Emily Featherston

Emily Featherston is a journalist with background in community reporting. She joined WECT in August 2018, and is a multimedia reporter focused on Wilmington’s local government. Emily comes to WECT from the newspaper industry, most recently working as a community editor for Starnes Media, a group of hyper-local publications in Birmingham, Alabama. While in Alabama, Emily won awards from the Alabama Press Association for her reporting on local news and education. She won the association’s 2017 Freedom of Information Award for her coverage of a discrimination lawsuit between the city of Vestavia Hills and a former employee. In 2018 she won first place awards for Best Online Breaking News and Best Use of Social Media for coverage of a flash flood. Emily has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication from Samford University, as well as an MBA from Samford’s Brock School of Business. She was the 2016 Timothy Robinson Fellow at The Washington Post, and the editor in chief of her college newspaper, The Samford Crimson. In her spare time, Emily enjoys cooking, going to the beach and getting to know the hidden gems of the Wilmington area.

Recent Articles by Emily

Day 3 of NC9 hearing: Son of Mark Harris says he found McCrae Dowless suspicious; Red Dome leader continues testimony

The North Carolina State Board of Elections’ hearing drags on with no end in sight as new information emerges about exactly who was suspicious of the absentee ballot activity in Bladen County, and when they became aware.

Emily Featherston

Published February 20, 2019 at 9:38 PM

NC9 hearing day 2: Witness indicates early vote totals leaked, Red Dome leader testifies

Day two of the North Carolina State Elections Board hearing into possible election fraud in District 9.

Emily Featherston

Published February 19, 2019 at 3:30 PM

NC9 hearing: McCrae Dowless, man at the center of the investigation into election fraud, refuses to testify as state presents evidence

An evidentiary hearing is underway at the North Carolina State Bar as the state board of elections weeds through the results of its election fraud investigation.

Emily Featherston

Published February 18, 2019 at 9:45 PM

With hearing set to begin, a look back at the election fraud investigation

The North Carolina State Board of Elections will take up the query into alleged fraud in the state’s 9th district and beyond on Monday, Feb. 18, but the road to the Raleigh hearing has been long and winding.

Emily Featherston

Published February 17, 2019 at 9:17 PM

News you can use: What to do if a downtown parking meter eats your change

How to avoid losing money -- and getting a ticket.

Emily Featherston

Published February 15, 2019 at 3:53 PM

Rouzer says office can do little to help with White Oak Dike, will look at flood mitigation

As the people of Kelly and greater Bladen County look at what can be done to protect the community from future floods, options are limited.

Emily Featherston and Alex Guarino

Published February 13, 2019 at 4:45 PM

Final documents set stage for election fraud hearing

On Tuesday, Feb. 12, parties on both sides of the aisle submitted their final argument briefs for consideration, as well as a list of witnesses attorneys intend to call.

Emily Featherston

Published February 13, 2019 at 4:12 PM

Millions of dollars are needed to repair the White Oak Dike, but where will the money come from?

It will cost millions to repair the White Oak Dike, and as of right now, officials are unsure of how those repairs would be paid for.

Emily Featherston

Published February 12, 2019 at 4:56 PM

Failure to Protect: Decades of dike’s neglect leave residents with unanswered questions

WECT investigates the history of the White Oak Dike, and how decades of miscommunication put hundreds of people at risk during and after Hurricane Florence.

Emily Featherston and Alex Guarino

Published February 12, 2019 at 7:00 AM

Harris team asks for subpoenas for Dowless, other key players in 9th district investigation

The legal team for Republican Mark Harris wants several key players in the investigation into alleged election fraud in Bladen County and beyond to appear in person at the hearing scheduled for Feb. 18.

Emily Featherston

Published February 7, 2019 at 6:56 PM

Citing election fraud hearing, lack of information, NCSBE will not appoint new members to election boards in Bladen, Columbus counties

Two counties in Southeastern North Carolina will remain without a county board of elections for the immediate future.

Emily Featherston

Published February 7, 2019 at 5:18 PM

Pier 33 development breaks ground; developers say issues to fade with time

The multi-use development formally got underway Thursday, though earth has been moving for weeks.

Emily Featherston

Published February 7, 2019 at 3:57 PM

Wilmington City Council considering several long-running, contentious issues Tuesday

Wilmington City Council will take up several items of business on Tuesday that have been on the agenda for months.

Emily Featherston

Published February 5, 2019 at 5:53 AM

NCSBE sets hearing for election fraud investigation

More than two months after originally putting the certification of North Carolina’s 9th congressional district race on hold, there is finally a date-certain for learning an outcome.

Emily Featherston

Published February 4, 2019 at 12:07 PM

City, state leaders discuss priorities at legislative breakfast

Officials gathered to make sure that at least on the local level, lawmakers were on the same page as far as priorities.

Emily Featherston

Published February 1, 2019 at 5:33 PM

Cooper names new state board of elections

A month after a court ruling dissolved the nine-member North Carolina State Board of Elections, the new version of the board finally has its members.

Emily Featherston

Published January 31, 2019 at 5:20 PM

New Hanover County to lead DEQ effort testing landfill water for PFAs

Research and investigations into how GenX and substances are getting into the Cape Fear River are ongoing, but while the focus has been on major industry, experts and officials are concerned the compounds could be entering the water system in other ways.