Michael Praats

With several ongoing investigations by several state attorneys general, customer complaints of faulty equipment costing them hundreds of dollars each month, and a pending bankruptcy by Pink Energy, a North Carolina-based solar company, Attorney General Josh Stein is asking lenders to now help customers out while these problems get resolved.

After facing demands for tens of thousands of dollars, more than 100 boat owners in Southport have settled a lawsuit with the Southport Marina --- coming as a relief those who rented slips at the docks.

Chris Mangum runs a successful jet ski rental business and has for nearly 25 years. His customers meet him at the Wrightsville Beach boat launch ramp located under the bridge heading onto the island --- there’s just one problem --- for the last eight years Mangum has faced pushback from the town and even lawsuits.

On this episode, we sit down with Andre Brown, chair of the New Hanover Democratic Party. We’ll talk about the tough, but relatively close, loss of all four school board spots in this year’s election — and what that means for the coming years. Plus, what’s next for the party as many are already gearing up for the 2023 municipal elections.

Jody Greene, former sheriff and now sheriff-elect of Columbus County, asked the county to pay him $170,000. Then, just before the county commissioners met Monday, he pulled back on that request.

Election day results are now official across southeastern North Carolina now that county boards of elections conducted canvasses on Friday morning. The canvass is the date set by the state where local boards must confirm the results and ensure their accuracy.

It’s been more than two years since Dr. Henry Patel went into a Wilmington dentist’s office for a routine procedure that ended up claiming his life. During that time, his wife, Shital Patel, has been fighting for changes to the rules related to anesthesia procedures by the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners.

Local leaders and the American Flood Coalition announced that the state is investing $15 million to help improve transportation resiliency.

The developers hoping to rezone the site containing the Carolinian Inn for apartments and townhomes have now pulled their request.

Business owners in the Holiday Village shopping center in Ogden are facing new challenges after an access road connecting Market Street to Lendire Road was blocked off by neighboring property owners. The road in question isn’t part of any official roadway map. Instead, it’s part of the private property according to New Hanover County records.

It’s been more than two years since several recordings of three former Wilmington Police Department officers revealed racism within the police department’s rank and file.

Incumbents lead against challengers in N.C. House District races across southeastern North Carolina.

Conversations surrounding election integrity in the past several years have led to concerns of voter intimidation and harassment of poll workers but data provided by the North Carolina State Board of Elections shows these instances are few and far between.

When the CDC issued recommendations for opioid medications to combat substance abuse, it left thousands of patients suffering with chronic pain suddenly unable to get medication.

Port City Politics: Former Trustee calls out complacent CFCC board, Winnabow’s incorporation hopes, and more

Efforts for the unincorporated area of Brunswick County known as Winnabow face a new setback after the Local Government Commission voted against a request to issue a statement from the LGC for community’s attempt to incorporate into the Town of Winnabow.

Lisa Stophel is used to helping others, in fact, that’s been her job as a paramedic in New Hanover County for nearly two decades. Now her family and country singer Dillon Carmichael are doing what they can to help her.

Cape Fear Community College’s upper administration has long faced accusations of creating a retaliatory work environment for its employees — now allegations are coming from one of its former trustees: 11-year veteran Jimmy Hopkins.

Eating alfresco is one of the perks of living in the coastal climate in southeastern North Carolina. In downtown Wilmington, restaurants and bars will now have the same opportunities to offer their customers an outdoor option.

Under oath, Julia Olson-Boseman provided several revelations about her spending habits, drug and alcohol use, and her attempt to get a job at a facility she championed as a commissioner, and which the county is helping to fund.

The company’s customers are concerned they’ll be stuck with huge loan payments for solar panel systems that aren’t delivering.

Two unsolved murders could soon become part of a trial of a man accused of raping and kidnapping a victim in 1996, and it’s not the first time his name has come up in those cases. Timothy Craig Iannone is currently awaiting trial for the rape and kidnapping of an alleged victim more than two decades ago.

The right to criticize the government is a Constitutional right granted by the First Amendment. On Monday, New Hanover County Commission Chairwoman Julia Olson-Boseman had a resident, Neal Shulman, removed from the public meeting when he began to raise questions directly aimed at the commissioner.

Jimmy Hopkins has the law firm of Rountree Losee behind him after New Hanover County Chairwoman Julia Olson-Boseman said she was removing him from the CFCC Board of Trustees for ‘unexcused absences.’ His lawyers say commissioners have no authority or right to remove a trustee — and if they stand in the way of his duties, he reserves his right to pursue legal remedies.

The county is facing blowback from the removal of CFCC Trustee Jimmy Hopkins. Now Hopkins says he hopes the county commission will do the “right thing” but if the matter needs to go to court he seems prepared to take it there.

The solar company based off out of Mooresville previously laid off its employees after thousands of complaints and significant loss revenue. Less than a week later, the Ohio Attorney General filed a lawsuit against Pink Energy, alleging they used deceptive and unconscionable tactics on Ohio consumers and poorly installed solar panel systems.

For more than ten years Jimmy Hopkins has served on the Cape Fear Community College Board of Trustees, but on Monday his decade-long tenure came to an abrupt halt.

Amazon Prime members in Wilmington are taking to the internet to try and find out what’s going on with one of the biggest benefits the retail giant offers, two-day shipping.

Despite Cape Fear Community College reversing course on a decision that led two key crew members resigning, one of the college’s newest Board of Trustees member Ray Funderburk still has questions. He wants to know what exactly happened behind the scenes that led to the resignations.

Last year's unused box seat tickets went to waste, but a city representative says that things have changed.

New Hanover County’s plans for a major project will not move forward as planned after the Local Government Commission voted against the terms of the project’s lease agreement. However, county officials say they will continue working to find a plan that can get approval.

Pink Energy, a solar energy company based out of Mooresville N.C. is laying off all of its employees according to an emailed letter sent to employees on Wednesday. Pink Energy has faced thousands of complaints ranging from faulty equipment to allegations of deceptive sales tactics over the past year.

For the first time since the investigations first started the founder of the company Jayson Waller spoke with reporters to address the thousands of complaints facing his company. Some of the biggest complaints of Pink Energy solar company are the systems not producing the power promised to customers.

Just one block south between Grace Street and Walnut Street, construction is set to begin and road closures are planned starting Wednesday.

The public-private partnership between New Hanover County and Zimmer Development Company for Project Grace doesn’t sit well with State Treasurer Dale Folwell.

As the largest polluter of PFAS into the river for, it’s a plan that the Executive Director for Cape Fear River Watch Dana Sargent and other environmental groups call a ‘big win.’

The legal battle set in motion against the City of Wilmington more than two years ago has come to an end, and a judge awarded Dave and Peg Schroeder attorney’s fees for their lawsuit against Wilmington for illegal short-term rental restrictions put in place several years ago. On Thursday, a New Hanover County Superior Court Judge signed off on a final judgement and order awarding legal fees for the case.

It’s due to an increase of students requesting transportation and about 20% of students that requested transportation not taking their bus consistently, along with a shortage of bus drivers.

New Hanover County is making it a priority to address and has already agreed to use $50 million from the sale of New Hanover Regional Medical Center to Novant Health to do that.

A county commissioners legal troubles appear to be wrapped up --- at least --- in part. After a judge issued an order for arrest and found New Hanover County Chairwoman Julia Olson-Boseman in contempt of court, she was told to provide documents to the North Carolina State Bar --- or face jail.

Pink Energy, formerly know as Power Home Solar, says faulty equipment sold by Generac has cost them millions in damages, and their reputation.

County manager Chris Coudriet Manager acknowledged that he knew about the allegations of a $50 million offer; the county said its earlier comment about not knowing about the offer was intended to mean Coudriet and staff had no direct evidence of the offer being made.

In June 2020, Commissioner Julia Olson Boseman and then-commissioner Pat Kusek allegedly offered Coastal Horizon CEO Margaret Weller-Stargell $50 million from the hospital sale — which had not yet been voted on — if they would silence their criticisms of The Healing Place, the county’s planned peer-led recovery facility.

Chemicals known as PFAS, or per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances that include Gen-X, the chemical found in the Cape Fear River could soon be labeled as hazardous chemicals by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, the news from the federal government would not apply directly to Gen-X, which is just one type of PFAS chemical.

However, eight months later, some say that the jets along with the noise are back.

The N.C. Court of Appeals found Wilmington’s ordinances were illegal, the impacts of that decision could be far-reaching as other cities and towns consider the implications of their own requirements.

The water along the south end of Wrightsville Beach on Monday was a surprise to folks living there: it was neon green.

For the first time in years, Wilmington’s Fire Department is not only hiring new firefighters, but actually expanding the department’s size. That’s because the city is working to open a new station in Riverlights – and with a shortage of firefighters already, the city is stepping up their recruitment efforts.

On July 18, 2022, a judge in Wake County found New Hanover County Commission Chairwoman Julia Olson-Boseman in contempt of court. One week later, Angie Olson-Boseman, her wife, says the chairwoman took $118,000 out of their joint bank account, and moved it to a business account without her knowledge.

On this episode, a look at some big fiscal questions. First up, WECT investigative reporter Michael Praats is following the legal and financial issues dogging New Hanover County Chairwoman Julia Olson-Boseman.