🌱 'Superstreet' + Novant Health Requests 25 Acute Care Beds

Hi all. It's me, Lauren Kubiak, your host of the Wilmington Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with all the most important things happening in town these days.

But first, your local weather:

• Wednesday: Plenty of sun. High: 58 Low: 31.
• Thursday: Partly sunny and warmer. High: 64 Low: 49.

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Here are the top three stories in Wilmington today:

1. The North Carolina Department of Transportation will be converting a section of Market Street in Wilmington to a "superstreet" from Lendire Road to Mendenhall Drive, replacing the middle-shared turning lane with a concrete barrier to prevent left turns onto Market Street. This change is being made for safety reasons, as it is considered a risky maneuver to turn left onto Market Street due to traffic counts. The project, which began in 2019, is expected to be completed by the end of 2023 and will cost $24.7 million. (WWAY NewsChannel 3)
2. Novant Health has requested permission from the North Carolina Department of Human Services to develop 25 acute care beds at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center for $55.9 million by October 2026. The request is in response to a need identified in the 2023 State Medical Facilities Plan. A public hearing on the matter will be held on Apr. 12 at the Cape Fear Community College Health Sciences Building. Written comments can be submitted before Mar. 31 to DHSR.CON.Comments@dhhs.nc.gov or mailed to the Division of Health Services Regulation. (WECT)
3. Eddie Earl Radford, who was sentenced to life in prison for first-degree rape in New Hanover County in 1982, is being considered for parole through the Mutual Agreement Parole Program (MAPP). MAPP is a three-way agreement between the Commission, the Division of Prisons, and the offender, providing a scholastic and vocational program. Although the state's current sentencing law eliminates parole for crimes committed after Oct. 1, 1994, the commission has the responsibility to parole offenders who were sentenced under previous guidelines. (WECT)

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Today and tomorrow in Wilmington:

Wednesday, March 15

• Ribbon Cutting At American Uniform Sales, Inc. (10:00 AM)
• Small Business Series – Session One: Tools & Strategies To Reach New Markets & Customers At Wilmington Chamber Of Commerce (11:30 AM)

Thursday, March 16

• Live Music At Harris Teeter (5:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• On Mar. 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., New Hanover County NC Works will host a career fair with Novant Health and the University of North Carolina Wilmington offering positions from professional to corporate level. Interested individuals can contact the career center for resume and interview assistance, and job opportunities can be found on the NC Works website. (WECT)
• New homes have been listed for sale in the Wilmington area! Get all the property details at the link. (Wilmington Patch)
• The City of Wilmington held a grand reopening ceremony of Portia Mills Hines Park, located at 400 N. 10th St., yesterday (Mar. 14)! The $754,000 upgrade included new restrooms, parking, lighting, a pavilion, and sidewalk connections. (Port City Daily)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. See you all soon for another update!

— Lauren Kubiak

About me: Lauren is an Editor for Lightning Media Partners. She graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelor’s in journalism. She was previously a full-time editor at an association management firm, editing peer-reviewed nursing journals, textbooks, and newsletters.