The county attorney reported the litigation settlement with Chemours has been fully executed and an escrow arrangement is being established; county staff and commissioners clarified the settlement does not resolve related CFPUA or individual claims and a commissioner noted the county's share will be $1,700,000 annually for 10 years.

Commissioners discussed creating more robust vetting for high‑stakes appointments such as the $1.7 billion endowment and raised an unverified claim that a nonprofit was told it needed matching county and city commitments to receive a $1 million endowment disbursement; the manager said he had seen no evidence and staff will follow up.

A straight rezoning request by McCormick Ventures to change ~10.4 acres on Sidbury Road from R-15 to B-2 prompted commissioners to press for conditional rezoning and public input; the county manager advised against approval absent tighter controls, and planning materials showed mixed planning-board support.

Planning staff told commissioners the county’s 2020 ordinance broadly defines data centers and allows them by right in four zones; commissioners asked staff to return with options (conditional rezoning, scale-based rules or special permits) to give elected officials more oversight of larger "hyperscale" facilities.

The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners voted April 20 to advance a $320.5 million general-obligation bond referendum for K–12 capital projects, including a new Trask Middle School and major renovations at New Hanover High School; staff said the bonds would be issued in three tranches and require voter approval this fall.

The board approved acquiring two tracts totaling 28.55 acres on the western bank to preserve riverfront and prevent development near county training facilities; staff negotiated a $2,240,000 purchase, subject to due diligence and environmental testing.

Planning staff outlined major changes in the Destination 2050 comprehensive-plan draft — including a new corridor‑commercial place type and encouragement of master planning for large northern parcels — and commissioners agreed to a public hearing and further review before any final vote.

County emergency staff say a coastal snow event this weekend will bring extreme cold, hazardous marine conditions and likely snowfall (high confidence of at least 2 inches). Officials urged residents to stay off roads, protect pipes and watch National Weather Service updates.

The board unanimously approved a special-use permit for Standard Technologies to build an 85,000-square-foot metal fabrication plant at Las Tortugas Drive, with the applicant estimating about 65 jobs and stating powder-coating operations will use filtration and DEQ permitting.

Commissioners approved awarding a port security grant-funded contract for a 31-foot patrol vessel to Inventech Marine Solutions (doing business as LifeProof boats); staff said the lowest bidder was found nonresponsive due to quality and bid-package discrepancies.

After a year-and-a-half public process staff presented the Destination 2050 draft and the planning board voted Jan. 8 to recommend it to the Board of County Commissioners, along with companion text amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance designed to align regulatory language with the new place-type framework and recent state law changes. Board members praised outreach but asked for clearer infill-residential density guidance.

Commissioners said community trust and the potential for abuse, plus changes in the vendor's policies, led them to cancel the stationary ALPR contract and call for clearer guardrails and penalties for misuse.

The board entered closed session under NCGS 143-318.11 to consult with counsel about pending federal litigation (New Hanover County v. Kimmore's company and others), then returned to open session and approved cancellation of the Flock stationary ALPR contract.

At a Sept. 8 special meeting, the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to cancel the county's contract with Flock for stationary automatic license-plate reader cameras, citing community privacy concerns and lack of adequate guardrails.

Museum leadership says the new Cape Fear Museum of History and Science includes hands-on galleries, more than 400 artifacts from the collection and a 60-seat planetarium designed to boost STEM learning and family visits.

County leaders described Project Grace as a more-than-$77 million public investment delivered through a public-private partnership and intended to spur private development and community use in the Grace District.

County officials and Cape Fear Public Utility Authority leaders celebrated the completion of the Last Frontier water and sewer extension, describing roughly 18 miles of new mains, state investment of about $27.5 million and expanded service to previously unserved acreage.

The Board of County Commissioners and museum staff opened the new Cape Fear Museum of History and Science in downtown New Hanover County, highlighting a public-private Project Grace investment, a 60-seat planetarium and more than 400 artifacts.