Ann McAdams

Investigative Reporter

Wilmington, NC

Ann McAdams has worked in the Wilmington television market for more than 10 years. She graduated from Wake Forest University with a BS in Business in 2000, and accepted a job that summer as a general assignment reporter at WWAY. She later went on to serve as the station's evening anchor and investigative reporter.

In 2011, Ann joined the WECT news team as an investigative reporter and fill-in anchor.

She has won a number of awards from the NC Associated Press and the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas during her career including:

2013

2nd Place Consumer, RTDNA TV Division II (High Hospital Bills)

2nd Place Documentary, RTDNA TV Division II (The State of Education)

2012

1st Place Investigative, RTDNA TV Division II (Legislative Prison Transfer Requests)

2nd Place Education, RTDNA TV Division II (Cost of NC Pre-K)

2010

1st Place Investigative, RTDNA TV Division II (Sen R.C. Soles Saga)

2009

1st Place Investigative, AP Division II (Sen. R.C. Soles Saga)

2nd Place Consumer/Economic, RTDNA TV Division II (Missing Down Payment)

2008

Honorable Mention, AP Division II, General News

2004

1st Place Enterprise Investigative, AP Division II (Crowded School Bus)

1st Place General News, AP Division II (HOA fines family for Christmas decorations)

2001

1st Place, Spot News, AP Division II (Crew Survives being stranded at sea)

Ann is married to Richard Bumgardner, an internal medicine physician at East Columbus Primary Care. They live in Wilmington and have two young children, William and Elizabeth. Ann was born and raised in Winter Haven, FL.

When she is away from work, Ann enjoys pilates, reading, cooking, and getting together with family and friends. She and her family attend First Presbyterian Church in Wilmington. She and Richard love to travel, and one of their favorite places to visit is the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC.

If you want to reach Ann, email her at: amcadams@wect.com

If you have a story you'd like WECT to investigate, e-mail: Investigate@wect.com

Awards:

2nd Place Consumer, RTDNA TV Division II (High Hospital Bills), 2013
2nd Place Documentary, RTDNA TV Division II (The State of Education), 2013
1st Place Investigative, RTDNA TV Division II (Legislative Prison Transfer Requests), 2012
2nd Place Education, RTDNA TV Division II (Cost of NC Pre-K), 2012
1st Place Investigative, RTDNA TV Division II (Sen R.C. Soles Saga), 2010
1st Place Investigative, AP Division II (Sen. R.C. Soles Saga), 2009
2nd Place Consumer/Economic, RTDNA TV Division II (Missing Down Payment), 2009
Honorable Mention, AP Division II, General News, 2008
1st Place Enterprise Investigative, AP Division II (Crowded School Bus), 2004
1st Place General News, AP Division II (HOA fines family for Christmas decorations), 2004
1st Place, Spot News, AP Division II (Crew Survives being stranded at sea), 2001

Education:

Wake Forest University, Bachelor of Science in Business, cum laude

Recent Articles by Ann

Candidates line up to file for 2020 general election

Candidates filed to run for three county commission seats, as well as school board, Register of Deeds, and seats in the North Carolina House.

Ann McAdams

Published December 2, 2019 at 2:27 PM

Understanding the gridlock: WECT talks to Wilmington traffic light engineer

Major road improvements are planned some of the city’s busiest intersections, but traffic tie-ups likely to get worse before they get better.

Ann McAdams

Published November 26, 2019 at 5:00 PM

Lead character in Dark Waters has ties to Wilmington

Dark Waters hits theaters on Friday, and is already generating some Oscar buzz with critics. The movie, about chemicals in drinking water in a town in West Virginia, hits very close to home for people in Southeastern North Carolina worried about GenX.

Ann McAdams

Published November 18, 2019 at 6:22 PM

WANTED (and desperately needed): NHC school bus drivers

New Hanover County Schools is actively seeking drivers to fill the open jobs. Most positions are full-time with benefits. Starting pay just got bumped up to $14/hour.

Ann McAdams

Published November 11, 2019 at 3:02 PM

School bus driver shortage making some students late for class

Months into this school year, New Hanover County Schools has still been struggling to get kids to school on time on some of its bus routes. Administrators are struggling to fill more than a dozen open positions for school bus drivers.

Ann McAdams

Published November 4, 2019 at 11:28 AM

NC lawmakers pass bill to extend statute of limitations for child sex crime victims

The bill, which is awaiting the governor’s signature, could significantly impact a lawsuit filed against New Hanover County Schools by expanding the number of victims eligible to sue.

Ann McAdams

Published October 31, 2019 at 3:40 PM

UNCW graduate wins Nike shoe design contest

A UNC Wilmington studio art graduate won a contest with Nike, and the shoe she helped create goes on sale later this week.

Ann McAdams

Published October 28, 2019 at 3:45 PM

Sheriff’s office investigating reports of attacks, attempted break-ins in Ogden

Neighbors are on edge, and social media is on fire after four separate incidents of suspicious behavior in the Ogden area. In two of the cases, women tell WECT a stranger showed up in their backyard and assaulted them.

Ann McAdams

Published October 23, 2019 at 5:55 PM

Smooth transition after county sold hospital in Brunswick

The county transferred ownership of Brunswick Community Hospital to Novant Health, in exchange for the company’s commitment to build a new, modern hospital for the county.

Ann McAdams

Published October 17, 2019 at 5:43 PM

Mother upset with Pender County Schools after six-year-old sexually assaulted on school bus

While the school bus policy issues bothered her, the mother says it was the lack of communication from the school system and apparent lack of knowledge regarding what they could and could not tell her that caused her to become so frustrated she ultimately called the media.

Ann McAdams

Published October 15, 2019 at 3:36 PM

Parent refiles retaliation complaint following superintendent’s suspension

The parent of a former Hoggard High School student has refiled a retaliation complaint with the New Hanover County School Board. This comes just days after the school board suspended Superintendent Tim Markley for retaliating against another parent, Dr. Clyde Edgerton, in an unrelated incident.

Ann McAdams

Published October 10, 2019 at 3:27 PM

UPDATE: Student’s suspension reduced, sophomore allowed to return to school

Abrien’s mother says she got an email from the school board after they met Monday night, stating Abrien was allowed to return to school Tuesday — earlier than the previously imposed suspension would have allowed.

Ann McAdams

Published October 9, 2019 at 1:27 PM

Community looking for answers after 14-year-old’s suicide

This was the first juvenile suicide in Wilmington in five years, according to statistics provided by Wilmington police. But nationally, suicide is the second leading cause of death in children over the age of ten.

Ann McAdams

Published October 7, 2019 at 3:36 PM

Whiteville sophomore suspended after she says she was jumped by two other students

A Whiteville High School Sophomore said she tried to walk away when other girls wanted to pick a fight on Tuesday. But Abrien Batten said she still got jumped, and suspended from school right along with the girls she said attacked her.

Ann McAdams

Published October 3, 2019 at 7:10 PM

WECT INVESTIGATES: Potential impacts for employees’ pensions if NHRMC is sold

While county and hospital officials have assured employees their pensions will be protected, many NHRMC employees remain unconvinced, concerned in part by the actions of other hospital systems in the state, and lawsuits filed against them.

Ann McAdams

Published September 23, 2019 at 5:08 PM

Commissioner: Behind-the-scenes research on hospital sale happened months before public informed

One day after a divided New Hanover County commission voted in favor of an “intent to sell” resolution for the county-owned hospital, WECT is learning more about behind-the-scenes dealings that were apparently going on for months before the public was made aware of the possible sale.

Ann McAdams

Published September 17, 2019 at 6:50 PM

NHC commissioners approve resolution to explore hospital sale

In one of the most controversial decisions in recent memory, a divided New Hanover County Commission voted today to explore the sale of the county owned hospital, New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

Ann McAdams

Published September 16, 2019 at 5:17 PM

County hopes to fix clogged culverts that led to recent Ogden flooding

WECT found out Hurricane Florence caused significant damage to the drainage system for that area and has still not been fixed. The county is waiting for an influx of cash from the federal government, and residents are left hoping it gets here before it’s too late.

Ann McAdams

Published September 12, 2019 at 5:34 PM

Meth use on the rise as local law enforcement gets handle on heroin

Drug dealers are adapting to the local crack down on heroin. As officials see a recent rise in methamphetamine use, they are moving towards a federal prosecution approach to fight drugs and get around territorial limitations.

Ann McAdams

Published September 2, 2019 at 6:32 PM

Students towed as Hoggard High School deals with bigger parking shortage

There are lots of students, and not enough places to park. Witnesses estimate about 15 Hoggard High schoolers got towed from a neighboring shopping center while they were in class Wednesday.

Ann McAdams

Published August 29, 2019 at 4:40 PM

Cautionary tales from other markets as county considers sale of NHRMC

Since many of you are trying to understand the potential impacts of a sale without a lot of time before commissioners vote on exploring a sale, WECT has researched some of the potential hospital buyers, along with a few cautionary tales about hospital systems in other North Carolina markets.

Ann McAdams

Published August 26, 2019 at 2:31 PM

Wilmington company under investigation by Attorney General appears out of business

The DTopp website is down, the owners phone number is disconnected, and the Better Business Bureau lists the company as out of business.

Ann McAdams

Published August 22, 2019 at 6:42 PM

Still no law requiring fingerprint background checks for teachers in N.C. public schools

Despite public outcry, state lawmakers have failed again and again to pass legislation requiring fingerprint-level background checks for all job candidates applying to work in public schools.

Ann McAdams

Published August 19, 2019 at 10:49 AM

Bill to extend statute of limitations could help NHCS teacher sex abuse victims

A bill making its way through the North Carolina legislature attempts to give greater protection to people who were sexually abused as children. The bill has bipartisan support, and could play a significant role in the civil lawsuit recently filed by victims of Michael Kelly.

Ann McAdams

Published August 15, 2019 at 6:11 PM

UNCW professor accuses NHCS superintendent of intimidation after employer is contacted

A prominent professor from UNCW has filed a formal complaint with New Hanover County Schools, claiming the superintendent contacted his employer in an attempt to intimidate and silence him.

Ann McAdams

Published August 12, 2019 at 1:01 PM

Pender County jury returns guilty verdict in murder-by-baseball bat case

A Pender County jury found a man guilty of first degree murder Tuesday afternoon, in the death of 18-year-old Antonio Logan. Logan was beaten to death with a baseball bat in Willard on June 29, 2017, following a dispute over social media.

Ann McAdams

Published August 6, 2019 at 2:42 PM

County, hospital officials pitch business leaders on proposed hospital sale

At a meeting at the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce Thursday morning, New Hanover Regional CEO John Gizdic and County Manager Chris Courdriet explained to business leaders and elected officials in attendance they thought the need to eventually sell the hospital was “inevitable.”

Ann McAdams

Published August 1, 2019 at 2:24 PM

A WECT review of all daycares in our five county viewing area uncovered 23 facilities had administrative actions taken against them by the state in the past three years.

Ann McAdams and Brandon Wissbaum

Published July 29, 2019 at 1:43 PM

Attorneys file suit against NHCS in teacher sex crime scandal, seek class action

A judge will ultimately decide if this can proceed as a class action, but there is commonality in the claims. Former teacher Michael Kelly is the perpetrator against all of the victims the attorneys represent, Kelly engaged in sexual activity with the victims, and all were boys under age 18.

Ann McAdams

Published July 23, 2019 at 4:47 PM

The Cape Fear Museum in downtown Wilmington could be taken over by the state of North Carolina.

Ann McAdams

Published July 16, 2019 at 1:12 PM

Currently in
Wilmington, NC

Ann McAdams

Investigative Reporter

Wilmington, NC

Awards:

Education:

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