Special Reports
Records Show NHCSO Bought Facial Recognition Tech, While McMahon Said the County’s Flock System Did Not Use It
Purchase records reveal that NHCSO acquired facial-recognition and phone-location tools beyond Flock, raising new questions about New Hanover County Sheriff Ed McMahon.
The Doobie Brothers’ Tour Heads to Wilmington, North Carolina
The Doobie Brothers head to Wilmington with Tom Johnston and Michael McDonald sharing one stage, connecting two distinct chapters of the band’s history with its newest album.
Rand Paul Confirms Fort Knox Has Gold, but Not Every Ounce
Rand Paul saw the gold at Fort Knox, but confirming every ounce still depends on an audit.
Anthropic Quietly Destroys Millions of Old Books for Its AI Model
Anthropic quietly bought and destroyed millions of books for Project Panama, converting them into private AI training material. Court records exposed the operation, but questions about its scope remain.
Flock’s Latest AI Software Moves Mass Surveillance Well Beyond Reading License Plates
Flock’s Nova and OS Investigate move police surveillance beyond license plates, while New Hanover County records reveal the Sheriff’s Office also purchased ShadowDragon identity-tracking technology.
A Taste of Italy Makes Wilmington’s Best Hot Pastrami Sandwich
A Taste of Italy’s generously portioned hot pastrami sandwich earns its place among Wilmington’s best, while its made-to-order cannoli seals the deal.
Flock Safety CEO Now Asks for a National Compromise After Compromising Everyone’s Privacy
Flock Safety expanded its plate-reader network before adopting meaningful safeguards. Now its CEO seeks a national compromise as New Hanover County’s sheriff keeps required ALPR audits in-house.
Trump’s Ground-Beef Import ‘Dumping’ Plan Ignites a Rancher’s Revolt
The White House promises cheaper ground beef, but ranchers and critics say imported supplies could lower cattle prices without producing meaningful savings at grocery stores.
New Hanover County Residents Challenge the Sheriff’s Flock Surveillance Rollout
Residents across the political spectrum challenged New Hanover County’s Flock camera system, raising concerns about privacy, data sharing and public oversight.
Mannheim Steamroller Brings Its Christmas Sound Back to Wilmington
Mannheim Steamroller returns to Wilmington for two Nov. 20 performances, bringing their unique Christmas sound that became a holiday tradition.
The Carpenters Songbook Brings Quiet Power to Wilmington’s Wilson Center
The Carpenters Songbook brings a full band and familiar songs to Wilmington’s Wilson Center on Oct. 21, inviting listeners to hear the catalog with older ears.
DeFlockILM Calls for New Hanover Commissioners to Hold Public Vote on Flock Cameras
DeFlockILM is asking New Hanover County commissioners to pause nationwide data sharing, review the county’s Flock camera program and hold its first public hearing and recorded vote.
“Trust Us” Isn’t Oversight: What Happens When Police Have Unrestricted Flock Access?
Bob Sklar discovered that Indiana law-enforcement officers searched his license plate 63 times through Flock. His case shows why internal audit logs cannot replace enforceable limits and independent oversight.
Flock CEO’s Bold Changes Expose Local Leaders as Slow Learners, but Is Flock’s Move Too Little, Too Late?
Garrett Langley is tightening Flock’s surveillance guardrails while local officials continue to lag behind.
Fortuna Cucina Italiana Is Wilmington’s Hottest Table
Fortuna brings Wilmington the high-end Italian experience it has lacked, from seasonal pasta and confident bar service to a dining room suited for an occasion.
How Did New Hanover County Buy Flock’s Human-Tracking Camera System Without Informing the Public About Its Full Capabilities?
New Hanover County’s Flock system extends beyond license-plate readers. Contracts and public records reveal people-search capabilities, outside access and serious unresolved questions about authorization and oversight.
Flock Safeguards Keep Failing to Prevent Police Misuse
Six Savannah police employees face investigation after an audit found alleged misuse of Flock license-plate data. The case joins a growing pattern across Georgia and the U.S.
From Heartbreakers Architect to Frontman, Mike Campbell Heads to Wilmington
From “Refugee” to “The Boys of Summer,” Mike Campbell’s guitar work has traveled far. Now The Dirty Knobs bring his next chapter to Wilmington.
Are More Innocent Residents Being Abused? Mooresville’s Flock Safeguards Failed
One officer faces charges and at least 10 others face scrutiny, raising questions about leadership, supervision and police surveillance.
Angie’s Fresh Produce Offers Visitors a Taste of Southport, North Carolina
Angie’s Fresh Produce gives Southport visitors a hands-on taste of local food, whether they are visiting for the day or cooking in a vacation rental.
Carolina Beach PD Faces Many Flock Safety Irregularities: Missing Records, Blanket Redactions and 3 Million Flock Searches Demand Answers
Carolina Beach wants public trust in its Flock cameras, but millions of searches, broad data sharing and unanswered legal questions demand scrutiny.
Jensen Huang’s Open-Weight Push Shifts Power Toward AI Customers
Nvidia’s open-weight models and new AI-ready computers could give businesses more options for running AI on local, company-controlled hardware.
Flock Has Created a New Type of Police Abuse; Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Arrested
Police asked the public to trust them with Flock’s surveillance power. Repeated cases of unauthorized access show why that trust is broken.
ELO Tribute Experience Brings Wilmington Symphony Strings to the Stage
Evil Woman brings its ELO tribute production to Wilmington on Nov. 6 with string musicians from the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra.
Mayor Saffo’s Brother Won a $2.45 Million Contract. Why Didn’t the Lowest Bidder Get the Contract?
Mayor Bill Saffo recused himself before Wilmington awarded his brother’s company a $2.45 million bridge contract. Correspondence obtained by WHQR raises new questions about what happened to the lower bidder before it withdrew.
North Carolina Targets Foreign-Controlled Land Purchases With Sweeping New Law
North Carolina’s new law restricts certain foreign-controlled purchases of farmland and property near military sites. The real test will be whether state agencies can trace hidden ownership and enforce the rules.
Proposed North Carolina K-12 School-Grading Index Raises Transparency Questions
North Carolina may replace its school proficiency measure with a weighted index. The change could artificially lift public school grades, raising questions for parents and homebuyers.
Little River Band Returns to Wilmington With Decades of Classic Hits
Classic rock fans can relive the soundtrack of the ’70s and ’80s when Little River Band performs in Wilmington, celebrating timeless songs that continue to connect with audiences.
Trump Releases Declassified Election Intelligence, Raising New Questions
Declassified election intelligence has reopened debate over foreign cyber operations, government transparency, and what officials knew before the 2020 election. The newly released records answer some questions while raising many more.
Flock Surveillance Raises Questions About Tracking People in Public
Flock sells subscription access to cameras, cloud storage, and searchable surveillance recordings to police departments and private customers. As its intelligence network expands rapidly across the U.S., residents are asking whether state laws offer enough protection.
Raleigh Just Changed the LifeWise Debate in New Hanover County Schools
North Carolina’s new budget law shifts the LifeWise debate from local control to state mandate, requiring schools to excuse students for religious instruction. What does this mean for NHCS?
Is 78 Degrees Really the Right Thermostat Setting in the Summer?
The Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 78 degrees during the summer to save energy. But the realities of daily life often lead homeowners to a different answer.
North Carolina’s Legislature Advances AI Education Plan for Public Schools
Artificial intelligence is becoming part of North Carolina classrooms, and lawmakers want statewide standards to guide its use. New legislation would expand teacher training, create model policies, and reshape how districts prepare students for AI.
Video: Trump Warns Against Communism in Mount Rushmore Speech
Trump’s Independence Day-eve remarks at Mount Rushmore included patriotic themes, a warning about communism and a push for the SAVE America Act.
Worth the Detour: Bald Head Coffee Serves an Iced Coffee You’ll Remember Long After the Beach
Skip the familiar drive-thru before your next beach day. Bald Head Coffee combines small-batch roasting with an iced coffee that’s worth a special stop.
New Shake Shack Raises Questions About Wilmington’s List of Best Burgers
The first Shake Shack in Wilmington brings nationally known smash burgers to the Landfall area. Does it deserve a place among the city’s best burger joints?
AI Is Coming to the Classroom. The Evidence Isn’t Keeping Up.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of classroom instruction, even though researchers have yet to show it produces lasting gains in student learning. Should schools invest more taxpayer funds when there’s little proof AI improves student learning?
Fleetwood Mac Fell Apart. The Songs Never Did.
Long after the band faded, the songs remained. A Wilmington performance by Tell Me Lies offers a reminder of why Fleetwood Mac’s music still finds new audiences decades later.
Supreme Court Unanimously Rejects Automatic Gun Ban for Marijuana User
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that federal prosecutors cannot rely on marijuana use alone to strip someone of Second Amendment protections, narrowing a longstanding federal gun restriction.
VIDEO: Spencer Pratt Says His Fight Against Los Angeles Politics Is Just Beginning
Prat’s campaign may be ending, but he says a new phase is just beginning. Spencer Pratt’s latest video includes claims of recordings, corruption, and future disclosures that have yet to be made public.
The White House Turned Off Fable 5, Who’s Really in Control of America’s AI?
The White House and Anthropic are negotiating, but Fable 5 remains unavailable. What triggered the shutdown and what happens next?
Beach Bagels & Subs: The Best Bagels in New Hanover County, Even With a Few Missed Details
Not new, just the best. Beach Bagels & Subs sets the standard for bagels in Wilmington, with four locations and a reputation built over years.
ZZ Top Brings Texas Blues Rock to Wilmington’s Greenfield Lake Amphitheater
Songs like “La Grange” and “Sharp Dressed Man” have crossed generations. Now ZZ Top will bring more than five decades of blues rock to Greenfield Lake Amphitheater in Wilmington.
Amanecer Serves Wilmington’s Best Mexican Breakfast by Focusing on the Food
Looking for the best Mexican breakfast in Wilmington? Amanecer offers authentic flavors, strong coffee, and two convenient locations.
Is There an International Meatpacking Cartel Influencing U.S. Beef Prices?
Most U.S. beef processing is controlled by four companies. USDA’s new strategy aims to expand competition and strengthen food security through small processors.
Jakob Dylan to Bring The Wallflowers to Wilmington This August
Jakob Dylan brings The Wallflowers to Greenfield Lake with a catalog that outlived the rock-radio era and still feels rooted in ordinary American life.
NVIDIA’s CEO Announces AI Servers Built Right Into Consumer PCs
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang unveiled AI-powered PCs designed to run AI locally, bringing artificial intelligence from the cloud into homes.
The Endowment’s Conditional Grant for Schools & One Big Question: Why is a Non-profit Telling the County What They Can Do with Taxpayer Money?
Public officials are highlighting a $116 million grant tied to New Hanover County’s school bond, but the bond would still raise taxes if approved by voters.
Two Chances to Hear The Marshall Tucker Band in Southeastern North Carolina
The Marshall Tucker Band’s Carolina roots still run deep as the Southern rock group returns for two summer concerts near the Cape Fear region.
Tesla-SpaceX Merger Rumors Point To Something Larger Than a Business Deal
Tesla and SpaceX already operate like connected parts of a larger industrial system. The merger rumors raise questions about infrastructure, power, and Musk’s long-term Mars vision.
New Hanover Democrats Distance Themselves From Convicted Stalker, Wendy Dale, But She’s Staying in the School Board Race
Wendy Dale remains in the NHCS School Board race after past criminal convictions surfaced, raising questions about candidate vetting, transparency and whether elected school officials should face the same background checks as school employees.
Anthropic’s SpaceX Data Center Deal Shows How Compute Became the New AI Bottleneck
The SpaceX-Anthropic partnership shows the AI race is no longer just about better models. It is also about who can secure enough compute.
LifeWise in New Hanover Public Schools: Some Look to Limit Parental Choice
LifeWise Academy’s proposed role in New Hanover County Schools raises a practical question: should families who decline a voluntary Bible-based class also be able to block others from choosing it?
Spencer Pratt’s Wild Campaign Reflects LA Frustration
Spencer Pratt is running for mayor of Los Angeles with AI-generated campaign videos and messaging chaos. Beneath the spectacle sits real frustration over housing, wildfire rebuilding, homelessness, and trust in city government.