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What Wilmington is talking about
courts
Pender County Superior Court Judge Ricardo Jensen declared a mistrial on October 15 in the trial of David Prevatte, who is charged with first-degree murder and statutory sexual offense involving his 5-year-old niece, Paitin Fields. The mistrial followed juror reports that extraneous information about Prevatte had entered deliberations, prompting the court to find that a fair and impartial verdict could not be reached. The charges remain pending; prosecutors intend to retry the case, and an administrative/pretrial hearing is set for November 13.
via courttv.com·2d agoDetails →
sports
IRONMAN 70.3 North Carolina is a 70.3-mile triathlon held in the Wilmington area, with a swim near Wrightsville Beach, a bike route through Wilmington and Pender County, and a downtown finish at Water Street Park. The event began as Beach2Battleship in 2006 and was acquired by IRONMAN in 2016; the 2026 race is described as its 17th edition after cancellations in 2018 and 2020. The sold-out race is expected to bring more than 3,000 athletes and thousands of associated visitors to the area.
via starnewsonline.com·2d agoDetails →
sports
Grayson Dill is a senior cross-country runner at Topsail High School. He won the NCHSAA 7A boys cross-country championship in 2025, becoming the first boys state champion in Topsail program history. His 15:10.40 at the 2025 Great American XC Festival is identified by the StarNews as the fastest 5K by a Wilmington-area high school runner.
via starnewsonline.com·2d agoDetails →
sports
The Landfall Tradition is a collegiate women’s golf tournament hosted at the Country Club of Landfall in Wilmington, North Carolina. The 2026 event is scheduled for three rounds on the club’s Pete Dye Course and includes UNC Wilmington among an 18-team NCAA Division I field.
via foxwilmington.com·2d agoDetails →
culture
The Count Basie Orchestra is a continuing big-band ensemble founded by pianist and bandleader William James “Count” Basie. The ensemble is directed by trumpeter Scotty Barnhart, who became director in 2013 after two decades as its featured trumpet soloist. Its 2023 album, "Basie Swings the Blues," won the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble.
via wwaytv3.com·2d agoDetails →
infrastructure
Pender County Commissioners approved a proposed 32-acre wastewater treatment facility in Hampstead in a narrow 3-2 vote. The decision exposed a broader divide between nearby residents concerned about environmental effects and officials who viewed expanded sewer capacity as part of planning for future county growth.
via starnewsonline.com·3d agoDetails →
elections
Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, is running for the open U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. Cooper faces former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley in the November election. Former President Barack Obama released an endorsement ad urging North Carolina voters to support Cooper, citing Cooper’s record as governor and attorney general.