Port City Politics
Michael Praats and Benjamin Schachtman
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Port City Politics is a podcast collaboration between WECT and WHQR. Every week, WECT’s investigative reporter Michael Praats and WHQR’s News Director Ben Schachtman will break down the latest happenings in local politics.
Available episodes
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3 days ago
NHC struggles with its library's growing homeless population. Plus, the reality of fentanyl exposure risk
On today’s episode, we’re unpacking the latest on the county’s effort to address homelessness — specifically, the growing population of unsheltered people congregating at the downtown Wilmington library. Plus, a look at an ongoing trend of law enforcement officers being exposed to fentanyl. It’s a powerful opioid, 50 times stronger than heroin — but is it strong enough for trace amounts on the skin to knock someone out?
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Jan 20, 2023
More diverse Live Nation acts? Plus, a $68-million deal for new city offices
This week on Port City Politics we're taking a look at two stories coming out of the Downtown area. First, we talk about the Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park and the types of shows coming to the Port City. Then we run down the city's consideration of purchasing the Thermo Fisher building (formerly PPD headquarters) — the tallest building in the city.
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Jan 13, 2023
Bump stocks, separation of powers, Columbus County politics, and the $1.25 billion community endowment
On this episode, we’ve got a full slate of issues. First up, the courts’ handling of bump stocks and the separation of powers. Then, the latest from Columbus County, where the Republican party is threatening to attempt to remove District Attorney Jon David. Plus, some thoughts on troubling flaws baked into the $1.25 billion New Hanover Community Endowment.
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Jan 6, 2023
The fallout from Sheriff Jody Greene's resignation, plus red-light camera redux
This week, the fallout from the resignation of Jody Greene, former Sheriff of Columbus County. And, red-light cameras revised, with questions based on physics, fairness, and the Constitution.
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Dec 30, 2022
Greene v. David redux, Register of Deeds and gay marriage, and stories for 2023
On this, our last episode of 2022, we look at the latest in the troubling saga of Columbus County Sheriff Jody Greene, who is under fire for racist behavior and alleged corruption. Plus a conversation about the New Hanover County GOP's search for a new Register of Deeds — and concerns from the left about the GOP's screening questionnaire.
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Dec 22, 2022
Fact-checking George Taylor, holiday scammers, a personal note
On this episode, we get into George Taylor’s allegations that media coverage effectively killed Tru Colors, the for-profit brewery he founded with a social mission to help curb street violence. Plus, a word of warning about scammers during the holiday season (and, really, any season). And, Michael Praats has some personal news.
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Dec 15, 2022
Wilmington Councilman Luke Waddell talks opioid epidemic, D.A.R.E, and plans for millions from settlement
The opioid epidemic has taken its toll on Wilmington and the country as a whole which is why manufacturers of drugs like OxyContin have faced lawsuits and shelled out billions of dollars in settlements. The City of Wilmington along with New Hanover County have partnered to find the best ways to utilize these funds and hopefully have a positive impact on fighting the ongoing crisis.
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Dec 9, 2022
Elected officials play musical chairs, City of Wilmington scores free tickets
On this episode, we welcome the new (and returning) faces as New Hanover County commissioners and school board members are sworn in – and take a lot at some of the power dynamics that played out as they elected chairs and vice-chairs. Then, Wilmington’s elected officials (who don’t have to worry about an election for a few more months), score free concert tickets! Plus, a word about the recent spate of threats – and a “weird” story for the road.
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Dec 2, 2022
Jody Greene will probably again be Columbus County's Sheriff, but for how long? Plus, the Iannone trial, diverted flight, and 'swatting'
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Nov 22, 2022
NHCDP Chairman Andre Brown talks 2022 election results, and what's next
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.
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Nov 10, 2022
Will Knecht, New Hanover County GOP chair, is our guest, plus a sensitive story on WPD's racist cops
On this episode, we welcome our first guest, Will Knecht, chairman of New Hanover County's Republican Party. We'll ask him about his party's strong showing in the 2022 election, and how he handles divergent, and sometimes extreme, views within the party. Plus: a story over two years in the making, featuring disturbing audio of three racist officers fired from the Wilmington Police Department.
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Nov 3, 2022
Former Trustee calls out complacent CFCC board, Winnabow's incorporation hopes, and more sign shenanigans
On this episode, the latest on now former-CFCC Trustee Jimmy Hopkins, who has added to the chorus of allegations against the college, describing a culture of complacent oversight and retaliation against critics. Then, will there be a Town of Winnabow? Probably not, but we get into why some were looking into it. And, a(nother) word about campaign signs.
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Oct 27, 2022
Sheriff Jody Greene resigns... so he can run again. Plus, Nelson Beaulieu accused of sign theft
On this episode, Columbus County Sheriff Jody Greene has resigned — so that he can get back to running for … Columbus County Sheriff. Greene continues to fend off allegations of racism, intimidation, and inappropriate sexual conduct with an employee. Plus, Nelson Beaulieu, a Democratic incumbent candidate for the New Hanover County Board of Education, is under investigation for allegedly stealing a campaign sign he called libelous.
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Oct 20, 2022
Recusal confusion, public records delays, Julia Olson-Boseman, and Jimmy Hopkins
On this episode we dig into questions about whether or not Wilmington Council Charlie Rivenbark should have recused himself from a recent rezoning vote. Plus, the Wilmington City Clerk’s office is taking a very long time to fulfill public records requests – which violates, at the very least, the spirit of state records law. And, the latest on upcoming stories on County Chairwoman Julia Olson-Boseman and now-former Cape Fear Community College Trustee Jimmy Hopkins.
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Oct 6, 2022
Jimmy Hopkins lawyers up as the Bank of America building story gets messier
On this episode, we look at the purchase of the former Bank of America building by New Hanover County on behalf of Cape Fear Community College — and the intertwined story of the CFCC Trustee Jimmy Hopkins’ dismissal by the county chair, after Hopkins’ disagreed with CFCC President Jim Morton about the BoA building purchase. Simple, right?
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Sep 30, 2022
CFCC, the Bank of America building, and Jimmy Hopkin's unceremonious removal from the Board of Trustees
On this episode, two interwoven stories revolving around the potential purchase of the former Bank of America building in downtown Wilmington by New Hanover County on behalf of Cape Fear Community College — and the abrupt removal of trustee Jimmy Hopkins from his longtime post on the CFCC Board.
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Sep 23, 2022
Project Grace sputters out
On this episode: after years of planning, and numerous iterations, New Hanover County’s ambitious and controversial proposal to redevelop the downtown Wilmington library block as part of a public-private partnership has apparently reached the end of the road. When the proposal went in front of the Local Government Commission, it died for lack of a second vote to consider the project. Now, the county says it will go it alone.
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Sep 15, 2022
Four years later, lessons from Florence. Plus, could the NHRMC nursing crisis have been avoided?
On this episode, we look back at Hurricane Florence, which drowned the Cape Fear region four years ago this week. Plenty went wrong during a punishing week of rain and flooding, but a lot of those missteps and issues have been addressed. We’ll also take a look at last week’s press conference, held by Novant Health to address the question that’s been hanging in the air for months: would the crisis at NHRMC be better if it were still owned by New Hanover County?
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Sep 8, 2022
TRU Colors goes down swinging
On this episode, we unpack the abrupt closure of TRU Colors – the controversial, for-profit brewery that employed active gang members while trying to disrupt community violence – and the claims by CEO and founder George Taylor, Jr. that unfair media coverage led to the company’s demise.
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Sep 1, 2022
The $50 million question: Unpacking the quid-pro-quo allegation against Olson-Boseman
On this episode, we break down one of the most complicated and troubling stories we’ve covered recently: allegations that New Hanover County Chairwoman Julia Olson-Boseman made a $50 million quid-pro-quo offer to Coastal Horizons to silence their criticisms of The Healing Place, the county’s planned peer-led drug and alcohol recovery facility.
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