The Newsroom
Benjamin Schachtman
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Hosted by WHQR News Director Ben Schachtman, the program will be an opportunity for local officials and reporters -- the people who make news and the people who report it -- to talk about the issues that affect our community. According to host Ben Schachtman, "Our goal is to have candid, in-depth conversations about the topics that concern our listeners. It will be a chance to dig a little deeper into the news." From WHQR Public Media in Wilmington, NC. Contact us at Newsroom@whqr.org
Available episodes
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Nov 20, 2023
Unpacking the 2023 municipal elections: Wilmington and the beach towns
On this episode, Rachel Keith digs into voter turnout and the beach town elections, Kelly Kenoyer talks about Wilmington's city council race, and New Hanover County Democratic party chair Jill Hopman talks about her party's success this year and the challenges it will face next year.
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Oct 28, 2023
Unpacking the City of Wilmington candidates' forum
On this edition, WHQR's Kelly Kenoyer and Ben Schachtman break down the highlights from this week's forum for City of Wilmington Council candidates, hosted in partnership with WECT and Port City Daily.
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Oct 20, 2023
What do teachers really need to turn NHCS' struggling schools around?
On this episode of The Newsroom, WHQR's Rachel Keith shares what she heard at a recent roundtable event, held by New Hanover County Schools' Turn Around Task Force, charged with getting to the bottom of what ails the district's lowest-performing schools. At the most recent meeting, task force members heard from teachers — who spoke unsparingly about what they really need to help students succeed.
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Oct 13, 2023
2023 City of Wilmington Council Elections: Candidate Kathryn Bruner
WHQR sat down with all seven candidates for Wilmington's City Council — two incumbents and five newcomers who are running for three seats. On this episode of The Newsroom, an interview with challenger Kathryn Bruner.
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Oct 13, 2023
2023 City of Wilmington Council Elections: Candidate John Lennon
WHQR sat down with all seven candidates for Wilmington's City Council — two incumbents and five newcomers who are running for three seats. On this episode of The Newsroom, an interview with challenger John Lennon.
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Oct 13, 2023
2023 City of Wilmington Council Elections: Candidate David Joyner
WHQR sat down with all seven candidates for Wilmington's City Council — two incumbents and five newcomers who are running for three seats. On this episode of The Newsroom, an interview with challenger David Joyner.
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Oct 13, 2023
2023 City of Wilmington Council Elections: Candidate Kevin Spears
WHQR sat down with all seven candidates for Wilmington's City Council — two incumbents and five newcomers who are running for three seats. On this episode of The Newsroom, an interview with incumbent Kevin Spears.
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Oct 7, 2023
Election 2023: WHQR's community agenda, interviews with Neil Anderson, Marlowe Foster, and Salette Andrews
On this episode, WHQR's Kelly Kenoyer breaks down how — and why — we've been running our Community Agenda program. Plus, excerpts from our interviews with three of the candidates running for Wilmington City Council.
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Oct 7, 2023
2023 City of Wilmington Council Elections: Candidate Salette Andrews
WHQR sat down with all seven candidates for Wilmington's City Council — two incumbents and five newcomers who are running for three seats. On this episode of The Newsroom, an interview with challenger Salette Andrews.
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Oct 7, 2023
2023 City of Wilmington Council Elections: Candidate Marlowe Foster
WHQR sat down with all seven candidates for Wilmington's City Council — two incumbents and five newcomers who are running for three seats. On this episode of The Newsroom, an interview with challenger Marlowe Foster.
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Oct 7, 2023
2023 City of Wilmington Council Elections: Candidate Neil Anderson
WHQR sat down with all seven candidates for Wilmington's City Council — two incumbents and five newcomers who are running for three seats. On this episode of The Newsroom, an interview with incumbent Neil Anderson.
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Sep 22, 2023
Cape Fear Conversations: Housing and Homelessness
On today’s show, highlights from our most recent Cape Fear Conversations event. This is our third event, this time focusing on the issue of homelessness — looking at what factors are pushing people out of housing, what we get wrong about them and what they’re going through, and about how we might help get them back on track.Our panelists for this event were Katrina Knight, Clayton Hammerski, Karen Garcia, Katelyn Mattox, and Pastor Meg McBride. WHQR reporter Kelly Kenoyer hosted.
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Sep 17, 2023
What the City of Wilmington can and can't do; plus, a conversation with Braver Angels
On this episode, Kelly Kenoyer sits down with Wilmington Mayor Pro-Tem Margaret Haynes to talk about what's actually with the city's power to do — an important thing to know ahead of this year's municipal elections. Plus, Ben Schachtman talks to a 'blue' and a 'red' from Braver Angels, an organization dedicated to repairing the political divide in the United States.
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Sep 9, 2023
Call it 'removal' or 'banning,' the battle over 'Stamped' is a proxy for the culture war
On this episode of The Newsroom: how one parent’s efforts to remove a single book from a New Hanover County school curriculum became a proxy for the culture wars.In a five-hour hearing, both sides argued the fate of Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You. It’s a book based on the work of Ibram X. Kendi — but the debate went way beyond this one book, and said a lot about our current political moment and the state of public education.To unpack this story, we're joined by WHQR's Rachel Keith, who has been covering the debate over Stamped for months.
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Sep 2, 2023
Unprecedented: A twist in the TRU Colors murder case opens the black box of NC's grand juries
The North Carolina grand jury indictment process is shrouded in absolute secrecy — or, almost absolute secrecy, because in one very rare case, we have a glimpse inside that Black Box. What defense attorneys found inside is disturbing, but the system is rigged against addressing the problem.
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Aug 19, 2023
From global warming warnings to medical breakthroughs, what a UNCW researcher is learning from crabeater seals
On this episode of The Newsroom, a conversation with UNCW Assistant Professor Dr. Michael Tift about his recent research trips to Antarctica to study the most populous seal species on Earth: crabeaters. On his most recent visit, Dr. Tift saw firsthand the devastating loss of ice — an area equal to the size of Greenland.We'll discuss Dr. Tift’s other research on how medical doctors can use carbon monoxide in minimizing damage to organs during surgeries or after injuries.Plus, we’ll talk about Tift’s work with UNCW’s Marine Mammal Stranding Program. Just recently, Tift and his team responded to a pilot whale that washed up on shore in the Outer Banks.
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Aug 5, 2023
Preventing the "violent denial of diversity," and a petition for poison-free parks
Today, we're sitting down with members of Glitterpill, LLC, a company that focuses on threats to democracy and what founder Bjorn Ihler calls "the violent denial of diversity." We’ll look at how extreme beliefs work — across international boundaries, between the not-so-meaningful divide between online and real life, and in the many subtle spaces between acceptable politics and extreme beliefs.We’ll also check in on a petition to ban harmful chemicals from Wilmington and New Hanover County parks.
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Jul 23, 2023
What will it really take to turn New Hanover County's low-performing schools around?
On this episode, WHQR's Rachel Keith helps unpack the work of the Turnaround Task Force — a group charged, as the name implies, with turning around 12 of the district's lowest-performing schools. At a political moment when redistricting (that is, desegregating) the district's schools seems implausible, that means embracing a host of other strategies.
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Jun 30, 2023
The trials and tribulations of evictions. Plus, development in northern New Hanover is on tricky ground.
On this episode, Kelly Kenoyer takes a deep dive into what actually happens when a tenant gets evicted — and what their rights are during the process. Plus, a look at 'hydric soils,' and why they mean more flooding than some would expect in the northern part of New Hanover County.
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Jun 9, 2023
The daunting but doable task of turning New Hanover County's low-performing schools around
On today's show, a look at New Hanover County's 12 low-performing schools. It's a perfect storm of segregation, childhood trauma, systemic poverty, and changing workforce dynamics — but despite that daunting challenge, New Hanover County has established a task force to help deal with the problem. WHQR's Rachel Keith attended the first meeting and joins us to unpack some candid conversations, a lot of data, and some possible solutions.
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Jun 2, 2023
The Newsroom: Conversations about Pride, identity, and finding the gay bars
WHQR's second Cape Fear Conversation is focused on the queer community — just in time for Pride Month.
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May 19, 2023
NHCS Superintendent Charles Foust on school safety; Marie Parker bids farewell to WAVE
On today's show, we sit down with New Hanover County Schools district Superintendent Dr. Charles Foust about his reaction to an increase in guns and drugs on school campus. Then, WHQR's Kelly Kenoyer has an exit interview with Marie Parker, who helped right the ship at WAVE as executive director for the last two years.
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May 12, 2023
Three new faces in New Hanover County politics
On today's show, we sit down with Jill Hopman and Nevin Carr, the newly-minted chairs of the Democratic and Republican parties in New Hanover County. Plus, excerpts from our recent interview with Dane Scalise, who was recently appointed to the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners.
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May 11, 2023
Special episode: An in-depth interview with New Hanover County's newest commissioner, Dane Scalise
On today’s special episode, an in-depth conversation with Dane Scalise, who was recently appointed to the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners.
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Apr 30, 2023
Fractured: A major investigation from WFAE and PBS's FRONTLINE
The mental health care system in North Carolina has been failing for years. Perhaps nowhere is that more evident than those who get caught up in the criminal justice system, out of sight, therefore out of mind for the general public and policymakers. But their plight — and the brokenness of the mental health system — affects everyone in the state.
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Apr 14, 2023
ACEs and oxygen masks: A deep dive on Adverse Childhood Events and resiliency work
On this episode, we take a closer look at trauma-informed approaches to education, criminal justice, and even our everyday lives. WHQR's Rachel Keith, who just published a three-part series on ACEs, joins us to dig deeper into the issue.
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Apr 7, 2023
Conversations about education: Provost James Winebrake on UNCW's new colleges, Dorian Cromartie on Rachel Freeman's struggles
On this episode, UNCW Provost James Winebrake on this week's big news — the restructuring of the College of Arts and Sciences into two new separate colleges. And, on a related note, we’ll get into the tension between two visions of the university: one, as an institution for workforce development, and the other, as a place of personal exploration and growth.Then, we’ll talk to Dorian Cromartie, a volunteer at Rachel Freeman Elementary, a school named for Dorian’s grandmother. For years, the school has been in chaos — with high administrative and faculty turnover, and some very challenging student misbehavior. We’ll unpack what’s causing these issues and how to address them.
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Apr 1, 2023
Fish wars: The decades-old battle over North Carolina's fisheries
For years, the state of North Carolina has struggled to balance economic interests, environmental concerns, and the public's right to recreational access to natural resources — that is, fish. The issue is complicated by the difficulty of knowing the exact status of many of the state's most popular fish species. On this episode, WHQR's Grace Vitaglione unpacks months of reporting to try and get to the bottom of things.
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Mar 18, 2023
Three strikes and you're out: The short tenure of CFCC Trustee Ray Funderburk
Less than a year after he was appointed, Ray Funderburk was ousted from the Cape Fear Community College Board of Trustees. In his brief time on the board, he stepped out of line three times, starting with his vote against President Jim Morton's raise — the only dissenting vote. On this episode, a look at the trial to remove him and what we've learned in the aftermath.
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Feb 21, 2023
Cape Fear Conversations: Black History in Wilmington
If you missed WHQR's February 11 Black History event, you're in luck: We have the highlights for you in this episode of The Newsroom. Hear from great speakers about local history, and tune in next week for an episode on our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion panel.
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Feb 10, 2023
Genesis Block's focus on minority entrepreneurship, the long wait for Florence recovery, and public-private partnerships galore
On this week's show: Tracey and Girard Newkirk on Genesis Block's work with minority entrepreneurs, WHQR's Grace Vitaglione on the maze of federal, state, and local disaster recovery efforts, and WECT's Michael Praats on the region's public-private partnerships.
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Jan 27, 2023
PIOs: The good, the bad, and the ugly
On today’s show, we’re talking about the crucial and sometimes contentious relationship between journalists and public information officers. At stake: the ability of a free press to function — and of the public to stay informed about what their government is doing. So, no pressure.
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Jan 13, 2023
The Newsroom: What we learned taking One Small Step
On this episode, a closer look at WHQR’s One Small Step project — part of our longtime relationship with StoryCorps.Our past StoryCorps conversations have been between close friends and family members, but One Small Step was something different, and a little more challenging: putting two strangers with two very different political backgrounds together for a conversation.The goal? Have a civil conversation, explain where you’re coming from without trying to fight or win over the other person, and maybe connect a little as a human beingAs daunting as that might sound in our fraught political climate, the conversations were surprising, and educational, and sometimes even inspiring.
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Jan 2, 2023
The Newsroom: WHQR reporters look back at 2022 -- and ahead to 2023
On today’s show, we’re bidding farewell to 2022 with a look back at the work WHQR's team of journalists did this year, and a look ahead at what’s in store for 2023. Host Benjamin Schachtman sits down with Camille Mojica, Grace Vitgalione, Kelly Kenoyer, and Rachel Keith.
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Dec 17, 2022
Gentrification in Wilmington Part II: The data, the struggle, and the solutions
Gentrification is washing over downtown Wilmington, accelerating as it moves North to South. On this week's episode of The Newsroom, we'll dig into the history that led us here, the data proving it's happening, and how it feels on the ground. We'll also hear about potential solutions- however complex those answers may be.
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Dec 12, 2022
The changing face of Wilmington's Northside, Pt. 1: A conversation about gentrification
On this episode, Reporter Kelly Kenoyer brings us the first of two shows focused on gentrification in downtown Wilmington. This is an in-depth conversation with two guests: Cierra Washington and Qailinn Bowen of the Northside Food Co-op. Both are working hard to fulfill a decades-old promise to bring a grocery store to the Northside — a historically Black and underserved segment of the city. But they're watching the neighborhood change before their eyes, even as they work to unite it.
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Nov 11, 2022
The 2022 local election results: What happened, why, and what's next
On this episode: Rachel Keith helps unpack the Republican's sweep of the New Hanover County Board of Education. The four GOP candidates will effectively be able to make policy in the coming years — what might that look like? Then, Kelly Kenoyer joins us to get Republican and Democratic political perspectives on the 2022 election from Chase Horton, who ran Michael Lee’s campaign, and Carter Jewell, who ran Amy Block DeLoach’s campaign.
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Oct 28, 2022
State representative candidates' town hall: Abortion, gun control, inflation, and more
On this episode, we unpack our town hall for state representative candidates from the Cape Fear region. We put questions from our newsroom — and the public — to eight candidates in four races, pushing them on tough topics like abortion, gun control, inflation, and more.
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Oct 22, 2022
New Hanover County Commissioner Town Hall: Housing, fiscal responsibility, and taxes
Our town hall featured questions for the four candidates — two Democrats and two Republicans — facing off for two seats on the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners. On this episode, we'll unpack their responses to tough questions from reporters and the public, and provide some analysis, context, and fact-checking.
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Oct 20, 2022
Candidates for New Hanover County Sheriff: Democratic incumbent Ed McMahon and Republican challenger Matt Rhodes
On this episode: the race for New Hanover County Sheriff, which is seeing a contested seat in the general election for the first time in eight years.
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Oct 14, 2022
New Hanover County Board of Education town hall: Context, analysis, and fact-checking
Our town hall featured questions for the eight candidates — four Republicans and four Democrats — running for four open seats on the New Hanover County Board of Education. On this episode, we unpack their responses to everything from evaluating the performance of superintendent Charles Foust to funding pay raises for teachers and staff to serious, and sometimes specious, allegations about what’s going on in the district.
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Oct 10, 2022
Special episode: Hunger in the Cape Fear and Wilmington's new Food Bank facility
The Wilmington Branch of the North Carolina Food Bank has outgrown its old facility. But they still need about $100,000 in donations to close the funding gap for a new, expanded one. We take a deep dive into the problem of hunger in our region and what the Food Bank hopes to do about it.
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Oct 7, 2022
Trains, Transit, and Trails: What's covered under the proposed 1/4-cent sales tax?
The Nov. 8 election will include a ballot initiative for a 1/4 cent transit tax. But what does that mean? We've got all the details for you in this hour-long special, which kicks off our month of election coverage on The Newsroom.
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Sep 29, 2022
A year later, it's time for another deep dive on CFCC: Finances, firings, and faculty morale
On this episode, we're joined by WHQR's own Rachel Keith to unpack her most recent investigative series looking at issues at Cape Fear Community College — and at the administration of President Jim Morton.
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Sep 13, 2022
Support local journalism: A message from WHQR News Director Ben Schachtman
Over the last year and a half, The Newsroom has tackled some of the toughest stories in the region, powered by the reporting of WHQR's journalists. We're grateful to our community for making this work possible— and we're asking you, during WHQR's Fall pledge drive, to join those who are already supporting the WHQR news team.
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Sep 2, 2022
Drug Money: North Carolina’s little-known tax on illegal drugs and alcohol
If you ask law enforcement, the North Carolina Unauthorized Substance Tax provides valuable revenue without burdening taxpayers, and only punishes people participating in criminal activity. But the reality is more complicated. Sometimes, yes, it’s a drug trafficker, rightfully convicted, who ends up paying these fines. But sometimes, it’s a family member that suffers — and sometimes it’s a totally innocent person. On this episode, we unpack the complicated legacy of a tax law many people don’t even know exists.
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Aug 22, 2022
The gritty reality of a hot housing market
The majority of renters are housing burdened in New Hanover County, and rental prices continue to surge. But what do those concerning numbers mean for people experiencing this vicious housing market? WHQR's Kelly Kenoyer explores that issue with one person who's been pushed out of the market, alongside a panel of experts who work with the most desperate members of the Cape Fear Community.
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Aug 5, 2022
A conversation with UNCW's new chancellor, plus, what happened to the Wilmington crime lab?
WHQR's Rachel Keith sits down with Dr. Aswani Volety, UNCW's new chancellor. And WECT investigative reporter Michael Praats helps unpack the history of the Wilmington crime lab — and new allegations about why the Sheriff's office took over managing it.
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Jul 22, 2022
Neofascism, irony, and leaderless resistance ... yes, we're talking about the Proud Boys
Many things about the Proud Boys, including their name, are a joke. But that doesn't make them harmless. In fact, it's what makes them dangerous. On this episode, we'll sit down with a researcher whose team compiled a report on the group for the January 6th Committee.
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Jul 8, 2022
Fran Weller on a 40-year career, Rachel Keith on a missing $10 million study, Nada Merghani on advocacy and reporting
On this episode, WECT's Frances Weller reflects on her four decades in broadcast journalism — and looks ahead to what's next. Then, WHQR's own Rachel Keith on the story of a missing study, worth millions of dollars, that could hold key insights into the problem of school safety. And Nada Merghani, an advocate who has turned to journalism with recent work for WUNC, talks about navigating the new rules of reporting.
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Jun 24, 2022
The Newsroom: Caroline Morin on Pride and prejudice, Evan Folds on outsmarting our garbage problem
On this episode of the newsroom, conversations about two very different issues that both challenge our regionFirst, Caroline Morin, director of the LGBTQ Center of the Cape Fear Coast, talks about her work, the rise in attacks on her community, and the particular flavor of bigotry in the coastal south. Then, Evan Folds, with the New Hanover Soil & Water Conservation District, gets into our county’s looming landfill crisis, and some innovative ways to solve it.
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Jun 3, 2022
The Newsroom: What's killing Wilmington's pedestrians?
On this episode of the Newsroom, guest host Kelly Kenoyer breaks down where in New Hanover County cars tend to hit cyclists and pedestrians — and why this town is more dangerous for those on foot or on pedals than other cities in North Carolina. But there are solutions that could save lives in the future, including an innovative campaign called Vision Zero.
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May 20, 2022
The Newsroom: Unpacking the New Hanover County 2022 primary elections
This week, the WHQR news team, along with guests from Port City Daily and WECT, break down the major issues and how they shaped the results of Tuesday's election — which saw some unexpected upsets for incumbents, strong performances from newcomers, and higher voter turnout than in past years.
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May 13, 2022
The Newsroom: The StarNews report on Wilmington's segregated schools and neighborhoods
This week on The Newsroom, StarNews journalists Sydney Hoover, Emma Dill, and Matthew Prensky discuss their recent series on segregation in Wilmington’s school – and its neighborhoods.
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May 9, 2022
The Newsroom: Unpacking the NHC commissioners' candidate townhall
On this week’s episode, WHQR’s Ben Schachtman and Kelly Kenoyer break down what happened at the joint-media town hall for primary candidates running for the New Hanover County Commissioners. The event, produced by WHQR, WECT, and Port City Daily, featured all seven candidates, with questions from reporters and the public.
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May 5, 2022
The Newsroom: Rouzer and Southworth-Beckwith square off in GOP primary for NC's 7th Congressional district
On this episode, conversations with the Republican primary candidates for North Carolina's 7th Congressional District: Incumbent David Rouzer, a four-term congressman, and challenger Max Southworth-Beckwith.
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May 2, 2022
The Newsroom: Unpacking this week's Board of Education candidate town hall
On this week’s episode, WHQR’s Ben Schachtman and Rachel Keith break down what happened at the joint-media town hall for primary candidates running for the New Hanover County Board of Education. The event, produced by WHQR, WECT, and Port City Daily, featured all ten candidates, with questions from reporters and the public.
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Apr 22, 2022
The Newsroom: The four Democratic primary candidates for North Carolina's 7th Congressional District
This week on The Newsroom, conversations with the Democratic primary candidates for North Carolina’s 7th Congressional District: Yushonda Midgette, Charles E. Evans, Steve Miller, and Charles Graham.
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Apr 17, 2022
The Newsroom: Democratic primary candidates for NHCSO, Ed McMahon and Kelvin Hargrove
On this episode: conversations with the Democratic primary candidates for New Hanover County Sheriff — career police officer Kelvin Hargrove and incumbent Sheriff Ed McMahon.
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Mar 25, 2022
The Newsroom: A deep dive on the science and politics of PFAS
This week, guest host Kelly Kenoyer draws on months of reporting to present a closer look at what's going on with PFAS, the family of 'forever chemicals' that includes GenX and thousands of others. We'll tackle the history, science, and politics of the problem — and look at what can be done in the future.
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Mar 11, 2022
The Newsroom: Primary elections, Wilmington Housing Authority, and 'community violence'
On this episode, the WHQR news team helps unpack three major stories: Rachel Keith kicks off the primary election season, Kelly Kenoyer explains the evolving crisis in Wilmington's housing authority, and Camille Mojica digs into the issue of 'community violence.'
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Feb 25, 2022
The Newsroom: Open government is good government, plus UNCW's Chief Diversity Officer
On this edition of The Newsroom, WHQR's Rachel Keith joins us for a look at government transparency and accountability. Then, WECT’s Michael Praats on the grey area around public records. Plus, a conversation with UNCW's Dr. Donyell Roseboro, who recently became the University's permanent Chief Diversity Officer.
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Feb 10, 2022
The Newsroom: What makes a city, a city?
On this week's episode, guest-host Kelly Kenoyer digs into the great suburban experiment that has defined development in the United States ever since the invention of the car. Plus, an update on the housing crisis — or is it crises? — in Wilmington.
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Jan 28, 2022
The Newsroom: Officials say New Hanover's $50 million housing bond is dead. What happened, and what's next?
Years of committees, surveys, and studies culminated in a big push for a $50 million housing bond — with elected officials, advocates, and developers all seemingly on board. Then, the idea abruptly died, killed in part by political concerns about raising taxes during an election season. So — now what?
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Jan 15, 2022
The Newsroom: County Chair Julia Olson-Boseman, WHQR's Rachel Keith on the opioid crisis, and mask mandate redux
In the first show of 2022, we tackle the opioid crisis — which is killing more Americans than ever before. Also, County Chairperson Julia Olson-Boseman on what's in store for the county this year. Then, Port City Daily journalist Alexandria Sands Williams looks behind the scenes on the county's mask mandate debate.
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Jan 3, 2022
The Newsroom: WHQR's news team looks back at 2021
On this episode: In 2021 our news team tackled stories that were tougher and more complicated than ever. We reflect on the year and turn to 2022, which shows no signs of being an easier ride.
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Dec 17, 2021
The Newsroom: What if...? A $350-million political thought experiment
New Hanover County has a $350-million fund, with no specifics strings attached or plans for the the money. What if the county spent it on one main issue — like housing, transportation, education, or medical debt?
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Dec 3, 2021
The Newsroom: A veteran teacher reflects, allegations against Olson-Boseman, and Tru Colors' trials and tribulations
On this episode of The Newsroom — Florence Warren, a 35-year veteran, sits down with WHQR's Rachel Keith to talk about her career in teaching and the work still left to be done. Plus, WECT reporter Michael Praats' latest on allegations against New Hanover County Chair Julia Olson-Boseman. And, a deep dive on Tru Colors.
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Nov 19, 2021
The Newsroom: The Wilmington Housing Authority's slow-motion mold disaster
This week WHQR launched an investigative series into the Wilmington Housing Authority, looking at systemic mismanagement and miscommunication that's led to mold infestation getting out of control. On this episode of The Newsroom, co-hosted by WHQR's Ben Schachtman and Kelly Kenoyer, we'll put the pieces together, and dig even deeper into the story.
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Nov 5, 2021
The Newsroom - Elections 2021: Plot twists, policies, poll numbers, and plenty of campaign spending
On this edition of The Newsroom, we break down the results of the 2021 municipal elections — we'll be talking results, voter turnout, and what's next.
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Oct 29, 2021
The Newsroom: Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach mayoral candidates
We round out our month-long elections coverage with a look at the races for mayor in New Hanover County's beach towns.
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Oct 22, 2021
The Newsroom: Wilmington mayoral candidates Harper Peterson and Bill Saffo
All throughout October, The Newsroom will feature special coverage of the 2021 elections for Wilmington's city council and mayoral seats. With eight candidates for council and a head-to-head battle for mayor, it will be an interesting month.
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Oct 15, 2021
The Newsroom: Wilmington City Council candidates Philip White and Charlie Rivenbark
All throughout October, The Newsroom will feature special coverage of the 2021 elections for Wilmington's city council and mayoral seats. With eight candidates for council and a head-to-head battle for mayor, it will be an interesting month.
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Oct 8, 2021
The Newsroom: Wilmington City Council candidates Paul Lawler, Angie Ulmer, and Luke Waddell
All throughout October, The Newsroom will feature special coverage of the 2021 elections for Wilmington's city council and mayoral seats. With eight candidates for council and a head-to-head battle for mayor, it will be an interesting month.
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Oct 1, 2021
The Newsroom: Special elections coverage, Wilmington council candidates Clifford Barnett, Sr. and Jonathan Uzcategui
Every Friday in October, WHQR's The Newsroom will bring you coverage of the 2021 Wilmington election and interviews with the candidates.
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Sep 24, 2021
The Newsroom: District Attorney Ben David and Chief District Court Judge Jay Corpening on juvenile justice
On the latest edition of The Newsroom, an in-depth conversation with District Attorney Ben David and Chief District Court Judge Jay Corpening. We discuss changing philosophical approaches to juvenile justice and changes to North Carolina's laws — plus, what could be in store now that New Hanover County has agreed to tap $350 million in hospital sale funds.
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Sep 10, 2021
The Newsroom: A long, hard look at Cape Fear Community College
On this episode: Over the last three years, rumors have circulated, alleging a toxic workplace at CFCC under the administration of President Jim Morton. In early 2020, WECT published a report with on-the-record allegations, but it seems little has changed. Now, new reporting from WHQR's Rachel Keith goes deeper than ever into issues at the college.
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Aug 27, 2021
The Newsroom Special Edition: Covid-19 myths, misinformation, questions, and concerns
Tens of millions of people still haven't had the shot and, in most cases, it's not because they don't have access to the vaccination sites — it is often because of lingering fears and concerns about the vaccine. WHQR's team tackled these concerns, but also the question, 'can anything change the unvaccinated's minds?'
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Aug 6, 2021
The Newsroom: Civil discourse isn't dead, news deserts can be irrigated, and beaches... well, they're complicated
On this episode: Heading into a local election, political tensions are dangerously high. Can we lower the noise enough to hear each other? Plus, news deserts are a threat to democracy. How can we change things? And, beaches are central to local life and local governments — but keeping them from washing into the ocean is difficult and expensive.
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Jul 16, 2021
The Newsroom Special Edition: The Northside Story - segregation, gentrification, and zoning in Wilmington
On this week's show, guest host Kelly Kenoyer takes a deep dive into the history of segregation in Wilmington, learning how modern zoning codes have continued that legacy today. We'll look at this through the lens of Wilmington's Northside, because the story of this neighborhood is the story of countless others, which have experienced the same issues.
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Jul 2, 2021
The Newsroom: Local news collaborations, voices of Williston's alumni, and the future of Eagles Island
On this edition of The Newsroom, we talk about a new collaborative news venture, dive into a new archive of elder voices from Wilmington's Black community, and unpack the potential for a public nature park on Eagles Island.
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Jun 18, 2021
The Newsroom: Wilmington Pride, Juneteenth, and a deep dive into WAVE
On this edition of The Newsroom, it's a month of celebration — and a celebration of public transportation (or, at least, its potential).
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Jun 4, 2021
The Newsroom: A year after George Floyd's murder, reflections and opportunities for change
On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was murdered by then-police officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis. Then came protests in the streets, condemnation from public officials, and tough conversations. A year later, what's changed — and what could change?
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May 25, 2021
The Newsroom Special Edition: Wilmington protestors, the 'Trump billboard,' and the Confederate monuments
Today, a conversation about three Wilmington protestors currently set to stand trial for destruction of property -- Tim Joyner, Josh Zieseniss, and Nicole Nelson, who many know better as Lily Nicole.
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May 6, 2021
The Newsroom: NHC school board chair and vice-chair, NC's police footage law, and urban farming
Hosted by Ben Schachtman, Managing Editor of HQR News, the program is an opportunity for local officials and reporters -- the people who make news and the people who report it -- to talk about the issues that affect our community. Expect deeper dives and candid conversation.
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Apr 2, 2021
The Newsroom: Councilman Kevin Spears, the NHCS civil suit, affordable housing
On the latest edition of our new program, The Newsroom, host and WHQR Managing Editor Benjamin Schachtman sits down with Wilmington City Councilman Kevin Spears to discuss affordable housing (or, rather, the lack of it), creating jobs, and systemic racism.
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Mar 19, 2021
The Newsroom: A special Covid-19 edition
This week, on a special edition of The Newsroom -- the WHQR news team takes an hour-long look at the past, present, and future of Covid-19 in the Wilmington area.
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Mar 5, 2021
The Newsroom: Wilmington's challenges, public-private projects, and the Northside Food Co-Op
Hosted by Ben Schachtman, Managing Editor of HQR News, the program is an opportunity for local officials and reporters -- the people who make news and the people who report it -- to talk about the issues that affect our community. Expect deeper dives and candid conversation.
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Feb 5, 2021
The Newsroom: $1.25 billion foundation, reopening schools, and understanding Creekwood
On the first episode of The Newsroom:
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