WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Melissa Lasarsky is the new executive director of The North Carolina Azalea Festival. Festival leaders said she brings both a personal connection to the region and professional experience in leading large-scale events. She joined the organization, bringing more than 18 years of experience in marketing, communications, and large-scale event leadership.

Tiffany Cripps talks with Wendy Lofton to learn more about the Links Inc.

(ABC News) — The ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown is taking its toll on the thousands of Transportation Security Administration employees at airports who have been working without pay.

Approximately 60,000 TSA officers who have gone over a month with partial pay began receiving their first $0 paychecks last week.

Many say they are living in fear, with some taking on extra jobs or even leaving the agency altogether to make ends meet.

And if there is no relief soon, veteran TSA leaders fear that the stress and uncertainty could impact operations for years.

“Who wants to go work in public service in the public sector when you’re treated like a yo-yo?” a TSA worker who asked to remain anonymous told ABC News.

The current partial shutdown, now in its second month, comes close to last fall’s 43-day federal government shutdown, which paused payments to thousands of TSA workers, who were still required to work their shift.

Angela Grana, a TSA officer at Durango-La Plata County Airport in Colorado, told ABC News Live on Monday, the first day that TSA workers missed their checks, that the entire situation has been humiliating for her co-workers.

“The stories I get are very demoralizing,” Grana, who serves as the state’s regional vice president for AFGE TSA Local 1127, said. “To go ahead and do the Uber Eats or any other kind of side job, we have to have extra permission. For now, we can’t just do it.”

Senate Democrats have vowed to block funding for DHS until reforms are made to Immigration and Customs Enforcement following the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis by federal law enforcement.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called on Democrats Monday to join a discharge petition that would fund all DHS agencies except for ICE.

A vote on similar legislation failed earlier in the Senate. Jeffries would need at least four Republicans to sign on with all Democrats for the discharge petition to move forward.

Grana said the stress of making ends meet and keeping the airports safe is getting to a lot of TSA officers. Several airports across the country have begun food pantries for their employees affected by the partial shutdown.

“Let me tell you, for us to be concentrating on our jobs without the hunger pains in our stomachs. It’s really difficult to do. We can’t get it wrong,” Grana said.  “We have to get it right every time. We cannot miss a bag, we cannot miss a threat.”

Jill DeJanovich, a TSA officer at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas and single mom of four, was one of the nearly 2,700 TSA workers who called out sick this week, because of the demands put on her.

DeJanovich, who is the a AFGE Local 1260 Chief Administrative Point of contact in Nevada, said she is frustrated with Congress for not moving forward and ending the quagmire over funding.

“Someone needs to cross the line before Congress goes on break for Easter recess,” she said.

While some TSA officers said they had to power on through, for others, like Robert Echeverria, the strain of a second DHS shutdown in five months proved to be too much.

After nine years working at Salt Lake City International Airport a lead TSA officer, Echeverria told ABC News that he left his job after the current shutdown. Echeverria said his family’s life savings were depleted after the last shutdown.

“Emotionally, we couldn’t go through that strain anymore,” he told ABC News.

“It was just really hard for my wife and emotionally to see my kids going through a hard time asking for things, and we wouldn’t be able to actually help them out,” he added.

A TSA worker who asked not to be named warned that the loss of employees can’t easily be fixed.

“Losing seasoned employees is very difficult to replace,” the TSA worker said. “New hires take two years to get off probation.”

The worker added that the accumulating debt borne by government employees will also affect staffing.

“One of the requirements is that you have a great credit rating. A lot of our officers are not going to have that now,” they said.

Joseph Cerletti, a TSA officer at Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport, told ABC News that he struggles to explain to his kids about their financial issues now that his family has to depend solely on his wife’s income.

Cerletti relented that he and his coworkers “don’t have the upper ground here” when it comes to fighting for their rights.

“It’s very hard to find words in the English language to describe how I feel about it, other than speechless,” he said. “This is just what I’ve been describing lately as figuratively an uphill gunfight.”

(AP) — With U.S.-brokered Ukraine peace talks on hold due to the war in the Middle Eas t, Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to try to expand his military gains via new offensives against his southern neighbor that could put even more pressure on Kyiv.

Windfall revenues from surging global oil prices are filling Moscow’s war coffers and U.S. air defense assets are being drained quickly by Iranian attacks across the Gulf, raising concerns that little will be left available for Ukraine in the fifth year of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Ukraine’s European allies have promised to maintain their steadfast support, but bickering over a major 90 billion euro ($106 billion) European Union loan to cover Kyiv’s military and economic needs for two years has reflected the mounting challenges.

The refusal by NATO allies to commit naval assets to help restore tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has drawn an angry rebuke from President Donald Trump, highlighting another emerging fault line that is fraught with potential repercussions for Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sought to hold Washington’s attention by offering its expertise in defending against Iranian Shahed drones, sending over 200 military experts to the Gulf. Trump, however, has shrugged off Zelenskyy’s offer of help, saying the U.S. doesn’t need Kyiv’s assistance.

As new signs of a rift emerge in Western alliances, Putin and his generals are pondering plans for the spring and summer campaign across more than the 1,200-kilometer (about 750-mile) front line.

A possible new push from Russia

The Russian military appears to be readying for a renewed push to claim the part of the eastern Donetsk region that remains under Ukraine’s control, as well as possible offensives in several other sectors.

Analysts have observed that Moscow has been building up reserves and its operations are expected to gain tempo as the spring warmth dries the terrain.

The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War has noted that Russian troops have stepped up artillery barrage and drone attacks, seeking to weaken Ukrainian defenses before ground attacks.

Ukraine has sought to derail the Kremlin’s plans by launching counterattacks in the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, where Russian forces have sought to carve out bridgeheads with an aim to advance toward the regional capitals, which are key industrial hubs.

The ISW said in a recent battlefield assessment that Ukraine’s successful retaliation in the Dnipropetrovsk region will likely continue to force Russia to “choose between defending against the Ukrainian counterattacks and allocating manpower and materiel for offensive operations elsewhere” on the front, possibly spoiling the anticipated Russian offensive.

It also noted that Ukrainian forces have stepped up their midrange strikes against Russian logistics, military equipment and manpower to try to derail the expected offensive

Russian war bloggers warn that Moscow would need to bolster its forces drastically to conduct any major offensive, something that raises challenges for the Kremlin.

After the widely unpopular “partial mobilization” of 300,000 reservists early in the war that prompted hundred of thousands to flee the country to avoid being drafted, the Russian military has changed tactics, relying on volunteers and recruiting foreign fighters attracted by reasonably high wages and other benefits.

Putin said Russia has about 700,000 troops fighting in Ukraine, about the same number that Ukraine reportedly has.

From heavy armor to drones and missiles

After quick maneuvers by large numbers of tanks and mechanized infantry early in Russia’s 2022 invasion, the fighting has morphed into a war of attrition in which small groups of soldiers fight grinding, house-to-house battles in the ruined towns and villages of eastern Ukraine. The ubiquitous drones have restricted the concentration of troops for any big moves.

Russia also has relied on long-range missiles and drones to pummel Ukraine’s energy facilities and other vital infrastructure.

For the past year, Russia has been able to infiltrate and undermine Ukrainian defensive positions due to the “growing lethality” of Moscow’s attacks and Kyiv’s dwindling troop strength, said analyst Jack Watling of the Royal United Services Institute.

“Russia is likely able to maintain its current rate of recruitment, despite the punishing rate of casualties” inflicted by Ukraine, he added.

As part of preparing for new offensives, Russia increasingly has sought to enlist students into its newly formed Drone Forces, offering relatively high pay and deployment at a safe distance from the front.

Tulsi Gabbard, the U.S. director of national intelligence, told the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday that “Russia has maintained the upper hand in the war against Ukraine.”

She said the U.S.-led talks between Ukraine and Russia “are ongoing. Until such an agreement is met, Moscow is likely to continue fighting a slow war of attrition until they view their objectives have been achieved.”

Both sides have entrenched positions

Several rounds of negotiations have produced no visible breakthrough as the parties remain sharpy divided on key issues.

Putin wants Ukraine to withdraw its forces from the four regions that Russia has illegally annexed but never fully captured, renounce its bid to join NATO, sharply cut its army and drop restrictions against Russian language and the Moscow-affiliated Orthodox Church -– demands Zelenskyy has rejected.

Zelenskyy has called for a ceasefire, U.S.-backed security guarantees to prevent Moscow invading again and has rejected claims over Ukrainian territory.

Kyiv’s European allies accuse Moscow of dragging out the talks in hopes of making more gains and insisted that Europe must be present at the negotiations. Russia has rejected their participation.

Moscow says it won’t allow any European troops to monitor a prospective ceasefire and will view them as legitimate targets.

“There have been signals from the Europeans indicating that they would like to take a place at the negotiating table regarding the Ukrainian settlement,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this week, but added that “we don’t consider it necessary or expedient.”

Sam Greene, a professor at King’s College London, said in a commentary that Moscow’s strategy was obvious -– “engaging with Washington just enough to prevent Ukraine from getting what it needed to shift the balance on the ground, and just enough to keep the Europeans at bay, but not enough to make real progress.”

Trump takes aim at Zelenskyy

The U.S. has granted Moscow a temporary waiver from oil sanctions, allowing sales of Russian crude already at sea — to the dismay of Kyiv and the Europeans.

In addition, Trump has cast Zelenskyy as an obstacle to peace. “He has to get on the ball, and he has to get a deal done,” Trump said of the Ukrainian leader earlier this month.

He said in an interview with NBC News that while Putin was ready for a deal, “it’s much harder to reach a deal with Zelenskyy.”

Trump also rebuffed Zelenskyy’s proposal to help protect the U.S. forces and their allies in the Gulf from Iranian drones. “No, we don’t need their help on drone defense,” Trump told Fox News Radio.

Zelenskyy, who has taken a more practical public stance with Trump after their contentious White House meeting in February 2025, has expressed a growing concern that the Iran war could hurt Ukraine.

He told the BBC this week that he had a “very bad feeling” about the impact of the Middle East conflict on the war in Ukraine, noting that peace negotiations are being “constantly postponed” while Russia was profiting from high oil prices and Ukraine could face a deficit of U.S.-made Patriot missiles.

Tiffany Cripps talks with Connie Adams to learn more about Coastal Cardiovascular Associates.

LELAND, NC (WWAY) — Leland Town Council held its regularly scheduled meeting Thursday night, where several major topics were discussed.

A brief update was given to the council about the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement project and where that process is right now.

Trevor Carroll with the North Carolina Department of Transportation Division 3 said a date for a public hearing about the bridge would be announced shortly.

Following that, the council held a public hearing for residents to give input about the town’s budget.

Council is still hammering out the details of its $50-million budget, ahead of its approval.

The budget includes a reduction in the tax rate from 27 to 25 cents per $100 of property valuation, $2.5 million dollars for street resurfacing, and several new firefighter and police positions.

Bob Lazaro spoke during the meeting and said he calls it a good news budget.

“It cuts the tax rate by 2 cents, it invests in roads and sidewalks, in programs for Founders Park; public safety, which is critically important; public safety equipment, which is critically important,” Lazaro said.

While the town’s budget has not yet been approved, the council did approve a text amendment to the town’s ordinances regarding the definition of a data center.

Any data centers would have to be built within the town’s innovation district; they couldn’t be built within 500 feet of residences or subdivisions, schools, or agricultural land.

A public hearing was held about the text amendment, where several people voiced concerns about the potential impact on their power bills if a data center were built.

Leland’s text amendment requires data centers to have at least 60 percent of it’s energy consumption come from on-site renewables

Ben Watts, a planning supervisor with the town, said town staff initiated creating this text amendment late last year, as a way to get ahead of any proposals for the construction of a data center.

“We wanted to get ahead and proactively craft some language centered around data center uses specifically,” Watts said. “We noticed, you know, a lot of local municipalities near as well as in the state and across the nation were, were starting to getting the ball rolling on data center ordinance requirements.”

The text amendment was passed by a 4-1 vote, with Frank Pendleton voting against it.

LELAND, NC (WWAY) — Leland town leaders are moving on after weeks of haggling and finger-pointing over a laptop.

Leland Town Council met during a closed-door meeting on Wednesday, where the results of an investigation into council member Frank Pendleton’s actions were revealed.

Earlier this year, Pendleton requested a laptop from the town, but felt the time to get it, around 13 weeks, was taking too long.

So he contacted the vendor to see if it could be delivered sooner.

The vendor cancelled the original order and updated town staff, with town manager David Hollis getting involved.

Pendleton said after the ruling was made, which found he had not broken any state laws, but had violated the town’s procurement policy, he and Hollis agreed to move forward from this matter.

“And then a spirited discussion ensued,” Pendleton said. “Mayor Bozeman called a recess and then Mayor Bozeman, the town manager and I went into a conference room and we discussed things. And the bottom line is for the betterment of this community, we’re going to put this behind us, and the town manager agreed to order the laptop this morning.”

Pendleton added he hopes this leads to better communication between town staff and the council going forward.

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY) — The first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament tipped off on Thursday and one area restaurant expects a big crowd during opening weekend.

Zeke Smash opened around Halloween, meaning 2026 will be their first time welcoming customers during “March Madness.”

Owner Kyle Nelson says they ordered around 10-percent more product than usual to accommodate. They also used last year’s foot traffic numbers from adjacent business Tide’s Taproom to estimate how busy they might get this month.

All this comes after a busy Super Bowl weekend in February, which gives Nelson some high expectations.

“We anticipate this weekend actually being a little bit better,” Nelson said. “At least on par, because also the day before the Super Bowl, we also had Duke-Carolina one. Obviously March Madness is one of the biggest sporting events of the year here in North Carolina. As a native North Carolinian, I love this time of year. I have fun and I look forward to serving everybody.”

The tournament’s opening day also saw both Duke and UNC play their first round contests.

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY) — It was a fast start, slow middle and dramatic ending in a match that saw Ashley girls soccer prevail over Laney 2-1 on Thursday.

The hosting Bucs wasted no time as Presley Ormsby netted the ice breaker around the 2:30 mark of the game. The Eagles responded immediately with a goal from Kiley Hanyok that made it a 1-1 game just 4:25 in.

Not much offense showed until the final minutes. A crosser from McKenna Joyner found the head of Teagan Anderson, who scored the game-winner for Ashley with just 3:55 remaining.

“I just saw McKenna going for it and I knew I had to be on the other side just to finish it just because it was a really tough match going through,” Anderson said. “But I knew if I was there, I could pull it through and just keep working. Especially with time management and staying determined on finding success for the team overall.”

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY) — A free-born African American Patriot soldier soon will be recognized with a North Carolina Highway Historical Marker.

The N.C. Historical Marker Program is part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

The marker commemorating the life and accomplishments of Zachariah Jacobs will be dedicated Thursday, March 26, at 10 a.m. The marker will be at 3rd St, and Grace St, in Wilmington. 

Jacobs, born Oct. 4, 1753, served in multiple regiments during the Revolutionary War.

At the end of 1778, he was drafted into the Bladen County Regiment of the North Carolina Militia as a private under Col. John Alexander Lillington and Capt. Joseph Wood. His regiment marched through South Carolina into Georgia, where Jacobs participated in the Battle of Briar Creek in March 1779. The engagement ended in defeat for the American forces, and amid the confusion of retreat, Jacobs returned to his home in Brunswick County.

In early 1781, he rejoined the North Carolina Militia for a nine-month term. During this enlistment, he fought in the Battle of Guilford Court House in March 1781, one of the most significant engagements in the Southern campaign. Jacobs sustained a leg wound during the battle and spent time recovering in a hospital. On his journey home, he was captured by Loyalist soldiers and was brought to British Maj. James Henry Craig in Bladen County. Craig eventually paroled Jacobs, releasing him back to civilian life.

In October 1781, he enlisted in a North Carolina Regiment of the Continental Line for another nine-month term. By March 1782, Jacobs was serving under Maj. Michael Rudolph of Virginia in operations near Charleston, S.C. During this period, his unit captured the British galley Alligator on the Ashley River, a notable achievement in disrupting British supply lines. Jacobs spent most of this tour stationed at Ashley Hill before marching to Wilmington, N.C., where he was discharged in December 1782.

Following the war, Jacobs resided in Brunswick and New Hanover counties for the remainder of his life. In April 1835, he successfully applied for a federal pension, receiving $28.33 semi-annually for seventeen months of service as a private. Jacobs died on April 10, 1847, in New Hanover County. His widow, Sally Jacobs, later secured a pension in recognition of her husband’s contributions.

Jacobs’ story underscores the vital role played by free people of color in the Revolutionary War. His perseverance through multiple enlistments, wounds, captivity, and eventual recognition reflects the broader struggle for liberty that defined the era.

For more information concerning the historical marker, click here.

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY)–It appears Pender County is becoming a vacationer’s paradise.

The county’s Tourism Development Board met Thursday at the Hampstead Annex to discuss the state of tourism.

During the meeting, board members broke down the number of people visiting the beaches, towns like Historic Burgaw, and the impact of the 250th commemoration of the Moores Creek National Battlefield, which featured an appearance by Diana Gabaldon—an author known for her bestselling ‘Outlander’ series.

Board member Tammy Proctor said the recent events helped the county’s bottom line.

“The last data that was released to the state showed we were close to $300 million in visitor spending,” said Proctor. “That brought in about $9 million in state and local taxes, which goes right into our economy. We also provide around a thousand jobs through tourism.”

Proctor also said the North Carolina Blueberry Festival, which will take place on June 20 in Burgaw, will bring an additional economic boost.

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY)– The Pender High School male raider team recently won a tough competition at Fort Bragg, and now they’re headed to the national stage.

“I think we have the best kids on the raider team, in the United States of America,” said Sergeant Major David Shaw. He is talking about the male raider team he instructs at Pender High School.

This past month, the male Raider team earned 1st place overall at the 4th Brigade Best of the Best Raider Competition, which featured nine other schools representing states like South Carolina, and Maryland, and the District of Columbia.

The event consisted of rope bridging, a knot relay race, a 5k run, and other challenges that tested the kids’ endurance.

Shaw says all the team’s hard work finally paid off.

“It makes me feel great. We go to the event, we had to do a qualifier for Best of the Best, but we go in there and every team says, ‘There’s Pender. Someone’s going to finish second because Pender is going to finish first,’” Shaw said. “We are just that school and team.”

Pasco Horton bought into his instructor’s attitude. He is the commander for the male’s raider team and looks at Shaw as a father figure.

“He definitely treats me like a son, he is hard on me, but I appreciate it,” said Horton. “I am thankful for everything he has done for me while I’m here.”

Although the male team is headed to nationals, this is not just a boy’s club.

Shaw helped create an all-female version of the raiders and helped them get to second place in their first ever competition.

“It’s really scary, but the sense of accomplishment that you feel after you complete something you thought you would never be able to do, is really amazing,” said Mary Lippard. She is a freshman at Pender High School, and although it took some time, she got over initial jitters to rope up the competition and attributes the team’s success to their visionary leader.

“I really appreciate everything that he has done for me and for believing in me,” said Lippard.

The male raider’s team will be headed to Fort Knox for the “Raider Nationals” on April 16th.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY-TV) — March is Women’s History Month and many women in the Cape Fear real estate industry were celebrated on Thursday.

Cape Fear Crew held its annual Awards of Excellence event for women in commercial real estate at the Wilmington Convention Center.

The Cape Fear chapter of the organization has more than a hundred members and said it aims to advance the success of women in the industry.

Jodi Griffin, co-chair for the event said they awarded women in several categories such as most influential to best design.

“If you look around its maybe not the predominant field that you would think women are involved in but were all about creating those connections and out male counterparts as well are super helpful,” Griffin said.

Women were also awarded for project excellence in multi-family and retail to industrial and office real estate.

HAMPSTEAD, NC (WWAY) — Newly released emails obtained through a public records request are shedding light on how playground equipment was removed from Hampstead Kiwanis Park and the confusion surrounding whether it was authorized.

As WWAY previously reported, Pender County leaders said the removal of the equipment was not approved and has been referred to law enforcement for review.

According to the emails, the situation dates back to December, when Hampstead resident Beth Butler contacted Pender County Commissioner Randy Burton about the possibility of repurposing playground equipment being replaced at Kiwanis Park for the Eagle’s Watch community.

Burton expressed support for the idea, saying he hoped usable equipment could be repurposed instead of thrown away, and asked county staff to explore options.

However, county officials raised concerns early on.

In a December email, Parks and Recreation Director Zach White told Burton and County Manager Colby Sawyer that the playground equipment was being replaced due to age, deterioration, and safety concerns. He said removing it for reuse could create liability issues, increase costs, and delay installation of new equipment.

White later told Butler directly that the county would not grant permission to remove any of the equipment, citing safety risks and liability concerns.

Despite that, emails show Butler continued working to secure the equipment for the HOA, suggesting volunteers could remove parts during demolition and asking for a liability release from the county.

In a January 20 email to Burton and White, Butler thanked them for what she described as their “leadership and follow through” in the “removal and transfer of the playground,” calling it a “great community event.”

But county leadership disputes that characterization.

In a January 23 email to commissioners, County Manager Colby Sawyer said Butler had been told on numerous occasions that the equipment could not be taken. He wrote that she may have falsely represented to a contractor that she had county approval.

A subcontractor’s account included in the records adds to that assumption.

In a statement emailed to White, a representative with Barrs Recreation said on January 19, several members of the public were at the site during demolition, including individuals who claimed they had permission from a county commissioner and from parks staff to take parts of the playground.

The subcontractor said they allowed work to continue to avoid confrontation, despite concerns the situation “did not seem appropriate.”

In a statement previously provided to WWAY, the county said: “Pender County did not authorize the taking of playground equipment from Hampstead Kiwanis Park, and the matter has been referred to law enforcement for review.”

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Wilmington Police Department held a press conference earlier today to showcase new body armor they received for one of their K9 officers.

K9 Kraken is the newest addition to the WPD family. He received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a donation from non-profit Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.

Kraken’s vest was sponsored by Sally and Bill Holliday of Wilmington, embroidered with the sentiment “Born to Love-Trained to Serve-Loyal Always.”

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. This potentially lifesaving body armor for four-legged K9 officers is U.S. made, custom fitted, and National Institute of Justice (NIJ) certified.  Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has provided over 6,348 vests valued at $6.9 million to K9s in all 50 states, made possible by both private and corporate donations.  

The program is open to U.S. dogs at least 20 months old and actively employed and certified with law enforcement or related agencies. K9s with expired vests are also eligible to participate. There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States. 

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., accepts tax-deductible contributions in any amount, while a single donation of $1,050 will sponsor one vest. Each vest has a value of $1800.00, weighs an average of 4-5 lbs., and comes with a five-year warranty. 

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A local charity tennis tournament raised nearly $20,000 in the fight against domestic violence.

The 5th annual “Raise A Racquet Against Domestic Violence” tournament raised $18,225 for Domestic Violence Shelter and Services, Inc., organizers announced. Since the event began in 2022, it has generated nearly $100,000 to support victims and families in the Wilmington area.

The tournament is held in memory of MaryAnn Breault, who was killed in December 2021 in an act of domestic violence. Organizers say the event continues to honor her legacy while bringing the community together to support those affected.

The Greater Wilmington Tennis Association partnered with Breault’s daughter, Rachel Knowles, to organize this year’s event, which took place March 6-8 at the Althea Gibson Tennis Complex at Empie Park.

Nearly 200 players participated, competing in co-ed teams across multiple divisions. Participants also wore purple throughout the weekend to raise awareness for domestic violence.

Anyone in need of help can find resources through the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

(WWAY) — ABC pulls ‘The Bachelorette’ season following newly surfaced video

ABC says it is no longer moving forward with the upcoming season of The Bachelorette just days before its planned premiere.

“In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family,” ABC said in a statement.

The decision comes after a video involving the show’s announced lead, Taylor Frankie Paul, surfaced online Thursday. The video was first reported by TMZ and shows her attacking and throwing stools at her ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortenson.

Paul, a 31-year-old Utah native, had been set to lead Season 22 of the long-running reality dating franchise. She rose to prominence through Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, where she gained national attention after discussing her involvement in a “soft-swinging” lifestyle that went viral on social media.

ABC had planned for the new season to premiere Sunday.

RALEIGH, N.C. (WWAY) — The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles is announcing a new feature on its website that provides customers with estimated wait times and real-time capacity status for driver license offices statewide.

Effective immediately, this tool empowers North Carolinians to make more informed decisions about when and where to visit an office for services such as driver license renewals, replacements, or new issuances.

“The NCDMV is making it easier for North Carolinians to get the services they need on their own schedules,” said Governor Josh Stein. “This new tool will help North Carolinians choose when and where to take care of their DMV business. Whether they’re renewing a license or getting a new ID, we want drivers to get on with their day as quickly as possible.”

Customers visiting the NCDMV Office Locations page will now see one of three clear status indicators for each driver license office.

• Accepting walk-ins & appointments
• Busy – longer waits expected
• At capacity – please try another office

In addition, estimated wait times are displayed as a range, based on real-time data including the number of operating terminals, customers currently being served or waiting, and average service durations. These estimates begin after a customer checks in and receives a ticket number, and they are calculated conservatively to set realistic expectations.

“This new transparency tool is a significant step forward in improving the customer experience,” said NCDMV Commissioner Paul Tine. “By giving people the ability to check wait times and capacity before heading out, we’re helping them use their time more effectively, reduce unnecessary travel, and avoid frustration. We’re committed to continually refining our operations, and feedback from the public and our staff will be key as we build on this improvement.”

Customers no longer need to arrive early in the morning – or hours before offices open at 8 a.m. – to be served. Driver license offices accept walk-ins all day from opening to close (or until capacity is reached), allowing visits at times that best fit individual schedules. Many offices statewide are experiencing lower wait times in the afternoons, making afternoon trips a convenient option for avoiding peak crowds.

The initiative addresses common challenges where customers arrive without prior knowledge of current conditions, leading to longer-than-expected waits or offices reaching capacity. With this information now readily available, individuals can consider nearby locations, plan visits during less busy periods, or opt for appointments when available.

NCDMV emphasizes that wait times are estimates – not guarantees – and can vary based on service type and real-time volume.

(AP) — Major League Soccer will play a shortened 14-game regular season in early 2027 before the league switches to a schedule that better aligns with those of its international counterparts.

The league said Thursday that the so-called “sprint season” will run from February to May 2027, with each of the league’s 30 teams playing 14 games — seven at home and seven on the road — solely against conference opponents.

The top eight teams from each conference will advance to the single-elimination MLS Cup playoffs, culminating with a championship game between the Eastern and Western Conference champions. Five teams will qualify for the 2028 CONCACAF Champions Cup and 18 teams, nine from each conference, will qualify for the 2028 Leagues Cup based on performance during the sprint season.

The league will then turn to a 2027-28 season that kicks off in July 2027. The playoffs and league championship will be played in May 2028.

The move to a summer-to-spring calendar aims to put MLS in a more competitive position for player transfers, while also freeing up its players for national team duties during the summer, when many major international tournaments take place. The current season began in February and will wrap up with the MLS Cup final in December.

MLS owners voted last year to make the switch.

The new MLS schedule includes an extended break during the winter, with just a few games played in early December and no games in January before resuming in early to mid-February.

“This is an opportunity for us to eliminate the competition that we’ve had for our playoffs as they exist today in a very crowded time of the year,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said when the new season format was approved. “It allows us to be aligned with the international transfer windows, which we think is incredibly important. It gives us a wide variety of opportunities that will expand our ability to be on this path to be one of the top and leading leagues in the world.”

NEW YORK (AP) — Lately, Priscilla Brown has had to choose between properly managing her Type 2 diabetes and affording other necessities, like gas in her car. Some days, she takes half or a third of her prescribed insulin dose — just to stretch it out longer.

“Sometimes I don’t even take my medicine,” said the 48-year-old truck dispatcher in Orlando, Florida. “It’s so much with insurance, it’s crazy.”

About 8 in 10 Americans, like Brown, who re-enrolled in Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage say their health care costs are higher this year, including about half who say their costs are “a lot” higher, according to a new survey from the health care research nonprofit KFF. A main reason for increased costs was the Dec. 31 expiration of enhanced tax credits that had offset premiums for most enrollees.

For Brown and others, those spiking costs are having real impacts on daily life. Of the 1,117 Americans surveyed who had ACA marketplace coverage in 2025, including those who dropped coverage or changed plans, about 55% said they’re planning to deal with health care costs by cutting spending on food and other basic household needs.

Democrats in Congress last year had fought to keep the COVID-era subsidies but faced pushback from Republican leadership. In January, momentum toward a bipartisan compromise fell apart — leaving some 23 million ACA enrollees without relief as they faced higher premiums or made tough decisions to disenroll or downgrade plans.

The new poll, which was conducted in February and March and followed up with respondents from a survey conducted last year to learn how they’re grappling with health insurance now, offers a glimpse at how Congress’ unresolved fight continues to strain regular Americans — even as many federal lawmakers have, at least for the moment, turned to other priorities.

Many ACA enrollees are anxious about medical costs

Last year, Brown paid zero dollars toward her health insurance premiums. This year, her new plan costs $17 a month — and has a higher deductible.

Brown said she learned this week that her new refill of medicine was going to cost more than $150 and “almost passed out.” She filled her car with only half the gas she needed, knowing she’d need money for the medications.

Anxieties about unexpected medical costs are acute, the poll shows. About three-quarters of people who had ACA insurance last year now say they are “very” or “somewhat” worried about paying for emergency care or hospitalization, while about half said the same about routine medical visits or prescription drugs.

Some enrollees switch to lower-tier plans, while others drop coverage entirely

Most of last year’s enrollees, about 7 in 10, stayed on ACA health insurance — but that includes about 3 in 10 who changed plans within the marketplace. Meanwhile, about 2 in 10 became eligible for coverage through their employer, Medicare or Medicaid or purchased insurance outside of the ACA marketplace, which tends to be less comprehensive.

About 1 in 10 of last year’s enrollees said they dropped coverage altogether and are now uninsured, the poll shows.

Eric LeVasseur, a 63-year-old software developer in Seal Beach, California, was part of that group. He said when he saw his mid-tier, silver-level plan was going to nearly triple to $1,200 per month, “it was not something my budget could absorb.”

Many enrollees blame health insurance companies and politicians

About 7 in 10 returning ACA enrollees facing higher costs say they blame health insurance companies “a lot,” while just over half put “a lot” of blame on Republican lawmakers, President Donald Trump and pharmaceutical companies. About one-third blamed Democrats in Congress or hospitals “a lot,” while about 1 in 10 placed this level of blame on doctors or employers.

Respondents who identified with a political party and saw costs rise overwhelmingly blamed the opposing party’s lawmakers “a lot.”

James Mako, an engineer in Boca Raton, Florida, and a political independent, said he blames the Republican Party. His $500-per-month premiums were poised to double this year for his silver-level ACA health plan. So, he downgraded to a bronze-level plan with a higher deductible.

Mako said he’s not convinced by the ideas Republicans have floated to fix the problem, like funneling money into health savings accounts.

“I think they’re just sales gimmicks,” he said. “The subsidies should be back.”

PHOENIX (AP) — Mary Rose Wilcox and her husband marched and fasted alongside César Chavez. They helped him open a radio station in Phoenix and plastered their Mexican restaurant with photos and a mural of the widely admired Latino icon.

So when Wilcox’s daughter called this week to inform them of sexual abuse allegations leveled against Chavez, she said it felt like a punch to the gut.

By Wednesday morning, the couple had taken down Chavez’s photos from their restaurant walls and made plans to cover the mural.

“We love César Chavez. But we cannot honor him and we cannot even love him anymore,” said the former Phoenix City Council member.

Many like Wilcox are working to reconcile the legacy of a man who fought tirelessly for the rights of farmworkers with stunning allegations that he sexually abused girls and the co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America union, Dolores Huerta.

Latino leaders and community groups quickly condemned the alleged abuse by Chavez but emphasized that the farmworker movement was never just about a single man. Chavez died in California in 1993 at age 66.

There were calls to alter memorials honoring the man who in the 1960s helped secure better wages and working conditions for farmworkers and has been long revered by many Democratic leaders in the U.S. The California Museum said it will remove Chavez from the state’s Hall of Fame — something it’s never done before.

Some local and state leaders in both parties urged their communities not to celebrate Chavez’s birthday on March 31, and to rename buildings and streets named for him. Celebrations of Chavez in Texas and in his home state of Arizona have been canceled at the request of the Cesar Chavez Foundation.

In California, legislative leaders announced Thursday they are going to rename César Chavez Day as Farmworkers Day in light of the allegations.

California was the first state to designate Chavez’s birthday as a day to honor the civil rights leader nearly 30 years ago. In 2000, the Legislature passed a bill to make it an official paid day off for state employees and require the state to start teaching students about his legacy and his involvement in the labor movement in California.

Many other California workers are given the day off.

Dolores Huerta stamped her own legacy on the fight for justice

Huerta, who is a labor rights legend in her own right, said in a statement released Wednesday that she stayed silent for 60 years for fear her words could hurt the farmworker movement. She said she did not know Chavez had hurt other women.

Huerta described two sexual encounters with Chavez; one in which she was “manipulated and pressured” and another when she was “forced against my will.” She said both led to pregnancies, which she kept secret, and that she arranged for the children to be raised by other families.

She joined Chavez in 1962 to co-found the National Farm Workers Association, which became the United Farm Workers of America. For many, they were akin to Martin Luther King. Jr. and Rosa Parks because of their work advocating for racial equality and civil rights.

Huerta’s resolve and dedication to civil rights, women’s rights and social justice won wide admiration. Some, including a group of Democrats in Texas, are calling for Huerta’s name to replace Chavez’s on places that bear his name.

The New York Times first reported Wednesday that it found Chavez groomed and sexually abused young girls who worked in the movement. Huerta, too, revealed to the newspaper that she was a victim of the abuse in her 30s.

Some knew about Chavez’s abusive behavior, biographer says

Chavez is known nationally for his early organizing in the fields, a hunger strike, a grape boycott and eventual victory in getting growers to negotiate with farmworkers for better wages and working conditions.

Streets, schools and parks across the Southwest bear Chavez’s name. California became the first state to commemorate his birthday, and in 2014, then-President Barack Obama proclaimed March 31 César Chavez Day. President Joe Biden had a bronze bust of Chavez installed in the Oval Office when he moved into the White House.

Biden and Obama have not yet commented on the allegations. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he was still processing the news.

Chavez was full of contradictions even as a union leader, said Miriam Pawel, a California journalist who wrote a biography of him. There was abusive behaviors within the union, but people didn’t speak out because they believed the union was the best way to protect farmworkers, she said.

“For many, many years, for most of those people, even when they saw things that they found disturbing, they did not wanna talk about it,” Pawel said.

Chavez’s family and foundation voice support for the victims

Born in Yuma, Arizona, Chavez grew up in a Mexican American family that traveled around California picking lettuce, grapes, cotton and other seasonal crops.

Chavez’s family said in a statement that they are devastated by the allegations.

“We wish peace and healing to the survivors and commend their courage to come forward. As a family steeped in the values of equity and justice, we honor the voices of those who feel unheard and who report sexual abuse,” the family said.

The Cesar Chavez Foundation pledged support for the labor leader’s victims, saying — with the Chavez family’s support — the organization will figure out its identity going forward.

The United Farm Workers union quickly distanced itself from annual celebrations of its founder, calling the allegations troubling.

Wilcox, the former Phoenix council member, said Chavez helped people understand the value of workers at all levels.

“There’s two things: Chavez the man and Chavez the man who we didn’t know,” she said. “And the one we knew, we knew the good things he did and the things we saw put in place. … And the one we did not know is like a monster.”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Duke assistant coach Evan Bradds was named Belmont’s coach on Thursday, providing a homecoming for the program’s all-time Division I era scoring leader.

Bradds replaces Casey Alexander, who was hired as Kansas State’s coach on Friday. After losing Alexander, Belmont announced Saturday it would turn down an invitation to participate in the postseason NIT.

Bradds will continue to serve as Duke’s assistant through the NCAA Tournament. The Blue Devils are the No. 1 overall seed in March Madness.

“Becoming the next head coach at Belmont, a university and program that has played such a huge role in my life, is truly surreal,” Bradds said in a statement released by Belmont. “Belmont is a special place, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to return and lead our men’s basketball program.”

Belmont athletic director Scott Corley said in a statement Bradds holds a unique place in the basketball program’s history.

“Few student-athletes in the history of our university achieved more, and led more, than Evan,” Corley said. “In trading his playing jersey for a clipboard, Evan has established himself as a rising star in the coaching community; universally regarded as one of the brightest minds in the game today. His clear communication style and undeniable care for his players is well-documented. But above all else, Evan is a fierce competitor with an unwavering desire to win championships.”

Before his first season at Duke, Bradds served three seasons as an assistant coach with the NBA’s Utah Jazz. He served as coach of Utah’s summer league team in 2023. He previously worked for five seasons with the Boston Celtics.

Bradds was a two-time Associated Press honorable mention All-American. He led Belmont to four conference championships, three postseason NIT appearances and the 2015 NCAA Tournament.

Bradds holds the Belmont NCAA Division I era career scoring record with 1,921 points. He was named Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017.

BOLIVIA, N.C. (WWAY) — Brunswick County has announced the dates for the next Free Cleanup Week.

It will take place from April 20 through April 25, at the Brunswick County Landfill.

The Brunswick County Landfill will be open at 7:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, and will close at 5 p.m. On Saturday, Apr. 25, the Landfill will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Brunswick County property owners and residents can dispose of all materials, except for regular household trash and hazardous waste, free of charge.

Individuals can dispose of metal, tires, electronics, latex paint, clothing, shoes, used oil, oil filters, antifreeze, gasoline, fluorescent bulbs, used cooking oil, smoke detectors, household batteries, and yard debris in their designated area at the Landfill during this week.

Participants must provide proof of Brunswick County property ownership or county residency.

Business and commercial vehicles will be charged normal tipping fees.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Markwayne Mullin moved a step closer to becoming President Donald Trump’s next homeland security secretary after a Senate committee Thursday narrowly advanced his nomination.

The 8-7 vote came after a contentious hearing Wednesday and sent the Cabinet nomination to the full Senate, which could act to confirm the Oklahoma Republican next week.

That vote included a “no” from the Republican chairman, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, and a “yes” from a Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. The approval comes as the parties are fighting bitterly over the policies of the Department of Homeland Security, leading to a funding lapse that is now in its 34th day.

During his testimony before the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, Mullin tried to make the case that he would be a steady hand after the tumultuous tenure of Kristi Noem, Trump’s first DHS secretary. Mullin also signaled support for Trump’s immigration priorities, which are central to the funding standoff after the death of at least three American citizens at the hands of federal agents.

Mullin’s hearing was unusually combative and came close to going off the rails as he engaged in heated exchanges with some Democrats as well as Paul.

In addition to a lengthy exchange over Mullin’s failure to disclose what he characterized as a “classified” congressional trip while a House member, Paul opened the hearing with a fiery statement challenging Mullin’s fitness to lead DHS.

Paul pointed to comments Mullin made after a funding fight, when he called Paul a “freaking snake” and said he understood why a neighbor had tackled Paul in a lawn care dispute. That incident happened several years ago, and Paul suffered multiple broken ribs and later had surgeries he linked to the attack.

“I just wonder if someone who applauds violence against their political opponents is the right person to lead an agency that has struggled to accept limits to the proper use of force?” Paul said.

Mullin refused to back down.

“For you to say I’m a liar, sir, that’s not accurate,” Mullin said.

Paul later said he would not vote for Mullin’s confirmation.

Fetterman, who has frequently challenged his own party, said his vote was “rooted in a strong committed, constructive working relationship with Senator Mullin for our nation’s security.”