown Wilmington Tuesday, December 7, 2021, and kicks off at 6pm.

For tickets or more information click here.

 

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The 2022 North Carolina Azalea Festival has a signature event before spring arrives.  The 2022 Chef’s Showcase will bring together five chefs from around the state to the Hotel Ballast in January.

The Showcase is a seated culinary adventure consisting of a 5-course meal with fine wine pairings, light entertainment, high-end silent auction items, and a luxury vacation raffle. Notable chefs from our region (and beyond!) work together to prepare the dishes.

The chefs this year are:

•  Sheri Castle, host of The Key Ingredient with Sheri Castle, on PBS North Carolina
• Tiesha Lewis, the 2021 North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association Chef Showdown Pastry Chef of the Year
• Saif Rahman, the 2021 North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association Chef Showdown Chef of the Year
• Nathan Sims, Hotel Ballast Executive Chef
• Fabio Capparelli, Bluewater Grill Executive Chef

The event is Saturday, January 29, 2022, from 1 – 4pm at The Hotel Ballast in downtown Wilmington.

For more information and tickets click here.

BLADENBORO, N.C. (WWAY) — A man was arrested on an outstanding order for arrest and issued multiple traffic citations following a vehicle stop in Bladenboro.

According to the Bladenboro Police Department, officers conducted a traffic stop on Main Street near N.C. Highway 211 on Oct. 16, 2026.

During the investigation, officers identified Bobby Ray Ward and discovered he had an outstanding order for arrest related to driving while impaired, speeding and a probation violation.

Police said Ward was also issued citations for driving while license revoked, failure to register a motor vehicle and operating a vehicle without a valid inspection.

Ward was arrested and taken to the Bladen County Detention Center, where a $1,000 secured bond was set for the outstanding order for arrest.

The Bladenboro Police Department says it remains committed to addressing outstanding warrants, enforcing traffic laws and promoting public safety.

Ward is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

BLADENBORO, N.C. (WWAY) — A man is facing drug charges and an outstanding warrant for failure to register as a sex offender following a traffic stop in Bladenboro.

According to the Bladenboro Police Department, officers conducted a traffic stop on Main Street near Elizabethtown Road on Oct. 17, 2026.

During the investigation, officers identified Andrew Lee Bass and discovered he had an outstanding arrest warrant for failure to register as a sex offender.

Police said Bass was also found in possession of methamphetamine.

Bass was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine, in addition to the outstanding charge of failure to register as a sex offender.

He was taken to the Bladen County Detention Center, where he received a $60,000 secured bond.

The Bladenboro Police Department says it remains committed to addressing outstanding warrants, enforcing drug laws and promoting public safety.

Bass is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

BLADENBORO, N.C. (WWAY) — A man is facing drug and traffic charges following a vehicle stop in Bladenboro on Saturday.

According to the Bladenboro Police Department, officers conducted a traffic stop on Main Street on Oct. 24, 2026.

During the investigation, officers made contact with Daniel Lamont Kirby and discovered he was in possession of fentanyl, police said.

Kirby was arrested and charged with possession of fentanyl and exceeding the posted speed limit.

He was taken to the Bladen County Detention Center, where he received a $15,000 secured bond.

The Bladenboro Police Department says it remains committed to addressing illegal drug activity, enforcing traffic laws and promoting public safety.

Kirby is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The New Hanover County Public Library hosted a discussion Saturday, led by two students, to raise awareness about the 1898 Wilmington coup and its lasting impact on the community.

The event, held at the Pine Valley Library, featured National History Day students Olivia Stetler and Zipporah Tunnage, who discussed the coup and the importance of preserving local history.

Stetler and Tunnage earned first place at the regional, state and national levels for their National History Day project. Their exhibit was also selected to be showcased at the Smithsonian.

Stetler, a student at Wilmington Early College High School, said her experience presenting the students’ research at the Smithsonian showed her how little the coup is known outside the Wilmington area.

“Something that was overwhelmingly apparent was just how little 1898 is talked about outside of, you know, nobody knew about it,” Stetler said. “We were talking to even people who worked at the Smithsonian, weren’t necessarily very familiar with 1898.”

Stetler says the coup’s legacy can still be felt today and that teaching its history is important to understanding the lasting effects of racism and the importance of protecting voting rights.

(AP) — Halloween candy sales are off to a slow start this year as U.S. consumers grapple with high living costs and eye-popping chocolate prices.

Halloween candy sales fell 6.7% in the month ending Oct. 17 compared to the same period last year, according to NielsenIQ, a market research firm. Nielsen also noted an 11.7% decline in candy sales in mid-September, erasing the preseason gains that Halloween candy enjoyed the previous two years.

Chris Costagli, a vice president and food thought leader at NielsenIQ, said high gas prices have worsened Americans’ concerns about affordability, and that’s dampening demand for Halloween treats. As of Friday, the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in the U.S. was $4.29, up nearly 40% from the prior year.

“I think what you’re seeing now is a consumer that’s spending so much additional money on fuel and housing and clothing and food,” Costagli said. “Some of the decisions they’re making about Halloween candy, it’s not necessarily because, ‘I notice it’s more expensive than last year,’ it’s, ‘I can’t afford it this year because I’ve paid so much more for so many other things. I just don’t have the financial means to buy it this year.’”

Small bags of candy were the only sizes seeing sales growth through mid-October, Costagli noted. Large and extra-large bags were seeing the biggest declines.

U.S. candy prices have been climbing faster than the rate of inflation for several years. As of September, candy and gum prices were up 44% over a five-year period, according to government data. Prices for all food eaten at home rose 22.5% in the same period.

This week, discount grocer Aldi was advertising a 135-piece variety pack of Mars Inc. chocolate bars – including Milky Way, Trix and Snickers – for $19.87. That’s almost the same price consumers paid for a 250-piece variety pack five years ago.

Cocoa prices are the main culprit. Global cocoa prices reached a record high of $10,710 per metric ton in January 2025 because of poor weather in West Africa – which supplies 70% of the world’s chocolate — and speculative trading in the cocoa futures market, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Cocoa prices had been falling steadily since then, and hit $3,241 per metric ton in March. But they began climbing again in the spring as the Iran war disrupted Africa’s fertilizer supplies. The El Niño weather pattern is also expected to hurt production, with hot, dry conditions expected through February.

But Costagli noted that even in cases where prices are lower than last year, consumer demand is muted. The average price of non-chocolate Halloween candies, like gummies and lollipops, was $6.08 per pound in the nine weeks ending Oct. 17, which was about 3% lower than last year, according to Nielsen data. But that didn’t lead to a bump in sales.

Sally Lyons Wyatt, a global executive vice president and food industry adviser for the market research company Circana, said one way U.S. consumers have been handling higher grocery prices is by making smaller and more frequent trips to the supermarket and buying products right before they intend to use them. That makes her wonder if shoppers are waiting until closer to Halloween to buy candy this year.

“People are very intentional and thoughtful about what they want to consume, not just for holidays, but in general,” she said. “I do believe we will still see softness overall with candy, but I don’t think Halloween is doomed.”

The National Confectioners Association, a trade group that represents candy makers like Mars, Smarties Candy Co. and Ferrara Candy Co., said it remains optimistic about Halloween sales.

“We are just now entering the peak period for Halloween and consumer enthusiasm remains incredibly strong,” the group said Friday in a statement.

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, N.C. (WWAY) — A 15-year-old boy who was reported missing in Brunswick County has been located and is safe, according to the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office.

Cam’ron Thomas Brown was last seen in the Leland area on Oct. 15, 2026. Authorities said he was also known to frequent the Wilmington area.

The sheriff’s office previously asked for the public’s help locating Brown, describing him as 6 feet, 1 inch tall and weighing approximately 180 pounds. He was last seen wearing a white compression shirt, black sweatpants and Crocs.

The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office has since confirmed that Brown has been found safe.

No additional details about his disappearance or where he was located have been released.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington police are investigating a shooting that injured a 25-year-old woman early Saturday morning.

Officers were dispatched to the area of Fourth and Nixon streets shortly after 3 a.m. following a report of a shooting, according to the Wilmington Police Department.

Upon arrival, officers found the woman lying in the roadway with a gunshot wound. Emergency medical services transported her to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, police said.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Wilmington Police Department at 910-343-3600 or submit an anonymous tip through the Tip 411 app.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — At approximately 9:05 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, The Wilmington Police Department say officers responded to the intersection of Carolina Beach Road and Medical Center Drive following a collision involving a vehicle and an electric bicycle.

Upon arrival, officers found a male bicyclist suffering from life-threatening injuries. He was transported to Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center for treatment.

The Wilmington Police Department’s Traffic Unit is investigating the collision.

ELIZABETHTOWN, N.C. (WWAY) — East Bladen football came away with a 49-34 victory over Union on Friday night, using a strong offensive performance to secure the win.

Union got off to a fast start behind Tobias Cromartie, who made several defenders miss with an impressive run.

The Spartans added to their lead through the air as quarterback Derik Aycock connected with junior wide receiver Kenny Bailey for a touchdown.

East Bladen responded on defense when senior defensive back Sincere Stanislas intercepted a Union pass to give the Eagles a chance to get back into the game.

The Eagles capitalized on the opportunity, as standout running back Jaden Lewis followed his blockers into the end zone for a touchdown.

East Bladen continued to battle throughout the matchup, ultimately pulling away for a 49-34 victory over the Spartans.

The win capped another strong performance from Lewis, who has been a key part of the Eagles’ offense this season.

SHALLOTTE, NC (WWAY) — Ashley football continued its momentum into this game, defeating West Brunswick 33-6 to extend its winning streak to four games.

The Screaming Eagles got on the scoreboard early as Jahmeer Damon took a pop pass, made several defenders miss and scored a touchdown to give Ashley a 6-0 lead.

Michael Miller scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to extend the Screaming Eagles’ lead to 13-0.

Ashley struck again later in the quarter when backup quarterback Karter Krowl connected with Josiah Isom on a deep touchdown pass, giving the Screaming Eagles a 19-0 lead at halftime.

Ashley maintained control the rest of the way, securing a 33-6 victory over West Brunswick.

The win improved Ashley’s record to 6-3 and extended its winning streak to four games. The Screaming Eagles entered the matchup with a 3-1 record in conference play under first-year head coach Adam Purzitza.

The Screaming Eagles play Hoggard next week. The winner will win the Carolina Coast 6A/7A/8A conference.

West Brunswick finished the regular season with a 2-8 record after entering the game at 1-4 in conference play.

LELAND, NC (WWAY) — Hoggard football delivered a dominant performance Friday night, defeating North Brunswick 67-7 on the road during the Scorpions’ Senior Night.

The Vikings got off to a fast start, with senior quarterback Matthew Boring connecting with tight end Nakula O’Connor for a touchdown.

North Brunswick answered with a big play of its own as two-sport athlete M.J. Smith took a screen pass down the sideline for a score.

The Scorpions then made another big play on the ensuing kickoff, as defensive back Lyric Pryor returned the ball all the way for a touchdown. The score put Hoggard ahead 14-7.

Hoggard was in a groove on offense, with Boring finding senior wide receiver Desyn Durand for a leaping touchdown catch.

The Vikings continued to control the game on both sides of the ball. After allowing North Brunswick’s first-quarter touchdown, Hoggard’s defense limited the Scorpions’ scoring opportunities while making several impact plays.

Junior linebacker Graham McNeely stood out defensively, recovering a fumble and helping the Vikings maintain their momentum.

Hoggard continued to pull away, securing a 67-7 victory and setting two school records: most points scored in a game and largest margin of victory.

The Vikings will face the Ashley Screaming Eagles next week with a chance to clinch the Carolina Coast Conference title.

DUPLIN COUNTY, N.C. (WWAY) — The East Duplin Panthers continued their undefeated run in conference play Friday night, defeating the Pender Patriots 34-6.

Pender traveled to face East Duplin, but the Panthers took control of the matchup behind a strong performance from Zachary Cruz. Cruz broke free for a nearly 40-yard touchdown run, helping East Duplin build its lead.

He also made an impact on defense, intercepting a pass from Pender quarterback Austin Deal to give the Panthers possession. Pender eventually found the end zone when Jahiem Lambe punched the ball in from 8 yards out for the Patriots’ lone touchdown of the night.

Despite the score, East Duplin maintained control of the game and secured the 34-6 victory. With the win, the Panthers remain undefeated in conference play.

COLUMBUS COUNTY, N.C. (WWAY) — The East Columbus Gators pulled off an upset Friday night, defeating the North Duplin Rebels 23-8 at home. East Columbus entered the matchup with a 3-5 record, while North Duplin came in at 5-2.

The Gators faced an early scare when quarterback Demetrius Dexter lost the football after taking a hit from a North Duplin defender. The Rebels nearly recovered the fumble, but East Columbus’ Christan Norton was there to recover the ball and keep possession for the Gators.

East Columbus capitalized on the opportunity as Dexter connected with Dawson Crosby on a deep pass for a touchdown, giving the Gators an early 7-0 lead. North Duplin responded with a touchdown of its own, using a quarterback sneak to punch the ball into the end zone.

The Rebels then elected to go for a two-point conversion, tossing the ball back to Jayden Pope, who powered his way through the Gators’ defense to give North Duplin an 8-7 lead.

Despite falling behind, East Columbus battled back to secure the 23-8 victory, handing the Rebels their third loss of the season. The win improves East Columbus to 4-5 on the season, while North Duplin falls to 5-3.

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY) — The Laney Buccaneers bounced back from last week’s loss with a commanding 34-7 victory over the New Hanover Wildcats on Friday night at Legion Stadium. Both teams entered the Carolina Coast Conference matchup looking to get back in the win column, but Laney took control early and never looked back.

Buccaneers quarterback Joseph Stough wasted little time getting the offense going, connecting with junior wide receiver Niko Warren for a touchdown to give Laney an early 7-0 lead. Stough continued his strong start through the air, finding Emery Brown downfield for another touchdown reception to extend the Buccaneers’ lead to 14-0 in the first quarter.

New Hanover struggled to move the ball offensively as Laney continued to build its advantage. Still in the first quarter, Stough escaped pressure and connected with Kilby Theiss-Dixon, who took the ball into the end zone for another touchdown, pushing the lead to 21-0.

The Buccaneers kept their momentum rolling into the second quarter. Stough once again found Theiss-Dixon for a touchdown, giving the receiver his second score of the night and sending Laney into halftime with a 28-0 lead.

New Hanover managed to get on the scoreboard in the second half, but the Buccaneers maintained control to secure the 34-7 victory. The win puts Laney back in the win column following last week’s loss.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A bicyclist was injured after a being struck by a vehicle in Wilmington.

The Wilmington Police Department temporarily closed the intersection of Carolina Beach Road and Medical Center Drive going both directions around 9:00 p.m. on Friday, October 23, following the report.

The bicyclist was taken to the hospital to be treated. The details of their condition have not been disclosed.

The investigation remains ongoing and we share more details as they become available.

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The nonprofit organization Cape Fear Dolphin Research spotted a humpback whale offshore on Thursday, October 22, off the Lockwood Folly Inlet and Holden beach, noting a unique feature on its dorsal fin: a whale barnacle.

Humpback whales are known to host specialized barnacles, namely the species Coronula diadema.

Whale barnacles are also known to attach to whales through their adult lives, allowing them to capture plankton and other microscopic food particles as the whale swims.

However, too many barnacle loads may increase drag or cause localized skin irritation on the whale, and Cape Fear Dolphin Research says that distinctive dorsal fin shapes, scars, and attached organisms help provide supplementary information when comparing photographs of individual whales.

Cape Fear Dolphin Research is a nonprofit organization dedicated to studying, protecting, and educating the public about bottlenose dolphins and marine ecosystems throughout the Cape Fear.

RALEIGH, NC (WTVD) — With 57 law enforcement agencies helping provide security at the North Carolina State Fair, police are reminding visitors about prohibited items and ways to report safety concerns as the Fair enters its final weekend.

Anthony Prignano, police chief for the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, said fairgoers should leave weapons at home.

Guns, knives and pepper spray are prohibited on the fairgrounds and will be confiscated if brought inside.

Visitors who see something suspicious or feel uncomfortable can contact law enforcement by texting the State Fair hotline at 888-777.

Signs at the gates display the number, and visitors can send messages about security concerns.

“Look at those items that are prohibited inside the gate, so we don’t confiscate them,” said Prignano. “So just come out and have a good time, and we’re going to try to keep you safe the best we can.”

Prignano said the most common call involving families each year is for missing children.

Parents visiting the fair should be aware of their surroundings and review the fair’s security guidelines before arriving.

“On every gate, you have a number that you can text. State Fair, one word. 888-777,” said Prignano.

Fairgoers can find additional security guidelines and a list of prohibited items on the State Fair’s website.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Wilmington Police Department is reviewing an incident involving an officer and a man after video posted to social media showed a physical altercation during a traffic stop.

Video recorded by a resident Thursday shows officers arriving at 510 Maides Avenue and telling the occupants of a vehicle they smelled marijuana.

Officers then appear to order the occupants out of the car. The video shows Antwan Greene confronting officers in his driveway and demanding answers. After a verbal exchange, the encounter escalates, with an officer appearing to slam Greene to the ground.

Greene said he was not trying to escalate the situation but was attempting to back away from the officer.

“I wasn’t trying to progress the situation. I was just trying to remove myself, just back up, so he wouldn’t grab me,” Greene said.

Greene said he is dealing with a scar on his left hand and bruising on his neck and the left side of his body.

Greene and his cousin, Isiah Hill, who posted the video on social media, deny smoking marijuana. They also allege the incident is part of a pattern of harassment by the Wilmington Police Department.

However, court records indicate Hill was charged with marijuana possession in June.

WWAY contacted the Wilmington Police Department, which declined to comment on camera but provided a statement about the video.

“We are aware of a video circulating on social media of an interaction between a WPD officer and another individual. Short social media clips do not portray the entirety of a situation and only show a small portion of everything that occurred. The circumstances surrounding this particular arrest are being reviewed. We recognize the public interest in this incident and are committed to providing information as we are able to.”

CAPE CANAVERAL, FL (AP) — NASA is moving fast on its plans to build a moon base and return astronauts to the lunar surface in as little as two years.

Administrator Jared Isaacman said Friday that the space agency is still on track to launch Artemis III next summer on a docking exercise with Elon Musk’s and Jeff Bezos’ lunar landers.

The two-week mission featuring four astronauts will be confined to orbit around Earth — no moon trip this time.

The all-important Artemis IV — NASA’s first moon landing by astronauts since Apollo — remains scheduled for 2028, Isaacman said.

His update came six months after the successful Artemis II flight around the moon by four astronauts, humanity’s first lunar trip in more than half a century.

NASA will keep its options open as long as possible before choosing between SpaceX and Blue Origin for the Artemis IV lunar lander, according to officials.

Isaacman said the “new space race” to land astronauts on the moon — racing against China now versus the Soviet Union during the Apollo era — will be “much closer than it ever needed to be” because of slow going in past years.

But the space agency is now accelerating its pace, he noted, eliminating endless meetings and bureaucratic inertia, as SpaceX, Blue Origin and other companies scramble around the clock to meet the deadlines and NASA bolsters its workforce.

Adopting Apollo’s urgent and intense approach from 1968 through 1972, a period which saw 24 astronauts fly to the moon and 12 land on it, is not “tech industry pixie dust or some new management philosophy,” Isaacman said.

“It’s about our own history. It’s a playbook this agency knows really well, the same playbook that went from Apollo 7 splashdown to Apollo 11 in just nine months,” he said during a news conference at Kennedy Space Center.

Both landers will be launched next summer for docking practice by the three NASA astronauts and one Italian who will blast into orbit aboard NASA’s Orion capsule. The mission will require three launches in quick succession from Cape Canaveral. Orion will dock first with Blue Origin’s Blue Ghost about 270 miles (435 kilometers) above Earth, then with SpaceX’s Starship in a slightly lower orbit.

“As a rocket nerd, it’s going to be pretty awesome,” said Amit Kshatriya, NASA’s associate administrator.

NASA’s planned moon base near the moon’s south pole — nowhere near Apollo’s more equatorial locales — should see its first launch by year’s end. The Pittsburgh company whose first lunar landing mission fizzled in 2024 will attempt a “take two,” this time aiming for the moon’s south polar region with a rover and other experiments. More landers, rovers and orbiters will follow, so many that by the time the first Artemis moonwalkers arrive, their moon car will already be there waiting for them, according to officials.

To speed up and reduce risk, the initial moonwalkers will wear a lighter, less complex spacesuit than the one still under development by Axiom Space for longer, later excursions. Axiom will test these new so-called “sortie suits” on the International Space Station next year.

Setting up a long-term presence is what makes this so much more challenging than the Apollo-style commuter flights, said NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, who is part of the Artemis III crew.

“It is incredibly ambitious,” Rubio told The Associated Press earlier this month. “One thing I’ve always believed and learned is don’t bet against America.”

BEIJING (AP) — Rescuers combed through a remote area in the Chinese region of Tibet on Friday after a magnitude 7 earthquake killed at least 16 people, injured 76 and collapsed hundreds of homes, according to Chinese state media.

The disaster struck Nagqu, a city north of Tibet’s capital Lhasa that’s some 4,800 meters (15,748 feet) above sea level, on Thursday. At least 339 homes collapsed, and officials told journalists they were concerned about further building collapses from aftershocks, as well as casualties from rockslides.

China’s national broadcaster CCTV aired footage Friday showing collapsed houses and shattered stone walls in Nagqu.

More than 12,000 residents in the region were evacuated, with additional shelters under construction, China’s official news agency Xinhua reported. No one was reported missing in Baqen County in Nagqu, where the earthquake struck.

Search and rescue efforts are complicated by the geography and low temperatures, officials said. As of Friday afternoon, rescuers had done three rounds of searches, going through each household and each village, said Dunzhu, the acting mayor of Nagqu city, at a news conference.

More than 5,000 people from three local counties were deployed for rescue efforts. Supplies including 2,000 prefabricated housing units, around 3,400 tents and 2,000 folding beds, as well as flashlights and winter clothing, arrived in the region.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake occurred at 10:33 p.m. local time on Thursday, with its epicenter 191 kilometers (119 miles) east-northeast of Nagqu. It put the earthquake’s depth at 18 kilometers (11 miles).

The U.S. agency recorded at least seven aftershocks with magnitudes between 4.3 and 5.2, all of them with a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles), according to its website.

Xinhua said on Friday that communication in some areas hit by the quake was down. Local railway authorities have taken emergency actions to halt trains passing through the region.

The earthquake also caused rockfalls that have forced local authorities to close a section of National Highway 317, allowing only emergency, rescue and official support vehicles through as crews worked to clear debris, according to Xinhua.

Intermittent snows are expected in the earthquake region over the next three days, Xinhua said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for all-out efforts in rescue operations and medical relief work, issuing instructions Friday morning. The Chinese leader does so only in major disasters and accidents.

KURE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — A proposed parking fees and rate changes are set to be discussed before Kure Beach Commissioners at Monday’s council meeting.

According to the October 26 meeting agenda, commissioners will hear drafted recommendations for the 2027 Kure Beach parking rate schedule.

The document includes increasing the daily parking rat from $25 to $35, expanding the paid hours to run from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., and adding 45 more days to the paid season to run from March 1 to October 31. It also simplifies the season permit price range, going for $50 from February 1 to February 14, before jumping to $250 for the remainder of the season.

The hourly parking rate of $6 is not changed in the draft.

The proposal also includes the elimination of Weekly parking rate payments, citing the move as a simplification and noting that only 133 transactions were made through 2026.

Off-season parking from November to February remains primarily unchanged in the document, but includes new guidelines for Non-Profit groups, who may request a 15% discount for special events at the discretion of the Town of Kure Beach.

The document further added its goals for the recommendations are to increase fees from non-residents to cover growing cost of tourism and town management, minimize parking cost impact for local residents, and attempt to be more consistent with CB.

The next town meeting will be held Monday, October 26, at 117 Settlers Lane starting at 6:00 p.m.

OAK ISLAND, N.C. (WWAY) — The Oak Island Recreation Center is getting ready for a spooky celebration this Halloween, inviting families and community members to its third annual Trunk or Treat event.

The event will take place Saturday, Oct. 31, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Oak Island Recreation Center.

Community members are invited to decorate their vehicle trunks and hand out candy to children during the Halloween celebration.

Organizers are also looking for participants interested in registering as Trunk or Treat vendors.

Those interested in decorating a trunk and participating can register through the town’s official website at OakIslandNC.gov/EVENTS.

The event offers local families a chance to celebrate Halloween together while enjoying a community tradition.

RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — A roughly 75-million-year-old specimen representing the first substantially complete skeleton of its kind in the region, will be on display in North Carolina. 

Paleontologists from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences worked with the Natural History Museum of Utah for a dinosaur excavation from Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah.

Between 8 to 10 feet long in life, the beaked, toothless dinosaur belonged to a group of fast-running theropods known as ornithomimids.

Wrapped in a 5,000-pound plaster jacket for safe transport from the field, the museum’s researchers hope it could become the defining example, or holotype, of a dinosaur species new to science.

“This is exactly the kind of fossil paleontologists dream about,” said Lindsay Zanno, the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences’ head of paleontology and a 2026 recipient of the North Carolina Award.

The new specimen will be prepared and studied in the N.C. Museum’s SECU DinoLab in full view of the public and under the direction Zanno and her team.

“The SECU DinoLab was built around a powerful idea: the public shouldn’t have to wait until the science is finished to be part of discovery,” added N.C. Museum Director Denise Young.

“Bringing new specimens like this one into the lab means North Carolinians can continue to watch world-class science unfold right here in Raleigh.”

The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences is located in downtown Raleigh at 11 and 121 W. Jones Street.

The Museum also supports Prairie Ridge Ecostation, a 45-acre outdoor education and research facility in west Raleigh, as well as a satellite facility in Whiteville.

(AP) — A man accused of killing a North Carolina college student 14 years ago was convicted Friday of first-degree murder, rape and other charges after prosecutors told jurors that forensic evidence was “screaming his name.”

Faith Hedgepeth was a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill when she was beaten to death in her off-campus apartment in September 2012. Miguel Salguero Olivares was arrested nine years later after being pulled over for driving while intoxicated and providing a DNA sample that prosecutors say matched evidence from the crime scene.

Salguero Olivares, 33, did not testify during the trial, and his attorneys rested their case without calling any witnesses. Jurors deliberated for six hours over two days before convicting him of murder, rape, sexual offense and burglary. He was then sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on the murder charge plus 45-65 years on the other charges.

Hedgepeth’s mother, Connie Hedgepeth, told the judge that she forgave her daughter’s killer long ago.

“It was just three weeks after her death. It didn’t matter who done it, I knew that I had to forgive, and I do forgive, but my heart aches for his family,” she said. “It was just such a senseless and cruel act, but we have to go on, and we just have to trust God and go on with our lives.”

Roland Hedgepeth, Faith’s father, said losing his daughter was like having his heart ripped out and admitted it had been easier to say he forgave someone he didn’t know.

“Today it got very real,” he said. “Nevertheless, I say it without reservation, I forgive Miguel for what he did.”

Calling those statements “powerful and kind,” defense attorney James Rainsford said he also could speak about his client and his client’s family but decided not to. “For me to try to blend the two things, I don’t think that’s what everybody needs at this point.”

Defense argued the client was falsely accused

In closing arguments Thursday, defense attorneys accused investigators of having “tunnel vision” in assuming that their client was a monster and not a “19-year-old boy” who had consensual sex with the victim days before her death. Prosecutors, meanwhile, urged jurors to rely on DNA evidence instead of distractions from the defense team.

“We know who did it. The forensic evidence is screaming his name,” said prosecutor Angela Garcia-Lamarca, who described the “uncurable agony” Hedgepeth’s family has endured.

“When the defendant brought that bottle down on her head and she started to bleed, that was the start of a bleeding that still hasn’t stopped,” she said. “He sentenced her to death. He sentenced everybody else who loved her to life. There was no one there to protect her. There was no one there to stop him — until now. Y’all are here. You’re here now, and you can stop him.”

Prosecution suggests victim spurned defendant’s advances

Nearly two dozen witnesses testified for the prosecution, including crime scene technicians, state and local law enforcement, a DNA expert and Hedgepeth’s friends.

Hedgepeth’s roommate, Karena Rosario, testified that she was drunk and sick when Hedgepeth drove them home from a club around 2 a.m. that Sept. 7. She said she later called a friend to pick her up, leaving Hedgepeth in the apartment alone. She returned hours later to find her roommate’s body.

Though no witnesses corroborated the theory, prosecutors suggested Salguero Olivares may have attended a barbecue hosted by Hedgepeth’s neighbor that night, unsuccessfully hit on the young women in the parking lot and then returned, embarrassed and angry, after Rosario left.

Forensic evidence was a focus

Experts testified that the defendant’s fingerprints and palm print were found on a wine bottle at the scene and that his DNA was found in Hedgepeth’s body, on a note written on a fast-food bag found at the scene and on a rum bottle covered in blood that investigators identified as the weapon in the killing.

Defense attorneys questioned Rosario’s account of that night, the processing of the crime scene and the reliability of some DNA evidence. They pointed out that police failed to search some areas of the apartment and later lost some possible blood evidence and emphasized that DNA from sexual intercourse can remain for days afterward.

“Maybe he was living the same life as other 19- and 20-year-old children that we’ve heard about in this case,” defense attorney Jason Murphy said. “Maybe he had too much to drink, maybe he forgot about an encounter.”

But special prosecutor Lisa Coltrane dismissed that as “noise.”

“No matter what kind of mistakes were made or things that were missed, it doesn’t erase the palm print; it doesn’t somehow lift the DNA out of Faith,” she said. “They didn’t talk to every single person in Chapel Hill, and it doesn’t matter. They still got the guy because he left his DNA like confetti all over that room.”