Mike McHugh and I spoke today with the Marine who killed two home intruders April 15. Read previous post. He was well-spoken and polite, but said he didn’t want to comment at length about the incident. He said he thought the media coverage of what happened was fair and the community has been supportive. He [...]

Maurice Skinner and Diego Everette were killed April 15. “These deaths, although tragic for the decedents’ families, are justified pursuant to the facts and circumstances of this investigation and the law of North Carolina.” – District Attorney Ernie Lee. Lee said the state’s newly updated Castle Doctrine applies in the case. Read the news. The article [...]

Elizabeth Tourish lets Daily News photographer Don Bryan know how she feels during her booking process Saturday after being arrested on charges of selling cocaine, delivering cocaine and maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance: Read the news. A complete list of those arrested or still being sought will be available later in the week. [...]

A tipster sent me an email Friday to tell me about a drug search at Swansboro High School, saying they wanted to help me “get on the ball!!!!” Sigh. I knew about the drug search – which happens frequently (searches, not me knowing) – almost as soon as it began. Please don’t construe this post [...]

A prominent Jacksonville lawyer was charged Thursday with driving while impaired and unsafe lane change. Deke Owens is a personal injury attorney at the Law Offices of John Drew Warlick, which also lists his areas of practice as family law, criminal law and civil litigation. He was charged by Jacksonville Police Department officer Scott Eichelberger, [...]

Marine Col. Daniel Lecce is always first to crack a joke about his diminutive height, but there is nothing small about this Devil Dog. Lecce tackled tornadoes, hurricanes, snowstorms and wildfires during his two years as commander at Camp Lejeune. Read about his last few days on the job. Read about the change of command. [...]

In my weekly column this week I talk about how news derived locally is usually better than national news, which is a lot of talking heads doing commentary and news analysis, which looks and sounds like news, but isn’t. An excerpt: We should all practice common sense discernment. My practiced method is to seek out [...]