Christina Dees meets with David Russ and Stacey Pinkham to learn more about The Fix Chiropractic.

NEW HANOVER COUNTY (WWAY)–Wilmington’s Brooklyn Arts District is a trendy area with shops, bars, and restaurants. During a meeting Tuesday night, Wilmington City Council members discussed an ordinance that could bring some changes in this area.
This ordinance has been in discussion for some time now. In a four to two vote — city council members approved an ordinance on the first reading — that would set up a temporary pilot program for a social district here.
This means folks will be able to take an alcoholic beverage out of an establishment and walk around the Brooklyn Arts District” with that drink in hand. For three Saturdays in February, between noon and 5 P.M., if you have a plastic cup with the appropriate labeling, you can walk around the 10-block radius in the arts district with an adult drink in hand.
It did get some pushback from some council members due to this possibly increasing plastic pollution, and with the Wilmington Police Department’s shortage of officers, law enforcement mechanisms were also a concern. Business owners are excited about tonight’s approval and say this will bring an economic boom to this arts district.

“It is a chance to build economic growth within the district and at the beginning of the year, which is also the slowest time of the year,” Tara English, owner of Brooklyn Cafe, said. “The pilot social district program is based around our events. The Brooklyn Arts District hosts multiple events throughout the year. So, we picked the start date of February 1ST, based around one of our largest events.”
“The whole neighborhood came together and had the idea, but Wilmington is one of the biggest cities in the state. 55 cities in the state have a social district. It’s ludicrous that we don’t have one here,” Alex White, owner of Pizzeria Don Luca.
You can’t bring one drink from one business into another.

However, this is only a pilot program– not permanent, to test out if this initiative will work. The council did not unanimously approve the first reading so, a second reading of the ordinance will have to come up for a vote again on January 21st.

NORTH CAROLINA (WLOS) — State officials have released an updated list of the 104 people in North Carolina killed by Hurricane Helene that also includes county of death and date of death.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) provided News 13 with this new information.

North Carolina residents whose bodies were recovered in another state are not included in this list.

Click here to read more, including the full list.

CASTLE HAYNE, NC (WWAY) — The International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) has concerns about the safety of certain firefighters who operate out of Castle Hayne.

Back in December, the Association sent a letter to several New Hanover County officials.

It claims firefighters who have worked at station 13 on Castle Hayne Road have a higher than normal amount of serious health issues.

According to a health survey conducted by the Association, 12 out of 23 firefighters who spent long periods working out of that station have been diagnosed with a variety of gastrointestinal-related cancers and health issues.

Peter Leff is the General Counsel for the Association.

He said it’s hard to believe firefighters are still being asked to work there with the fire station’s ongoing issues.

“The major question is why are those firefighters still at that station, given everything that’s gone on? They have a mold problem at that station that they can not fix,” Leff said. “They have not been able to cure it. They have tried. They brought in professionals to remediate it and the mold problems persist.”

Along with mold, drinking water the firefighters used was found to have high levels of PFAS.

A spokesperson for New Hanover County said a two-stage granular carbon-activated filter has been installed at the station and a new fire station currently under construction is expected to open this September.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Warming Shelter ILM is reopening Tuesday night and is expected to remain open through at least Sunday night, which could make this one of the longest stints the shelter has ever been open.

This is not the first time the shelter has opened this winter as it opened in early and mid-December.

The shelter, located in the gym at Grace United Methodist Church in Wilmington, will only open after two consecutive nights when the temperature drops below 30 degrees.

Close to 100 people can be housed at the shelter.

They provide a hot meal, games, and movies for guests to enjoy during the evening.

Pastor Benny Oakes said the shelter’s biggest need will be having enough volunteers to help if it remains open for so long.

“So right now, volunteers have been good,” Oakes said. “We have almost every slot for the time being filled up. However, as we add more days, there’s probably the chance that we’ll need more volunteers and more time slots and really it is a day-to-day thing.”

Steven McAllister was once homeless for more than 6 months and said volunteering at the warming shelter helps him not forget what he went through.

“I was homeless when I first got to Wilmington so I understand, you know, the concept, you know, of this,” McAllister said. “And just the, you know, not forget where I come from so that’s why I give back.”

Pastor Oakes said it would be great if the city and county were able to assist the homeless in any way.

“Yes, I think all of us can be doing more, the city and county certainly among the organizations that need to be leading the way with us. This ministry works so well is that we rely on the community for volunteers, for food, for clothing, for just the support and we would love to see the city and county continue to participate in more ways.”

According to a spokesperson for New Hanover County, the county does not own any facilities that are used as warming shelters.

WWAY reached out to the City of Wilmington about this story but did not hear back.

To donate, volunteer, or learn more about the warming shelter, you can visit their Facebook page.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — With the new year in full swing, so too are new year’s resolutions. 

This week we have the tips you need to keep those resolutions, including one of the most popular ones—to eat healthier and exercise more.  

“I think they’re great as long a they’re achievable and nothing too drastic,” Personal Trainer Simon Howell explained. 

Howell says the big mistake a lot of people make when carrying out that resolution is starting too strong.  

“If you do too much all at once, you’re body’s not going to react the way you might want it to,” Howell said. 

The Global Health and Fitness Association said 12% of new gym sign-ups happen in January, but only 1 in 5 of those members stay until the summer.  

Although—Howell said—you don’t need a gym to exercise. He said going on runs or doing push-ups is a good place to start.  

“Implementing cardio of course, implementing weight training, but the biggest thing is nutrition,” Howell noted. 

Dietician Sara Parrish said when it comes to eating healthier, you have to start with a realistic goal. She said if you try to drastically change your diet it isn’t always sustainable in the long term.  

“What do we do then? We revert back to whatever we were doing before. Completely revert back. We don’t find that middle ground,” Parrish explained. 

Parrish added if you aren’t already—be sure to drink plenty of water every day and balance the levels of proteins and carbohydrates you eat.  

Although—she said—you shouldn’t think about what foods to cut out of your diet, but what you can add in, like implementing fresh fruit or vegetables.  

“Don’t find that it’s beneficial to put any kind of emphasis on restriction, cutting specific things completely out of our diet. Those types of diet plans are typically not sustainable,” Parrish noted.  

Additionally, instead of thinking about your physical health in terms of weight, Parrish recommends monitoring more precise indications of health, like muscle mass, blood pressure, or cholesterol levels. 

“I try to really help my clients see that their health and how they feel, their physical and mental health is more important than a number on the scale,” Parrish said. 

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — There are some big expansions coming to Thalian Hall as city facilities move to the Skyline Center. 

The 19th century theatre is gearing up for yet another historic renovation. 

Thalian CEO Shane Fernando presented the plans to city council on Monday, which include expanding the lobby significantly, returning the current city council chambers to its original use as a stage with room for 300 people, adding a coffee shop, and expanding restrooms among other improvements. 

Fernando said the expansion will continue the list of renovations and additions to the building over the years. 

“People ask, you know, ‘what era is this building in?’ and it is every generation. The best of every generation is in this room and that’s what’s so special. It’s no singular time period,” Fernando said. 

Fernando added once ground is broken, the project will take three to five years to complete. He said the theatre will remain open during that time. 

NEW HANOVER COUNTY (WWAY)–Some residents of a Castle Hayne neighborhood stood outside the New Hanover County Courthouse in the cold and rain Monday afternoon– protesting a potential new development. What the developer plans to do — the group says — will threaten an “old growth forest” in New Hanover County.
Standing in front of the New Hanover County court building are Castle Hayne residents bearing cold and rainy conditions to protect thousands of acres of wetlands from being developed.

Reporter: “Tom, are you hoping to get the answers you want tonight?”
Tom: “I don’t know if we will get the answers we want.”

Among the nearly two dozen folks is Castle Hayne resident Tom Rushton.

“We want to get the Commissioners to be thinking about the questions that need to be asked. So that we can get the answers,” Rushton said.

Tom has lived in the neighborhood for two decades. For the most part, he says the neighborhood is a quiet, rural community. That is, until a proposed development came in, shaking a few things up.

“How are we going to have the quality of life that we all expect? We don’t just expect it, we deserve that,” Rushton said.

And that’s why he decided to join in the protest. With green signs in their hands, waving to anyone watching, all of these folks have one thing in common, to save Sledge Forest.

“We’re here in front of the County Commissioners because we want them to dig deeper- to their homework and get us the answers,” Rushton said.

Outlined in the draft master plan, the developers proposed to add 4,000 homes on 1,000 of the 4,000 acres Sledge Forest sits on.

“It’s a by-right development. The only chance for input that the county has is making sure they have everything in their permit correct,” Commissioner Rob Zapple explained.

However, New Hanover County Commissioner Rob Zapple says that adding many homes to a small area of land can only be done through a performance residential.

“That allows a developer to commit to saving a certain part of the land they would like to develop, and they can cluster or have higher density,” Zapple said.

Essentially, getting a bonus density by adding four homes per acre. Originally, the 1,000 acres that were proposed to be zoned for development are currently zoned R-A or Rural Agricultural, which allows for one home per acre.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s highest court blocked on Tuesday the certification of a November election result for one of its own seats so it can review legal arguments by a trailing candidate who contends over 60,000 ballots that were cast shouldn’t be counted.

The decision by the Republican-dominated state Supreme Court to issue the temporary stay is a setback for Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs. Election results show Riggs ahead of GOP challenger Jefferson Griffin by just 734 votes from over 5.5 million ballots cast.

The ultimate winner gets an eight-year term on a Supreme Court where five of the seven current justices are registered Republicans.

The State Board of Elections dismissed last month Griffin’s written protests challenging the ballots. That initiated a timeline in which the board would issue a certificate confirming Riggs’ election this Friday — ending the litigation — unless a court stepped in.

Tuesday’s order stops such certification and tells Griffin and the board to file legal briefs with the justices over the next two weeks.

Lawyers for Griffin, who is a judge on the intermediate-level state Court of Appeals, initially asked the state Supreme Court to intervene three weeks ago. But the elections board quickly moved the matter to federal court, saying Griffin’s appeals involved matters of federal voting and voting rights laws.

Griffin disagreed, and so did U.S. District Judge Richard Myers, who on Monday returned the case to the state Supreme Court. Myers — a nominee to the bench by Donald Trump — wrote that Griffin’s protests raised “unsettled questions of state law” and had tenuous connections to federal law.

Hours later, Griffin’s attorneys asked the state Supreme Court for the temporary stay, which the court granted.

“In the absence of a stay from federal court, this matter should be addressed expeditiously because it concerns certification of an election,” Tuesday’s order read.

The order said that Riggs recused herself from the matter and that Associate Justice Anita Earls, the other Democrat on the court, opposed the stay in part because the “public interest requires that the Court not interfere with the ordinary course of democratic processes as set by statute and the state constitution.”

Attorneys for the State Board of Elections and Riggs quickly filed appeals of Myers’ decision with the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which could potentially order the case be maintained under federal legal jurisdiction.

Barring intervention by federal appeals judges, the state Supreme Court would essentially be asked to decide the winner for one of its own seats — with the potential of the Republican majority reversing the outcome of the election results.

Democratic allies of Riggs have accused Griffin and the state GOP of trying to rig the election and overturn legitimate results.

A Griffin legal brief said that he would anticipate winning the race if the ballots he contends are unlawful are excluded from the tally, which already has been subject to two recounts. The state GOP has said that Griffin and the party are seeking to ensure every lawfully cast vote is counted.

Most of the ballots that Griffin is challenging came from voters whose registration records lacked either a driver’s license number or the last four digits of a Social Security number — which a state law has required be sought in registration applications since 2004.

Other large categories of votes that Griffin is challenging were cast by overseas voters who have never lived in the U.S. but whose parents were deemed North Carolina residents; and by military or overseas voters who did not provide copies of photo identification with their ballots.

Attorneys for Riggs and the state board have said removing these votes would violate federal and state laws and the U.S. Constitution, denying the right to vote for so many who followed the rules to cast ballots as were presented to them.

The Supreme Court in the nation’s ninth largest state has been a partisan flash point in recent years in court battles involving redistricting, photo voter identification and other voting rights.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Film productions across North Carolina generated over $300 million in direct in-state spending in 2024, the state announced last week.

More than 55 productions filmed across the state, with Wilmington leading the way.

Here’s what filmed around Wilmington in 2024:

TV/Streaming:
The Summer I Turned Pretty (Season 3)
The Runarounds (Season 1)
The Waterfront (Season 1)
Battle on the Beach (Season 4)
 Feature-Length Films:
Merv
Capsized
Deadly Intentions

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday said he would not rule out the use of military force to seize control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, as he declared U.S. control of both to be vital to American national security.

Speaking to reporters less than two weeks before he takes office on Jan. 20 and as a delegation of aides and advisers that includes Donald Trump Jr. is in Greenland, Trump left open the use of the American military to secure both territories. Trump’s intention marks a rejection of decades of U.S. policy that has prioritized self-determination over territorial expansion.

“I’m not going to commit to that,” Trump said, when asked if he would rule out the use of the military. “It might be that you’ll have to do something. The Panama Canal is vital to our country.” He added, “We need Greenland for national security purposes.” Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark, a longtime U.S. ally and a founding member of NATO.

Trump, a Republican, has also floated having Canada join the United States, but he said he would not use military force to do that, saying he would rely on “economic force.”

Promising a “Golden age of America,” Trump also said he would move to try to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” saying that has a “beautiful ring to it.”

Trump also used his press conference to complain that President Joe Biden was undermining his transition to power a day after the incumbent moved to ban offshore energy drilling in most federal waters.

Biden, whose term expires in two weeks, used his authority under the federal Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to protect offshore areas along the East and West coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and portions of Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea from future oil and natural gas leasing. All told, about 625 million acres of federal waters were withdrawn from energy exploration by Biden in a move that may require an act of Congress to undo.

“I’m going to put it back on day one,” Trump told reporters. He pledged to take it to the courts “if we need to.”

Trump said Biden’s effort — part of a series of final actions in office by the Democrat’s administration — was undermining his plans for once he’s in office.

“You know, they told me that, we’re going to do everything possible to make this transition to the new administration very smooth,” Trump said. “It’s not smooth.”

But Biden’s team has extended access and courtesies to the Trump team that the Republican former president initially denied Biden after his 2020 election victory. Trump incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles told Axios in an interview published Monday that Biden chief of staff Jeff Zients had been “has been very helpful.”

In extended remarks, Trump also railed against the work of special counsel Jack Smith, who oversaw now-dropped prosecutions over his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol and possession of of classified documents after he left office in 2021. The Justice Department is expected to soon release a report from Smith summarizing his investigation after the criminal cases were forced to an end by Trump’s victory in November.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Genesis Block’s Jumpstart Academy is now accepting applications.

The goal of the Jumpstart Academy is to help small, local and diverse owned businesses validate their business ideas to increase sustainability and growth.

The eight weeks of classes will meet on Mondays for two hours. The program runs from January, 29th through march.

To register click here.

 

 

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A car crash near the Clarendon community leaves a woman dead and 2 children injured.

According to the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the crash happened around 7:45 a.m. Monday morning on Peacock Road near Feed Mill Road.

A Jeep driven by a 16-year-old was traveling south on Peacock Road. The Jeep then ran off the road to the right and then overcorrected, which sent the vehicle into the other lane.

The vehicle then collided head-on into a 2010 Dodge car traveling north on Peacock Road, which was driven by Misty Cribb, 35, of Clarendon.

Cribb was pronounced dead at the scene, and two children who were also in the vehicle were both taken to Novant New Hanover Regional Medical Center with very serious injuries. The 5-year-old girl was then airlifted to Chapel Hill.

The driver of the Jeep suffered minor injuries.

The driver was charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle and driving left of center.

Cribb worked with Columbus County News in Whiteville.  

Managing editor Jefferson Weaver says she was more than just a coworker. 

“It’s just all a part of her. The energy. The excitement. The love. The dedication and that was just our day,” Weaver said. 

Weaver says he will always remember her laugh. 

“She loved to laugh, and she would get the silly giggles sometimes and nobody could resist it,” Weaver emotionally shared. 

Michael Myrie, co-founder of the non-profit Sheepdog Foundation Incorporation in Whiteville says he was shocked by the news. 

“Now it’s still surreal but I will say that Misty will always leave a tremendous impact on me and our foundation. It was just amazing to see how she just selflessly just threw herself out there to try and help u s and the children we are trying to support,” Myrie stated. 

Columbus County news account executive Macyne Garrell says Cribb was all about family. 

“She just loved her kids, and she would be wanting prayers for her daughter who is now in Chapel Hill. She would be very humbled by the support for that and for her daughter and for herself for her family,” Garrell said. 

A Chicken Bog Plate fundraiser in memory of Misty Cribb will be held Saturday, January 25th, from 11am to 2 pm. The plates include chicken bog, green beans, and a roll for $10. The plates can be picked up at Happy Home Baptist Church or Murph’s Pawn Shop. For tickets you can contact 910-625-0952, 843-877-9195, or 910-234-8089.

 

HAMPSTEAD, NC (WWAY) – Pender County Schools invites community members to participate in naming the district’s newest schools which are currently under construction in Hampstead.

Scheduled to open in 2027, the elementary and middle schools represent a significant addition to the district, and this process provides a unique opportunity for the community to contribute to its legacy.

Guidelines for School Naming

The naming process will follow Board Policy Code 9300: Naming Facilities. This policy emphasizes that school names should reflect geographic locations or site-specific identifiers, such as roads, streets, subdivisions, or communities. These criteria ensure that school names honor and celebrate the local area.

Community members can participate by completing a form on the Pender County Schools website at www.pender.k12.nc.us or by visiting this link.

The form allows participants to:

· Choose from pre-suggested names.

· Submit their own name suggestions, ensuring they align with the district’s policy.

· Share their thoughts on why the proposed names are a good fit for the schools.

The Superintendent will review all submissions and present recommendations to the Pender County Schools Board of Education for final approval.

Submissions are due by February 2, 2025.

SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY) – The outdoor warning sirens around the Brunswick Nuclear Plant will be tested between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 8th.

The 38 sirens within 10 miles of the Brunswick Nuclear Plant will sound at full-volume for five to 30 seconds. To ensure they are functioning properly, it may be necessary to test some sirens more than once. Follow-up testing after siren maintenance may be required after 11:00 a.m.

BRUNSWICK COUNTY (WWAY) — This week’s Pet Pal is Jethro. He’s a 7-year-old husky/hound mix.

Paws Place Rescue says he might look like a tough guy at 65 pounds but he’s all heart. Jethro has a bit of separation anxiety but he is well trained when it comes to sitting, shaking and getting along with other dogs.

Paws Place is located at 242 George II HWY, Winnabow.

If youre interested in adopting, visit their website for more information.

BURGAW, NC (WWAY) — The Pender County Board of Commissioners approved a consent agenda at their meeting which includes an amendment to the fire protection agreement with the Penderlea Fire Department, but much of the public comment period was based on another conflict involving emergency services.

On June 17th, 2024, the Pender County Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution defining the Penderlea County Service District for Fire Protection. This created a county service
district that includes the Penderlea and Shiloh-Columbia portions of the County with Penderlea Fire Department providing fire service for the district.

The amendment updates the map of the district in the Fire Protection Agreement, and updates the agreement to remove the word “volunteer” from what used to be called the Penderlea Volunteer Fire Department before the word “volunteer” was removed from the legal name of the organization.

At the meeting, a number of residents used the public comment period to talk about the county’s conflict with Union Rescue Squad, who claim they have to sign a new, non-negotiable contract or cease to exist by the end of the month.

“This station was started years ago because Pender County could not and would not offer any kind of reasonable medical assistance and emergency transportation to the point that the people of this district banded together to form what is now considered Union Rescue Squad,” said Wallace resident Billy Giddeons.

“We’ve seen family members and loved ones be able to be assisted by them at 1 o’clock in the morning,” said former county commissioner Jimmy Tate, adding, “2, 3, and 4 o’clock.”

“If Union Rescue is disbanded, you’re going to have one unit in Penderlea that’s going to be responding, where I think they’ve got three units in Union, so if one unit’s out, it’s possible there’s another set of people ready to go,” said Maple Hill resident Warren Wouten.

Union Rescue Squad Chief Diane Giddeons also spoke at the end of the public comment period denouncing so-called lies written against her and asking for negotiations to continue.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The new year is here, which means it’s time for everyone to start working on their resolutions.

As people start to take down all of their holiday decorations and clear space for their new gifts, some of them begin to look for ways to improve their mental or physical health.

But something everyone should focus on is the health of their bank account.

“The biggest mistake that people make is just not putting enough focus and energy into saving for the long term,” Chad Slate, associate wealth advisor with Pathfinder Wealth Consulting, said.

He said the holidays cause people to be in a precarious financial situation once the new year rolls around.

“People put financial planning kind of on the back burner. And they say, ‘Oh, I’m just not going to deal with that now.’ A lot of that comes from overspending at Christmas, celebrating during the holidays.”

According to the National Retail Federation, the average American spends more than $900 on Christmas.

For some people, like Tyler Swointek, being financially secure means being able to both pay for a new house and basic needs.

“We’re doing our best to like spend less, bargain shop and, you know, got a house to pay for,” Swointek said. “I’m much more aware of my vehicles and like vehicle maintenance and making sure things are taken care of like on the spot so something doesn’t get worse.”

Slate said it’s also important to focus on getting out from under any credit debt as soon as possible.

He added that an easy way to save money is to take advantage of any employer-provided 401k with an employer matching mechanism.

BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Bladen County Health Department was notified of a raccoon that tested positive for rabies. This is the first rabid animal identified in the county for 2025.

Animal Control Officers retrieved a deceased raccoon on 12/31/24 near the Sholar Road and Willard Tatum Road intersection in Elizabethtown, NC and sent for testing.

Rabies is transmitted by the bite of an infected animal or via contamination of open wounds or mucus membranes with potentially infectious material such as saliva. Any person bitten or exposed to potentially infectious saliva from this raccoon during early November should contact their healthcare provider or the local health department for a rabies risk assessment

TABOR CITY, NC (WWAY) — An arrest has been made after someone fired shots into a home in Tabor City.

Treavon Smith, 30, was arrested on January 2nd for shooting into an occupied dwelling, communicating threats, and damaging property and has a secured bond of 100,000 dollars.

To learn more click here.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — One organization will soon open another spot to handle many people during bad or cold weather.

Construction for the Salvation Army of the Cape Fear’s new Center for Hope shelter off North 30th Street is on schedule.

The main structure is fully built.

“And they’re able to continue to work now and they’ve been able to keep up with the schedule and even get ahead of the schedule,” Major Ken Morris, commander of the Cape Fear Salvation Army said. “And so at this point, we’re planning on opening at least by June.”

Most of the remaining work will involve finishing the interior.

Morris said the structure, which is expected to open in June, will be able to house 75 people at a time, including suits for families, while also being able to help people during extreme weather.

“Whether it be large storms or whether it be need help with warming shelters, our facility will be available during the day and we’ll also squeeze in some additional cots during the night so that we will do everything that we can for the open space.”

Morris said the Salvation Army is looking to construct a second building on the property, once the Center for Hope shelter is finished.

He said the second building would contain a gymnasium and could serve as additional space for a warming shelter.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee released the 2025 event schedule to commemorate Dr. King and there will be some big changes this year.   

This year, there will not be a MLK Day parade. 

Hollis Briggs, Chairman of the MLK Celebration Committee of southeastern North Carolina released this statement Monday evening, “Last year, we spoke with local officials including the WPD, and made the decision that the parade’s taking place on inauguration day would be a conflict, and potentially a security concern for law enforcement. This year, in lieu of a parade, we have put together programming for an indoor event at the Convention Center, and are looking forward to celebrating Dr. King’s legacy with the community. We plan to resume parade activities as normal next year.”

Instead, there will be a multi-cultural event held in the Wilmington Convention Center on January 20th at 11am.  

This free event will feature live performances, vendors, medical podcast, short films and more.    

Military leader and author of “Sharecropper’s Wisdom: Growing Today’s Leaders the Old Fashioned Way”, Brigadier General James R. Gorham will deliver a keynote address at the event.

This year’s theme is “Back to Basics” which focuses on core principles that Dr. King championed, community and leadership.

The full list of events is below: 

• Monday, January 13th, 2025 – Press conference to introduce activities
• Thursday, January 16th, 2025 – Fireside chat, “Mission Possible: We Still Rise” at the Harrelson Center at 6pm
• Friday, January 17th, 2025 – Ticketed MLK Awards Banquet at the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church at 6:30pm
• Saturday, January 18th, 2025 – MLK Jr. Family Fun Day at Maides Park from 11am – 2pm
• Saturday, January 18th, 2025 – I Have a Dream Dance Production at the Church of the Servant at 7pm
• Sunday, January 19th, 2025 – MLK Jr. Day Interfaith Service at St. Luke AME Zion Church at 4pm
• Monday, January 20th, 2025 – MLK Jr. Day Celebration, Family, and Multi-Cultural Event at the Wilmington Convention Center at 11am

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Wilmington Fire Department responded to a fire that occurred in an unoccupied duplex Sunday night.

According to WFD, it happened on South 13th Street. Both units were damaged by the fire, but there were no injuries reported.

The fire was ruled accidental and electrical in nature by their Fire Marshal’s Office.