Page 12 - Mark Darrough News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

An empty downtown Wilmington minutes after Governor Roy Cooper’s ‘stay at home’ order went into effect in late March 2020. (Port City Daily/Mark Darrough) 12:57 p.m. Saturday – The Senate approved the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan on Saturday. It will now return to the House of Representatives before it can be signed into law by President Joe Biden. The package consists of the previously expected $350 billion for cities and states. WILMINGTON — The city could receive $24 million in federal Covid-19 relief funds if the U.S. Senate’s current draft of the American Rescue Pla...

A woman checks her mailbox on a flooded street in the North Chase neighborhood in northern Wilmington following Hurricane Dorian. (Port City Daily/Mark Darrough) SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — The North Carolina Coastal Federation has announced the creation of an action plan for statewide government leaders and developers to help curb flooding and water pollution. The “ Action Plan for Nature-Based Stormwater Strategies” focuses on ways to promote natural designs to reduce flooding and improve water quality in new developments, stormwater retrofits, roadways, and working lands.  “North Carolini...

The Cottages at College Acres will open its first phase this fall. Bedrooms rent for around $800 per month in the 45 townhome units that will soon mark College Acres Drive. Developers worked for years to transform the entire block of land, next-door to UNCW, in order to establish an upscale student living community. (Port City Daily/Mark Darrough) WILMINGTON — An assortment of developers and consultants worked for years to bring a student-housing project to the border regions of UNCW. At least 14 properties along a stretch of College Acres Drive were purchased in order to demolish nearly 1...

Owned by Phillips Management Group, around 40 acres of land across from UNCW has sat barren since Hurricane Florence forced its demolition years ago. The developer has no plans to sell. (Port City Daily/Mark Darrough) WILMINGTON—A fenced-in plot of condemned, razed land has faced UNCW for over a year. The Seahawk statue that marks the center of campus gazes across College Road, into the gates of what once was The Glen apartments.  Construction on the property broke ground in 1967, just four years after UNCW was authorized to offer bachelor’s degrees. The owners, Phillips Management Group...

Monica Shepard, wearing all black at right, talks to neighbors as Pender County Sheriff’s deputies’ vehicles are parked behind them. (Port City Daily photo/Courtesy Kelly Estes) PENDER COUNTY – Two men facing criminal charges for confronting a Black teenager at his Pender County home with firearms last spring were found not guilty on Thursday, Feb 18. Former New Hanover County Sheriff’s deputy Jordan Kita led an all-white crowd on a search for his missing sister on May 3, 2020, and approached the home of Monica and Dameon Shepard, who had no ties to the girl. Kita was off...