Developers vs. Residents: Who Will Shape Wilmington’s Future?
Release Date: 09/24/2025
Wilmington's Mystery Mailer and the Organization Behind it
Cape Fear Beacon
Uncover how Raleigh PACs, including the CLC, flood Wilmington elections with dark money. Through deceptive "mystery mailers," operatives exploit low-information voters to sideline party candidates and install officials aligned with real estate development interests. This remote network of operatives effectively decides local power.
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2025 Wilmington Municipal Candidates' Voting Record: Luke Waddell is the Most Pro-Developer
Cape Fear Beacon
The 2025 Wilmington municipal election reveals a stark divide. Incumbents like Luke Waddell and Bill Saffo consistently approved high-density rezoning, a pattern echoed by Planning Commission candidates Richard Collier and JC Lyle. This pro-growth voting record, tied to developer campaign contributions, accelerated infrastructure strain. We scrutinize these voting records against challengers Billy Craig and Kelly Roberts, who explicitly demand a development moratorium
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Developers vs. Residents: Who Will Shape Wilmington’s Future?
Cape Fear Beacon
The Battle for Wilmington: Development, Dollars, and Democracy Summary: Wilmington, North Carolina, is facing a crisis of identity, trading its small-town charm and livability for gridlock and high-density development. This deep dive investigates the unsustainable pace of growth and the resulting frustration over lagging infrastructure. We pull back the curtain on local politics, where large campaign donations fuel suspicion of a developer "quid pro quo" influencing controversial rezoning decisions, despite warnings that they violate policy. Explore the immense environmental cost of this...
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PowerSchool Breach: Are Accomplices Still At Large, with the Database in Hand?
Cape Fear Beacon
A massive breach of PowerSchool, the student information system used by thousands of school districts, has exposed the personal data of more than 62 million students and nearly 10 million teachers. The attack pulled back the curtain on how one small group infiltrated a global education platform and exfiltrated everything from Social Security numbers to medical records, data that could haunt victims for years. In this episode, we break down how the breach happened, why the stolen information is so valuable on the dark web, and what it means for families, schools, and the future of student data...
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Republican-led School Board Prefers Gaslighting and Struggle Sessions over Transparency
Cape Fear Beacon
This episode dissects the board's alleged attempts to control information flow and silence dissent under the guise of enforcing ethical standards and maintaining internal trust. It unpacks the New Hanover County Schools Board's scheduled 'struggle session,' where a Republican-led majority faces accusations of gaslighting board member David Perry and the public. Perry, who spoke with a parent about their closed-session student appeal decision, is facing potential censure, with Pat Bradford asserting he "breached board confidentiality and policy" (Policy 2120) by sharing information before the...
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NHCS Superintendent Barnes' 1st Year Marked by $5 Mil. Shortfall and Systemic DEI Culture
Cape Fear Beacon
Join us as we dive into New Hanover County Schools' $5 million deficit, Superintendent Barnes' social justice background, and the lasting influence of DEI and Black Liberation ideologies in classrooms.
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Coordinated Ambush on Texas ICE facility: a Product of Radical Educators?
Cape Fear Beacon
The 2025 Texas ICE facility ambush was a planned attack on July 4, 2025, involving firearms, body armor, and "insurrectionist material" like "fight ICE terror with class war" flyers. Our conversation explored its implied link to public education. Sources reveal concerns that educators promote "Far Left values" using books like "Stamped," which honors Angela Davis as a "visionary". Davis, a prominent Communist Party leader, was accused of purchasing guns used in a deadly 1970 courtroom takeover and was on the FBI's Most Wanted List. An email from a teacher also advocated against "hero worship"...
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Wilmington Restaurants' Shrimp Fraud Report
Cape Fear Beacon
Dive into a report revealing rampant shrimp fraud in Wilmington, NC. Genetic testing found 77% of restaurants sampled misrepresented imported, farm-raised shrimp as local or U.S. wild-caught. This deceptive marketing not only cheats consumers but severely impacts local shrimpers. We explore the findings, the harm to the industry, and why better labeling is needed to protect both consumers and American livelihoods.
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New Hanover Republican-led School Board Unintentionally Throws a Pro-Tim Merrick Political Rally
Cape Fear Beacon
A move to censure Democrat Dr. Tim Merrick by New Hanover County’s Republican-led school board quickly turned into a public show of support for him. While board members accused Merrick of crossing the line in a personnel issue and possibly leaking confidential info, the crowd of around 160 people wasn’t having it. Supporters filled the room, many wearing pork pie hats like Merrick’s, and made their frustration known with boos and calls of “shame.” The tension prompted several warnings and a few removals. Board member Judy Justice, also a Democrat, said the censure could backfire,...
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Is Josie Being Played, or is She Playing Us?
Cape Fear Beacon
Josie Barnhart's March 31st (2025) letter advocates for revisiting the rejected $3.2 million security pilot funding due to "new information and insights". She highlights ongoing camera upgrades since 2022, the growing role of AI, and the existing Verkada system pilot. However, despite Barnhart's push, significant reservations remain concerning the need for a second pilot program (Eviden alongside Verkada), Eviden's limited U.S. K-12 experience, and enduring worries about privacy, effectiveness against concealed weapons, and long-term costs.
info_outlineThe Battle for Wilmington: Development, Dollars, and Democracy
Summary:
Wilmington, North Carolina, is facing a crisis of identity, trading its small-town charm and livability for gridlock and high-density development. This deep dive investigates the unsustainable pace of growth and the resulting frustration over lagging infrastructure. We pull back the curtain on local politics, where large campaign donations fuel suspicion of a developer "quid pro quo" influencing controversial rezoning decisions, despite warnings that they violate policy. Explore the immense environmental cost of this expansion, including widespread clear-cutting and the desperate fight to save globally significant natural treasures like Sledge Forest from becoming 4,000+ homes in a flood-hazard area. The podcast examines how grassroots political groups like Voices to Votes are mobilizing to use the pivotal 2025 Municipal Election to elect leaders who will prioritize the community and define the future character of the city.