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

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 backgroud 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

New Hanover Commissioner Rob Zapple, the only commissioner to publicly speak out about a new travel policy for county commissioners, says new per-commissioner spending limits are onerous to the point they are preventing the county from participating in important business.

Ann McAdams

Published July 15, 2019 at 6:14 PM

Attorneys exploring evidence for civil suit following teacher sex crime scandal

Two Wilmington law firms have announced they are investigating evidence for a possible civil lawsuit against New Hanover County Schools, after a recent scandal involving students being abused by their teacher.

Ann McAdams

Published July 9, 2019 at 2:37 PM

Commissioners vote down proposed travel budget changes, decrease travel spending instead

Instead of approving a proposal that would have allowed some commissioners to exceed their current $4,000 annual travel budget, commissioners reached a split decision to cut the current travel budget in half.

Ann McAdams

Published July 8, 2019 at 6:38 PM

Criminal investigation underway into Kelly’s claim schools knew about suspected sex crimes against students

Law enforcement has been investigating claims raised by a former teacher now convicted of sex crimes against students that New Hanover County school administrators knew about claims he’d been sexually inappropriate with his students, and failed to report the allegations.

Ann McAdams

Published June 26, 2019 at 2:59 PM

Bogus applications plaguing NC college campuses, pose security risk

It appears that many of these bogus applications are not coming from real people, but bad actors in other countries making up fake identities. They are using those fake names to pose as college applicants, hoping to be issued a student email account.

Ann McAdams

Published June 24, 2019 at 12:57 PM

Columbus County manager accused of sexual harassment by employee

According to the timeline provided by Bowen in a letter to commissioners, she had a series of disturbing interactions involving County Manager Mike Stephens that she says began in January of this year.

Ann McAdams

Published June 20, 2019 at 1:13 PM

City spends $500K to settle lawsuit after questionable arrest on child rape allegations

The criminal charges against James Bader were leveled in the midst of a bitter child custody battle, and were later dismissed due to lack of evidence to warrant prosecution.

Ann McAdams

Published June 10, 2019 at 1:59 PM

Lawyers file notice of appeal in Columbus County sheriff’s election dispute

Attorneys challenging the outcome of the November election for Columbus County sheriff filed a notice of appeal Friday with the North Carolina State Board of Elections. They also plan to file a complaint and a Motion for a Stay of certification with Wake County Superior Court.

Ann McAdams

Published June 7, 2019 at 11:57 AM

After overcoming a $1.5 million budget shortfall last fiscal year, the college is projecting a $2 million shortfall this year.State funding for community college works is based on past enrollment, and with a booming economy, enrollment at the college was down in recent years.

Ann McAdams

Published June 3, 2019 at 3:15 PM

Attorney “astounded” by mayor’s comments about ongoing H2GO lawsuit

The comments Belville Mayor Mike Allen made during a May 21st meeting of the H2GO sanitary district board were recorded, and attorneys familiar with the recording say it sounds as if Allen is admitting he is using the legal appeals process to avoid complying with a judge’s order.

Ann McAdams

Published May 31, 2019 at 1:55 PM

Town spends over $500,000 fighting $1,500 property damage claim

It took five years, and over half a million dollars in attorneys’ fees, but a Brunswick County couple has finally won their case against the City of Boiling Spring Lakes. Ed and Debra Wilkie sued the City of Boiling Spring Lakes in 2014, after the city flooded their property by raising the lake.

Ann McAdams

Published May 16, 2019 at 4:01 PM

Two boats capsize in separate incidents off Topsail Beach

A Pender County family is lucky to be alive after their boat capsized in Topsail Inlet. It’s the second boat to capsize in that area this year. The first incident in March turned deadly.

Ann McAdams

Published May 13, 2019 at 6:43 PM

Major changes made at Bladen County Board of Elections to improve security

More changes are happening in the wake of the elections fraud investigation in Bladen County. Effective Thursday, the Veterans Services office in Bladen County has been relocated, and will no longer share office space with the Bladen County Board of Election’s Office.

Ann McAdams

Published May 9, 2019 at 2:42 PM

Industry experts concerned with local handyman’s work: ‘He could potentially kill someone’

Officials are concerned that a man repairing chimneys in and around Wilmington is doing dangerous modifications, and putting people at risk. The handyman posted dozens of videos of his repair work online the president of a nationwide chimney sweep group says the work is so faulty it's dangerous.

Ann McAdams

Published April 30, 2019 at 9:18 AM

Utility documents list acting sheriff’s purported residence as commercial account with cow barn

Documents subpoenaed from Duke Energy shed new light on concerns that acting Columbus County Sheriff Jody Greene may not have lived in the county prior to his election as required by state law. The documents also indicate there has been an address change on the account.

Ann McAdams

Published April 25, 2019 at 5:53 PM

Another deputy seeking back pay from Columbus Co., says acting sheriff didn’t have authority to fire him

“It is Mr. Campbell’s position that, due to the N.C. State Board of Elections position that Mr. Green’s [sic] election was never certified, Mr. Green was without legal or actual authority to either demote or terminate Mr. Campbell.”

Ann McAdams

Published April 8, 2019 at 2:56 PM

Town clarifies new media policy, says it’s meant to increase, not limit public access

Town manager said he wanted to have a dedicated time each week where department heads would be available to answer reporters' questions.

Ann McAdams

Published April 1, 2019 at 4:52 PM

Acting sheriff fired deputies despite uncertain election results

In the midst of unprecedented confusion in Columbus County over who should be serving as sheriff, some deputies have been terminated from their job. While North Carolina law generally gives sheriffs broad latitude to fire at will, pending legal challenges bring the recent firings under scrutiny.

Ann McAdams

Published March 28, 2019 at 6:23 PM

State board sends sheriff’s election protest back to Columbus County, requires officials to take up residency issue

The dispute over the Columbus County sheriff's race is headed back to local officials.

Ann McAdams

Published March 21, 2019 at 6:13 PM

Leland supporting Cape Fear Crossing route that spares Brunswick Forest, puts other neighborhoods at risk

Good news for some Brunswick County residents is causing anxiety for others. On Monday, Leland Town Council voiced support for a plan that would spare Brunswick Forest and Mallory Creek residents, at the potential expense of Snee Farm and Stoney Creek Plantation.

Ann McAdams

Published March 18, 2019 at 6:13 PM

Case involving inmate’s amputated penis among lawsuits filed against county

WECT has uncovered millions of dollars in additional payouts by New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington to settle lawsuits and claims, raising the grand total spent by local governments to at least $16.6 million.

Ann McAdams

Published March 14, 2019 at 4:28 PM

Currently in
Wilmington, NC

Ann McAdams

Investigative Reporter

Wilmington, NC

Awards:

Education:

Recent Articles by Ann

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