Mara McJilton
Multimedia Journalist
Wilmington, N.C.
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Mara joined the WECT team in May of 2021 as a multimedia journalist/reporter.
Mara grew up outside of Atlanta in Dunwoody, Georgia. She graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a B.S. in Agricultural Communications and a minor in Journalism & Electronic Media. While in college, Mara interned with WATE.
In her free time, she loves to spend time on the beach, with family and friends, cooking in the kitchen, or cheering on Pittsburgh sports teams!
Story idea? Email Mara at mara.mcjilton@wect.com, or you can find her on Facebook or Twitter.
Updated: 3 hours ago
|By Mara McJilton and WECT Staff
Hays likely suffered from a heart attack.
Updated: 19 hours ago
|By Mara McJilton
Police say all three men are in the United States illegally
Updated: Mar. 24, 2023 at 11:26 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
They’re asking people to stop by their Be The Match event on Monday, March 27 to get screened and see if you might be a match for anyone waiting for this lifesaving treatment.
Updated: Mar. 24, 2023 at 5:17 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
The new data only accounts for patients through 2020 and Dr. Fillion said she knows that things worsened through the pandemic.
Updated: Mar. 23, 2023 at 7:59 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
"But I think the most important one is the water, like, we all need to pay attention to what’s in our drinking water," Dr. Soren Johnson, a pediatrician with Novant Health, said.
Updated: Mar. 22, 2023 at 8:46 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
Noelle said thankfully she works from home and tries to help her parents a few days a week, but it’s become more difficult recently.
Updated: Mar. 17, 2023 at 10:52 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
NCDOT said they have heard concerns on that stretch of road for years. The Municipal and School Transportation Assistance Unit (MSTA) recently completed a traffic study to see how they can improve safety in the school zone.
Updated: Mar. 16, 2023 at 7:30 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
As of Thursday, all three major insulin manufacturers, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi, have reduced their costs for patients.
Updated: Mar. 15, 2023 at 11:22 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
Stein said limitations for the drug place a burden on women who are trying to get access to what the FDA says is a safe and effective drug.
Updated: Mar. 11, 2023 at 3:43 PM EST
|By WECT Staff and Mara McJilton
The class action complaint was filed last month by four individuals who had previously worked for Seacoast Realty as real estate brokers.
Updated: Mar. 10, 2023 at 10:27 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
“I finally see like differences in my day-to-day life in a month of taking one simple little medication. And knowing that I wouldn’t be able to get it, or I would have to struggle to get it was difficult," Megan Engle said.
Updated: Mar. 9, 2023 at 11:23 AM EST
|By Mara McJilton
How the gator got in the attic is anyone’s guess, but Brown said he thinks a door was left open to the house over the weekend, and the gator snuck in then climbed the built in stairs to the attic.
Cuban government officials visit Wilmington Port, Congressman Rouzer expressing concerns about visit
Updated: Mar. 8, 2023 at 3:04 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
Congressman David Rouzer spoke on the House floor about his concerns surrounding the visit, saying this was a national security risk.
Updated: Mar. 3, 2023 at 11:42 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton and WECT Staff
From cough, congestion, and itchy eyes, the body reacts to pollen that is all over our cars and even homes being filled.
Updated: Mar. 2, 2023 at 10:48 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
“I think in the past people waited a lot more than maybe they are right now," Chelsea Croom said.
Updated: Mar. 1, 2023 at 11:13 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
One woman said every day is a different battle that is draining both financially and psychologically.
Updated: Feb. 28, 2023 at 4:20 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
One died after a two-vehicle collision on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 26 at the intersection of U.S. 17 and Calabash Road near Carolina Shores.
Updated: Feb. 24, 2023 at 7:25 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
She grew up in Mariupol and moved to the United States in 2014.
Updated: Feb. 23, 2023 at 10:09 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
The expansion could benefit nearly 600,000 North Carolinians.
Updated: Feb. 22, 2023 at 10:26 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
With record high heat and little rain, it’s an issue across southeastern North Carolina.
Updated: Feb. 17, 2023 at 7:50 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
Their findings have left them with more questions than answers from this study.
Updated: Feb. 16, 2023 at 10:52 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
Markesino says no matter how long it takes, she will keep fighting to protect our community.
Updated: Feb. 15, 2023 at 10:50 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
While a person passing by stopped to make one call, another call came from a new automated feature on the newest iPhone.
Updated: Feb. 13, 2023 at 3:39 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
“She said somebody might be dead. Please send people here,” the caller said.
Updated: Feb. 10, 2023 at 6:09 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
Waldroup said they’re still pushing for Chemours—who is responsible for the water contamination—to foot the 43-million-dollar bill for this new facility.
Updated: Feb. 5, 2023 at 11:43 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
“It’s terrible, is preventable. We are here as a medical community; we want to keep our community safe and healthy. We feel awful having to deal with advanced cancer because the more advanced your cancer is, the less likely they are to live long term,” Dr. Nieves said.
Updated: Feb. 4, 2023 at 2:09 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
Flights to and from Wilmington International Airport are resuming, the Federal Aviation Administration announced shortly before 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
Updated: Feb. 3, 2023 at 6:25 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
There are no plans yet for what exactly will go in this area.
Updated: Feb. 3, 2023 at 1:02 AM EST
|By Mara McJilton
“I just got in a really dark place,” Kris said.
Updated: Jan. 28, 2023 at 11:38 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
"Waste was observed approximately 0.69 miles from the secondary containment on the facility. Waste in the creek appeared to be contained in the area by a beaver dam,” the release said.
Updated: Jan. 28, 2023 at 11:31 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
“He will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him,” the release said.
Updated: Jan. 28, 2023 at 9:11 AM EST
|By Mara McJilton
The fire marshals office is expected to complete their investigation on Saturday.
Updated: Jan. 28, 2023 at 8:42 AM EST
|By WECT Staff and Mara McJilton
According to Trooper Shepherd, the wreck occurred around 6 a.m. on Jan. 25. when the 18-wheeler traveling on Tobermory Road failed to yield for a Sonoma pickup truck traveling on N.C. 87. The 18-wheeler then left the scene.
Updated: Jan. 27, 2023 at 7:11 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
“Our family prays to your family for forgiveness,” Hayes said.
Updated: Jan. 25, 2023 at 10:45 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
Todd Olson is planning on building a family compound with six homes, a pool, and beach shelter, just to name a few.
Updated: Jan. 23, 2023 at 12:25 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office has announced that a suspect is in custody following an armed robbery that took place at a Family Dollar in Leland on Jan. 22.
Updated: Jan. 22, 2023 at 6:00 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
Cancer is a leading cause of death among fire fighters.
Updated: Jan. 21, 2023 at 10:21 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
Due to safety concerns, crews removed the overhang in the drive thru, which is where the damage to the building occurred.
Updated: Jan. 21, 2023 at 10:17 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
A spokesperson for the Town of Leland said there were no injuries and the road is back open now.
Updated: Jan. 20, 2023 at 9:46 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
“It is important to recognize KC and honor her for the way she lived her life as her authentic self,” Walters said.
Updated: Jan. 19, 2023 at 10:33 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
Saffo added that the more than 1,000 parking spaces can be used for Riverfront Park concerts and events.
Updated: Jan. 19, 2023 at 7:14 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
No injuries were reported and no structures were involved.
Updated: Jan. 18, 2023 at 5:54 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton and WECT Staff
Officers arrested Brice Pridgen and charged him with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injuries with intent to kill. According to Chief Doug Ipock, additional charges are pending.
Updated: Jan. 13, 2023 at 7:55 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
Avian bird flu is to blame for the skyrocketing prices, but Guifurta says the prices haven’t make them crack yet.
Updated: Jan. 12, 2023 at 9:21 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
“That’s an important thing. But you will also be putting money in your pocket saving dollars you would have spent otherwise on energy," Ali Zaidi, President Biden's national climate advisor, said.
Updated: Jan. 11, 2023 at 5:13 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
Some changes include using medication for those 12 years of age and older, Intense Health Behavior and Lifestyle Treatment, and in more severe cases, considering surgery for those 13 years old and up.
Updated: Jan. 9, 2023 at 10:07 AM EST
|By Mara McJilton
On Jan. 9 at 9:05 a.m., the CCSO announced that the two juveniles had been located and that they are safe and unharmed.
Updated: Jan. 5, 2023 at 6:24 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
Demand for properties is increasing, but the supply isn’t quite there, and that’s partially due to mortgage rates.
Updated: Jan. 3, 2023 at 10:03 AM EST
|By Mara McJilton
The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office has announced that an individual has been charged after they allegedly fled a traffic stop over the weekend.
Updated: Jan. 1, 2023 at 11:22 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
Their home is a total loss, and the cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
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