Emily Featherston

Reporter

Wilmington, NC

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.

Awards:

2017 Alabama Press Association Freedom of Information Award
2017 Alabama Press Association Best Local News Coverage, 1st Place
2017 Alabama Press Association Best Education Coverage, 1st Place
2018 Alabama Press Association Online Breaking News Coverage, 1st Place

Education:

Samford University - BA in Journalism & MBA in Management

Recent Articles by Emily

Mayor wants answers about WAVE’s fund balance after transit service asks for loan

Financial issues are mounting for WAVE Transit, and that has city leaders concerned.

Emily Featherston

Published January 24, 2020 at 5:13 PM

Awaiting responses to RFP, NHRMC Partnership Advisory Group digs deeper on how to evaluate responses, remaining independent

Members of the Partnership Advisory Group met to discuss the key elements they will use to evaluate responses to their RFP.

Emily Featherston

Published January 23, 2020 at 10:22 PM

Uncertain future of Lock & Dam No. 1 has water authorities on edge

Those in charge of the Cape Fear region's water supply have concerns about the future of a piece of infrastructure the federal government no longer wants to maintain.

Emily Featherston

Published January 22, 2020 at 4:34 PM

Save Our Hospital group holds meeting to discuss ongoing exploration of NHRMC’s future

Hundreds packed a room at the northeast campus of the New Hanover County Library to discuss the ongoing exploration of the future of NHRMC.

Emily Featherston

Published January 21, 2020 at 10:25 PM

New Hanover County ABC stores explore opening on more holidays after a banner 2019

A look at New Hanover County ABC Store sales data from 2019.

Emily Featherston

Published January 20, 2020 at 5:02 PM

Years in the making: Leaders dedicate new WAVE multimodal station in downtown Wilmington

The future of WAVE Transit might be up in the air, but one project decades in the making is finally complete.

Emily Featherston

Published January 17, 2020 at 5:34 PM

Four years later, family and friends of Ebonee Spears refuse to give up hope of finding answers

The Wilmington resident has been missing for four years.

Emily Featherston

Published January 15, 2020 at 4:03 PM

Neighbors raise stormwater concerns at Echo Farms development

Stormwater concerns have popped up at one of New Hanover County's most controversial developments.

Emily Featherston

Published January 14, 2020 at 5:31 PM

Too soon? Campaign signs signal early start to 2020 elections

Candidates across the Cape Fear region are preparing for the upcoming primary election in March, but it turns out that it is possible to start campaigning too early.

Emily Featherston

Published January 10, 2020 at 4:55 PM

NHRMC Partnership Advisory Group approves RFP exploring hospital’s future

The New Hanover Regional Medical Center Partnership Advisory Group approved the request for proposal Thursday to be sent to more than two dozen medical institutions.

Emily Featherston and Kendall McGee

Published January 9, 2020 at 6:32 PM

Under Contract: Pending sale of Belvedere Country Club has neighbors nervous over what’s to come

A buyer may have snagged a hole in one when it comes to a legacy country club in Pender County, but neighbors are concerned.

Emily Featherston

Published January 8, 2020 at 5:03 PM

Wilmington looks to form citizen climate committee

Mayor Bill Saffo wants to get the community involved in making decisions about the city's carbon footprint.

Emily Featherston

Published January 7, 2020 at 11:05 PM

Final Flight: A look at the investigation into what brought down National Airlines 2511

WECT Investigates the Jan. 6, 1960 plane crash that killed 34 people and launched a federal investigation.

Emily Featherston

Published January 6, 2020 at 6:22 PM

NC Attorney General will appeal Voter ID decision, but won’t seek to require ID for upcoming primaries

Attorney General Josh Stein announced his position on what comes next for Voter ID

Emily Featherston

Published January 2, 2020 at 4:49 PM

Exploring Solar: Duke rebate program enters third year as N.C. continues to embrace the power of the sun

As an effort to make installing arrays moves into its third year, we take a look at the financial side of exploring solar.

Emily Featherston

Published January 2, 2020 at 1:11 PM

Wrightsville Plunge tops fundraising goal at 5th annual event

Hundreds took a quick dip in the Atlantic on New Year's Day 2020.

Emily Featherston

Published January 1, 2020 at 6:00 PM

A look inside the collection as Cape Fear Museum celebrates sweater weather

A look at the unique sweaters in the collection of the Cape Fear Museum in New Hanover County

Emily Featherston

Published December 20, 2019 at 5:00 PM

‘We are at the 5 yard line:’ NHRMC Partnership Advisory Group moves closer to RFP draft exploring hospital’s future

The Partnership Advisory Group for the future of NHRMC met for its Dec. 19 meeting and inched closer to a completed RFP.

Emily Featherston

Published December 19, 2019 at 10:08 PM

Rouzer challenger Pete D’Abrosca candidacy canceled by state elections board

The lone challenger to incumbent Republican Congressman David Rouzer may not end up on the ballot at all, as state officials have canceled his notice of candidacy.

Emily Featherston

Published December 19, 2019 at 4:29 PM

Suspect killed in officer-involved shooting wanted for crimes in Charlotte, Myrtle Beach

A man killed during an officer-involved shooting at a New Hanover County apartment complex Tuesday night has been connected to a kidnapping incident in Charlotte last week that crossed state lines.

WECT Staff and Emily Featherston

Published December 18, 2019 at 9:10 PM

New Hanover health board passes new rules on vaping, smoking; Final decision in hands of County Commission

New Hanover Co. health board heard public comments and voted on possible rules prohibiting e-cigarettes in public places.

Emily Featherston

Published December 17, 2019 at 10:15 AM

Gold Star family gifted mortgage-free home just in time for Christmas

A Brunswick County Gold Star family received a new home, mortgage-free, just in time for Christmas.

Emily Featherston

Published December 16, 2019 at 6:06 PM

New Hanover County Commission to vote on new stormwater service

Residents of unincorporated New Hanover County may be seeing a new charge on their annual tax bill, but officials say it should make life easier for property owners.

Emily Featherston

Published December 13, 2019 at 3:54 PM

Governor Cooper visits Columbus County family recovering from both Matthew and Florence

Governor Roy Cooper visited the home of a Columbus County family that saw damage from both Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Matthew.

Emily Featherston

Published December 12, 2019 at 7:08 PM

Search warrants allege murder suspect also stole victim’s credit, debit cards

The Wilmington Police Department is still investigating the murder of Kim Bland, found stabbed to death in her home at Mill Creek Apartments in Wilmington.