Before the presidential campaign even started, we witnessed gridlock on Capitol Hill that, at one point, quite literally shut down the government. During this presidential election season, we’ve watched month after month of political surprises and levels of division that pundits declare unprecedented. Books are written on the battle of ideologies and willingness to compromise is positioned as weakness. One well-known NPR political commentator compared the heightened vitriol to pre-Civil War era

New Hanover County’s Board of Commissioners has three open seats this year. Here are the three Republicans vying for those spots – which carry four-year terms. Guests in order of appearance: Derrick Hickey, seeking first term Patricia Kusek, seeking first term Woody White, seeking second term Segment 1 Rachel Lewis Hilburn: Woody White is a lawyer and former North Carolina Senator who served out the remainder of Patrick Ballantine’s term after Ballantine stepped away to run for governor in 2004.

New Hanover County’s Board of Commissioners has three open seats this year. On an earlier edition of CoastLine Candidate Interviews, we met the Republicans. On this edition, we meet the Democrats vying for those spots – which carry four-year terms. As of last year, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated New Hanover County’s population to be a little over 220,000. One of New Hanover County’s commissioners with an expiring term, Republican Beth Dawson, lost the March primary and is not on the November

This edition of CoastLine marks the beginning of our election-focused candidate interviews. It also marks the return of CoastLine two days a week – Wednesdays and Thursdays with Sunday re-broadcasts of both. New Hanover County’s Board of Education has three open seats this year. Here are the three Republicans vying for those spots – which carry four-year terms. Two of the Republican candidates are incumbents; one is seeking elected office for the first time. Guests: Lisa Estep, incumbent,

New Hanover County’s Board of Education has three open seats this year. On September 7th, we met the Republicans. On this edition of CoastLine, we meet the Democrats vying for those spots – which carry four-year terms. All three are seeking first terms on what is currently an all-Republican Board. Guests: Sandra Leigh, seeking first term Emma Saunders, seeking first term Kevin Spears, seeking first term ------------------------------------------------------------------- Segment 1: Sandra Leigh

Spring planting is embedded in our DNA – when the days get longer, the weather warmer, and we know it’s time to take stock of the greening of our piece of the garden. When it comes to fall, some people are vaguely aware of pumpkins and gourds and, perhaps, cabbage, but there's a great deal more to take advantage of with the cooler, rainier weather. Guests: Barbara Sullivan, Author, Garden Perennials for the Coastal South Tom Ericson, co-owner, The Transplanted Garden, 502 S. 16th Street,

Alligators call North Carolina home – but it’s a cold home for them – and until recently the state was considered the northernmost part of their habitat in the United States. We find out on this edition of CoastLine whether that’s still the case. And we explore the implications of human encroachment on alligator habitat – how it’s affecting this species and whether it’s posing an increased risk of danger for humans, particularly in light of the June alligator attack at a Disney resort in Florida

Tom Morris has written more than 20 books – most of which distill ancient wisdom from the Greek and Roman philosophers into practical ideas for living in the modern world. Some of the titles you might recognize: If Aristotle Ran General Motors, Philosophy for Dummies, The Stoic Art of Living: Inner Resilience and Outer Results, The Art of Achievement, and If Harry Potter Ran General Electric. He recently ventured into the world of fiction with his first novel, The Oasis Within: A Journey of

On the corner of Market and Third Streets, at the entrance to downtown Wilmington, there is a statue of George Davis. He was the last Confederate Attorney General. Third Street near Dock boasts a monument to soldiers of the Confederacy. The StarNews recently wrote about streets in Wilmington’s Pine Valley neighborhood that are named after Confederate officers. The namesakes include General Robert E. Lee, Lieutenant General Nathan Bedford Forrest, John D. Barry. Just last summer, South Carolina

The U.S. Department of Justice has visited Wilmington in response to at least two violent incidents between members of law enforcement and the community. During those visits, DOJ officials evaluated local law enforcement practices and policies. That scrutiny is occurring all across the United States, as it seems new cell phone videos showing excessive use of force by police – with people of color usually on the receiving end – seem to pop up with astonishing frequency. There are initiatives to