Thursday, October 09, 2003

Wilmington, NC – Programming for the week of October 13, UNCW Community Link, an interactive, public affairs television show chats with New Hanover County’s Department of Social Services about child safety issues and also with local experts on the economic growth in the downtown area.

H.E. “Hunter” Thompson, Jr. speaks with Julia Talbutt, attorney for the Department of Social Services and Wanda Neidig, assistant director of DSS about child fatalities within North Carolina, particularly New Hanover County. Past investigations into child fatalities reveal that there are gaps in the system regarding the protection of a child. One such gap is the inconsistency of investigative procedures, which often prevent investigators from determining an actual cause of death. Other gaps are because of barriers in information exchange.



Recently, there has been much debate over the parking meters and traffic problems in the downtown area, especially in the wake of the recent city elections. In an energetic segment this week, Betty Ann Sanders speaks with UNCW’s Claude Farrell, professor of economics and finance, and Howard Brown and Michael Lambrix, owners of Azalea Coast Florist, about the financially viable growth in the downtown area. Many issues are put on the table in this week’s show that are not usually mentioned in regard to the historic district’s economy and well being.

“The city government is buying property to sell for commercial property. This will require continuous taxpayer subsidy if they keep allowing hotel, motel and restaurants that provide low income, dead income jobs that don’t do any one any good,” Farrell said.

This week’s Editorially Yours segment is provided by Dr. Bette Bauereis regarding the Clean Air Act.

UNCW Community Link reaches beyond the television studio to allow citizens to sound off on compelling issues facing Southeastern North Carolina. Hosts Sanders and Thompson engage and challenge the region’s newsmakers and opinion-shapers and then ask viewers to voice their opinions. Through collaboration with the Southeast Public Interest Network of North Carolina (www.SpinNC.org), citizens can use the latest Internet technologies to continue the dialog on show topics and community ideas. UNCW Community Link is brought to you in part by the following sponsors: Time Warner Cable, Wilmington Star-News and WHQR Public Radio.



Tune into UNCW Community Link

Wilmington & Brunswick County 7 p.m. Mondays

7 p.m. Thursdays

7 p.m. Fridays The Learning Network on Time Warner Ch 5 and Charter Communications Ch 12

Pender County 7 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays

Government Channel 8

Carteret County/Havelock 7 p.m. Thursdays

Time Warner Channel 10

Jacksonville 7 p.m. Thursdays

Time Warner Channel 10