Public Safety

Whiteville City Council on Tuesday joined a growing number of local governments in putting the brakes on new data centers. “There’s just a lot we do not know at this point,” said City Planner Robert Lewis. Data centers create large, long-term storage of digital information and support structure through networked servers, according to Forbes Magazine. The growth of cloud storage, artificial intelligence and other tech expansions are driving...

Updated information A Whiteville area man is being held under no bond on multiple charges of statutory sex offense and child sexual abuse. Brenton Allen Britt, 36, is being held on no bond. He is charged with four counts of second degree forcible sex offense of a child; four counts indecent liberties with a child; four counts statutory sex offense, and three counts of first degree statutory sex...

Updated and corrected with new bond information and correct charge details. The stepfather and mother of a nine-year-old girl have been charged with allowing the sexual abuse of a child. Zackery Lynn Pratt, 30, and Brittany Pratt, 31, are being held under $25,000 secured bond each after a first appearance today. Court documents listed their address as the Whiteville area. Zackery and Brittany Pratt are alleged to have...