A new area code for southeastern North Carolina will go into effect in early October, more than four months earlier than planned, state officials say. The 472 area code will be used for new phone lines in Cumberland, New Hanover, Onslow and Robeson counties. The move means that residents in Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, Wilmington, Jacksonville and Lumberton will get numbers that begin with 472 if they get new service or an additional line, according to a statement released this week by the North Carolina Utilities Com... read more

Sun Belt cities — the region in the U.S. that stretches across the nation’s southern tier — topped the list of moving destinations in 2021 and will likely remain the top 10 places with the most competitive housing markets in 2022, according to Zillow researchers. Movers flocked to more affordable, medium-sized metros across the Sun Belt in 2021, including Dallas, Charlotte and Sarasota, drawn in by relative affordability and weather that allows them to enjoy the outdoors year-round. In 2... read more

It's been a rough few years for fall festivals — not to mention gatherings in general — in the Wilmington area.  Between hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic, the ability of area organizations to actually hold festivals has been inconsistent at best since 2015 or so. A number of festivals have folded, others have moved from fall to spring and some are scheduled to happen this year for for the first time since 2019.  Let's hope that 2022 is the year things regain a sense of norma... read more

By Michael Praats WECT Published: Apr. 29, 2022 at 11:08 AM EDT Following a ruling from a three-judge panel from the North Carolina Court of Appeals ruling the City of Wilmington’s short-term rental ordinances violated state law, City Council will vote on returning more than $500,000 to those who paid the fees. According to the documents from the City of Wilmington, they’d also pay interest. “Pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 160D-106, registration fees collected sin... read more

Looking back, it was undoubtedly risky suggesting to meet Harry Styles, the global music megastar, the apple of so many millions of eyes, at a public open-air swimming pool in London on an unusually sunny March morning—right when people were bouncing around the city with a vaguely manic, newly liberated energy, catalyzed by the total lift on COVID restrictions. But swimmers, particularly all-weather swimmers (the lido I chose is unheated and open year-round), take the meditative pleasure of swimming seriously... read more