Ben Brown at work

Promoting my journo work and the publication that puts it out. Unless otherwise noted, all stories and images here carry the Ben Brown byline and are not for reproduction. Linking and reblogging is encouraged. My current stories appear on portcitydaily.com; at times, I may post abbreviated versions of content I produced for, with links to, publications that employed me prior. You can contact me at benbrownnews at gmail dot com or ben at portcitydaily dot com. Twitter: @benbrownmedia.

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'Clarification' interpreted to outrage

A big one--national story--with all sorts of clashing info. Due to misconceptions? Real threats? Decide....

To Heath Clark, it’s not just a new roll of red tape.

He’s worried that if a proposed environmental rule goes into play as federally written, the Wilmington development company he manages will be out millions and millions of dollars in land it can no longer use.

But it’s not just developers on the ropes, he said. It’s farmers, large and small businesses and just about anyone who owns land.

“This is something that people do not understand until they’re affected,” said Clark, manager of Bill Clark Homes of Wilmington, which buys large tracts for homebuilding. “It could be catastrophic, to the point where it will drive the people that are left with land out of business.”

He’s one of several voices across the nation–though he worries they’re relatively few–upset with an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposal that opponents say would dramatically increase the amount of area federally regulated for water quality protection. The anxiety is in the thought that good, valuable land will be rendered undevelopable and, as such, worthless.

But the EPA says....

Rest of the story here.

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Dots

I shot the above, empty-looking photo because it well illustrated the opposite of the city's case for wise use of land. I also like how the wide-angle lens (attached to my iPhone) made the street lamp at right sway like a palm tree.

One potential growth strategy for Wilmington: “Identify and create incentives for the conversion of old industrial buildings to new employment and housing uses.”

That one got a green dot.

Another: “Introduce big-box and chain retail [downtown] with context-sensitive development.”

That one had red dots all over it.

Green good; red bad.

Residents at an idea-session arranged by city planners Wednesday were asked to either endorse (with green stickers) or disapprove of (with red) dozens of varying development concepts Wilmington might want to consider as population continues to increase over limited space.

Rest of the story here.

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Vote of confidence

Profiled a Wilmington, N.C.-based business whose clients are elections offices.

Voter turnout may be anemic; it may break records. At any rate, each election cycle is a tedious to-do behind the scenes, always.

Keeping up with poll workers, maintaining ballot machines, handling all that campaign finance reporting. It’s a great and time-consuming responsibility for elections offices, says a Wilmington-based software development company working toward faster and better-tuned elections management.

“We are in what we have termed the ‘elections process market,’” said Charles Davis, chief financial officer for Sivad Business Solutions, whose Easy Vote products are now at work in more than 75 voting jurisdictions–cities, counties, states–in the U.S., including the City of Atlanta, Georgia.

Easy Vote doesn’t directly touch the voter, but Davis said the efficiencies it affords the elections process ripple out to benefit all.

Rest of the story here.

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BHI's croquet haven

Another quick video I produced for The State Port Pilot with limited tools. I'd heard Bald Head Island had globally recognized croquet facilities--though I knew nothing about the sport--and decided to visit a tournament that brought out some of the world's top names.

Again, as I mentioned in the last post, this is not the original upload and it lacks the resolution of the original, which was hosted on the publication’s website before someone in the office bumped it to YouTube in lower quality.

A note about the simple background music: I wrote and recorded it in my home studio, specifically for the video. I gave the rights to the publication.

From June 2010:

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As big as a VW Beetle

A four-minute video I put together for The State Port Pilot newspaper of Southport, N.C., in spring 2010. A leatherback--the world's largest reptile--paid a rare visit to area shorelines and brought quite a crowd.

Unfortunately this isn't the original upload and lacks the resolution of the original, which was hosted on the publication's website before someone in the office bumped it to YouTube in lesser quality (likely per upload time).

For what it's worth, this video won first place in the N.C. Press Association's journalism contest that year.

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Action

Arguably the top focus from southeastern North Carolina as the N.C. General Assembly flies through its short lawmaking session is what's to happen with the state's film incentives. The state currently offers a refundable tax credit that supporters say is right under the feet of thousands of jobs. But that credit is scheduled to expire at year's end. With a number of legislators fundamentally opposed what they call "Hollywood welfare," what's to happen? Some background here. Stories from this past week below, in order of publication date.

From June 11:

A proposal to continue the state’s film tax credit in reduced form failed Wednesday morning in the House Finance Committee.

Rep. Ted Davis, the New Hanover County Republican who established a caucus to impress upon legislators the perceived benefits of the credit, introduced an amendment during the finance committee’s morning meeting to extend the credit to 2017 with modifications.

Currently, productions that spend at least $250,000 can get a 25 percent refundable credit, with a cap of $20 million for a single movie. The cap doesn’t apply to television series.

That program is set to expire at the end of this year.

Davis’s amendment sought to continue the credit at 22.5 percent and with a $15 million cap, but it failed on a 20-16 vote.

Rest of the story here.

And then from June 12:

North Carolina might have some sort of film incentive ahead after all.

As the N.C. House debated its budget Thursday night, Republican Rep. Ted Davis of Wilmington proposed a limited grant program to replace the expiring 25 percent refundable tax credit the film industry currently enjoys.

Davis’ amendment passed on a 90-26 vote to be included in the House plan, but it will have to be worked out between the two chambers to survive.

Rest of the story here

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Historic twist

I posted previously about North Carolina's historic preservation tax credits here and here. Churned out back to back updates this past week as the N.C. General Assembly's short lawmaking session (still in progress) is whipping with twists and turns.

From June 10:

A long-lived program credited with keeping Wilmington’s historic character spry did not make it into the N.C. House budget released Tuesday.

Like with the Senate’s version passed in May, the state’s historic preservation tax credits are absent and, as such, on track to expire at the end of this year.

That’s as scheduled–the credits have been in place since 1998–but against a push for renewal from local governments and developers across North Carolina who call the program a vital incentive for the rehabilitation of venerable, old buildings.

“If the current Historic Tax Credit program sunsets without replacement historic rehabilitation legislation, North Carolina will be one of the only states in the South without a demand-driven model to attract investment in our unique historic buildings,” Susan Kluttz, secretary of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, said in a release.

Rest of the story here.

And from June 11:

An imperiled program that gives tax breaks for historic rehabilitation projects in North Carolina found a lifeline Wednesday.

The House Appropriations Committee, during daylong debates, voted to include it in the chamber’s proposed version of the state budget, which still faces full floor votes.

It means the preservation program could be on track for renewal, rather than expire as scheduled at the end of this year.

Rest of the story here.

The above image is the 100-year-old Murchison Building on Front Street in downtown Wilmington, N.C. Recently sold through an online auction, its new owners hope to make a tax credit project of it.

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More on the flytrap front

Two more stories on lawmaking re: Venus flytrap protection in southeastern North Carolina.

From June 5:

A bill a New Hanover County legislator filed last month to make local Venus flytrap thefts a felony has expanded in scope.

Rep. Ted Davis (R-19) said Thursday he filed an amendment to House Bill 1059 to add Brunswick, Pender and Onslow counties to its coverage area.

As originally filed, the bill–which seeks to elevate the crime of flytrap poaching from misdemeanor to Class H felony–only applied to New Hanover County.

But that greater cluster in southeast North Carolina more or less represents the native range of the rare carnivorous plants, which grow naturally only within a 60-100 mile ring around Wilmington. Davis explained he added the neighboring counties at their request.

By elevating the crime to felony status, penalties could jump from a monetary fine to jail time....

Rest of the story here.

And from June 12:

There’s more than one bill out there seeking tougher penalties for Venus flytrap thefts.

While Wilmington’s Rep. Ted Davis filed a bill this session to make flytrap poaching a felony, a separate measure already approved by the N.C. Senate looks to keep it a misdemeanor and simply raise the monetary fine per offense.

That’s deep in the broad Regulatory Reform Act of 2014, which the Senate approved May 29 and is currently in a House committee.

It would amend a section of state law protecting a forest’s worth of wild plants, including the Venus flytrap, pitcher plant, azalea, American holly, flowering dogwood, orchid and dozens of others. The law today prohibits anyone from uprooting them without a permit signed by the landowner or authorized party.

Rest of the story here.

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Police aesthetics

A quick three-parter, in order of publication date, on an issue of appearance for local police cruisers. What if a police car looks too "tough"?

Nearly half of the $1.1 million the City of Wilmington plans to spend on fleet updates in the coming week is for police cruisers–with a new design scheme.

“The idea is to gradually put a few out there to get the community used to it,” said police department spokeswoman Linda Rawley.

With money already marked in the city’s current budget, the city council on Tuesday will consider authorizing the purchase of 22 new Dodge Chargers for the police department with a black and white scheme, a change from the dominantly white cruisers long employed.

Rest of part one here.

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A new look proposed for Wilmington’s police fleet has made a bad impression on some city council members.

Councilwoman Laura Padgett on Monday called the recommended black-and-white scheme “intimidating” and out of spirit for the city.

Rest of part two here.

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After a bit of protest, a new look is on order for Wilmington’s police cars–a classic black-and-white paint job with reflective blue lettering.

Wilmington City Council on Tuesday authorized the purchase of 22 new Dodge Chargers for the police department carrying the updated design.

And while it was Councilwoman Laura Padgett who made the motion to approve it, she’d expressed displeasure with the look and said she was “perturbed” that council wasn’t involved in the creative process. The design essentially popped up from an internal channel, she said.

Rest of part three.

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The local 'fiscal cliff'

As the North Carolina legislature sunsets a fairly significant local government revenue source....

The N.C. League of Municipalities calls it a local-level “fiscal cliff.”

But lawmakers say they’ll try to help cities like Wilmington replace the revenue they’re going to lose under changes signed into law last week that will repeal municipal authority to levy a privilege license tax on businesses.

To Wilmington’s government, it’s a good chunk of change that if lost could prompt a property tax rate increase, city council members say. The city collected $2.2 million on it last year and projects the same this year. The taxes fall on businesses for the “privilege” of carrying out their trade.

Rest of the story here.

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Tanks for reading

In my most "shared" story of the year so far I look at North Carolina's craft beer industry and how it's influencing towns to adapt.

If there was one point hammered home Thursday night at a City Hall meeting on the growth of craft beer-making in Wilmington, it was that breweries are not equivalent to late-night bars, alcohol abuse or roughneckery.

They’re businesses that mean culture, community-building, investments and jobs, said dozens of stakeholders pleased that the city is now working to welcome breweries into the development code.

“It’s a good business to be in. It really is encouraging a greater market base,” said Chip Bulla, who hopes to bring his Fox & Crow Brewery online in Wilmington. “You’re not opening another bar. You’re encouraging people to appreciate good beer, to appreciate local business you want to foster, to appreciate quality.”

Detractors didn’t make themselves obvious Thursday, but the city has set up an online survey (here) to continue gathering perspectives on the question it recently put to the public: “Are craft microbreweries good for Wilmington?”

Rest of the (lengthy) story here.

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New castle

Another Wilmington-based company (previously discussed here) charting serious growth and really going after the innovation-culture experience. Consider that I toured its new world headquarters today and learned it had:

A food truck bay.

An in-house brewery.

A tech business incubator.

An AstroTurf field.

A conference table that lifts from the ground and transforms into a chandelier.

CastleBranch had myriad unveilings large and small Friday at its new corporate headquarters in Wilmington, a building set to accommodate an innovation culture and hundreds of new hires in the coming years.

“This looks just like the Commerce office,” N.C. Secretary of Commerce Sharon Decker joked on her way in with a gaggle of public and local business officials on an arranged tour that morning.

“To say that we’re all impressed and awed would be an understatement,” Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo said.

Rest of the story here.

In the image above: Castle Branch President Joe Finley and N.C. Secretary of Commerce Sharon Decker.

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What's next for Next Glass?

The latest on a Wilmington, N.C.-based startup whose early successes have been fun to cover. You'll understand.

More than 10,000 bottles of beer and wine.

By the time Next Glass’ one-of-a-kind software launches this summer, that’s the kind of database it’ll have for giving users scientifically backed recommendations for alcoholic beverages they’ll enjoy.

Word of that concept–and a demonstration of how it works–helped the Wilmington startup win a top recognition last week at an IBM-sponsored N.C. Technology Association (NCTA) showcase in Durham that drew tech executives and investors from all over the state.

A milestone of sorts, “It was the first time that we’d shown our software live to the public,” said Kurt Taylor, Next Glass CEO.

Next Glass is an app coming available for mobile devices, tablets and other machines that recommends beers and wines it knows its user will like. Those recommendations are based on the user’s taste preferences and the chemical makeups of beverages in the database.

Rest of the story here.

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WRRDA to the prez

Here I write of a long-anticipated deadline-fix-it measure (sort of) on page 191 of a massive water resources bill Congress just passed. Enjoy.

WRRDA finally spells relief for Carolina Beach.

Headed to President Obama for his signature, it’s the Water Resources Reform and Development Act, which the U.S. Senate passed Thursday following House passage earlier this week.

Of the myriad water resources projects and initiatives WRRDA authorizes nationwide is a provision allowing Carolina Beach to maintain a vital shoreline funding partnership with the federal government.

That partnership allows Congress to cover up to 65 percent of the tab for beach nourishment–or “coastal storm damage reduction“–projects there, an arrangement that has been in place for 50 years and is worth millions of non-local dollars each time.

But 50 years is the limit, and while several coastal towns have similar funding arrangements, Carolina Beach’s was the first set to expire.

Rest of the story here.

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Dying houses

When the city council's agenda surfaced with three potential home demolitions on the city's dime, I knew there'd be a what-can-we-do-to-avoid-this conversation ahead. Indeed, but the question within that was: What can we do when a homeowner dies and the heirs won't care for the property?

Vacant, without electricity and with owners absent, the most life a shambling 1938 cottage at 715 S. Eighth St. sees these days is as a neighborhood drinking hangout.

Its windows are boarded up, a gap between the ground and the front porch is treated like a litter stash, and code enforcement photos of the home’s interior scream dilapidation.

It’s one of three run-down, residential properties in Wilmington that the city council on Tuesday marked for demolition, meaning the city will pay to tear them down unless the responsible parties–the family members of the homes’ deceased owners–step up immediately and arrange rejuvenations.

The problem is, “They have no interest in the property....”

Rest of the story here.

Note: I did not take the above photo. It was a public domain image (via the City of Wilmington) I manipulated.

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Exclamation point alert

You typically won't find exclamation points in respectable news stories; this one, though, quotes the governor's budget presentation. And, yes indeed, it nets an exclamation, so point the cannons at me.

The campaign to preserve the U.S.S. North Carolina is booming.

A $500,000 donation just landed from BB&T, and Front Street Brewery is soon to pour a special pale ale for the ship’s benefit. More than 30 regional McDonald’s locations are planning to give a portion of Big Mac sales to the cause, and the governor’s newly recommended budget is proposing a $3 million challenge grant.

“The Battleship North Carolina will not sink on our watch!” the budget’s summary says.

It’s all in a goal to raise $17 million for the World War II ship’s future. Specifically, it’s the hull that needs attention, with some spots dime-thin and awaiting restoration.

Rest of the story here. And please enjoy the headline alliteration.

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'General Assembly! Reassemble!'

A couple pieces--one a preview story, the other an explainer--about North Carolina's legislature reconvening. And the direction here, as far as reporting, has been simpler-the-better, write-to-the-point and keep-it-easy. I try. The first below is the explainer. 

What locals are watching for in the General Assembly

By Ben Brown

With the N.C. General Assembly back online as of Wednesday, county and city officials are at attention, monitoring for local impacts and promoting their wishlists.

While lawmakers expect it’ll be a brief session, with limited scope, below are some of those local interest items, with quick catch-ups on what they mean for this area.

On the City of Wilmington’s legislative agenda:

‘Save the film tax credit’

This one is sure for discussion. The 25 percent refundable tax credit–in most cases a reimbursement to film productions for expenses in the state–is set to expire at the end of this year. The legislature will have to decide whether to extend it, modify it, or let it go away as scheduled. Supporters like the City of Wilmington say....

Read the rest here.

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Legislators return to Raleigh for brisk session

By Ben Brown

Lawmakers will return to Raleigh on Wednesday for a short and tight-packed session of the General Assembly, with game plans eyeing teacher pay, coal ash regulations and the expiring film tax credit.

That’s in addition to the primary reason for the even-yeared session: to address the state’s budget, a challenge in itself with its projected $445 million revenue shortfall, a number cited in a recent General Assembly staff analysis.

Leaders hope to adjourn well within two months, before Independence Day, and that being the case, lawmakers don’t expect much wiggle room.

“I don’t know that there’s going to be a whole lot of action in terms of filing new bills or trying to create new law,” said Rep. Susi Hamilton (D-New Hanover).

Rest of the story here.