Wilmington, NC News

A new partnership between the district attorney’s office and law enforcement is helping keep suspected offenders in jail before trial.

In October, the DA’s office designated one prosecutor to be at each suspect’s first appearance. That prosecutor works in direct contact with detectives.

The need for this program was brought on by an overcrowded system. Too often small details of a case slip through the cracks, the DA’s office does not know about them and a suspected criminal can bond out only to repeat offend.

Ben David, New Hanover County District Attorney said, “Cases like drug offenses or breaking and entering, that don’t typically get the higher bonds as violent crimes, if they pose a real risk to the community, we’re going after them.”

David said it’s one of the most effective programs and partnerships that have been created in the past several years.

It is a mother’s fight that finally paid off. Kay Zwan, who was desperately trying to save her son’s life, can share her family’s good news.

It is an insulin pump that will help save Adam’s Zwan’s life. His insurance never covered the entire cost in the past. “Health care is not a privilege; it’s a right and responsibility for every single American citizen,” said Kay.

For five months, Zwan wrote state and local legislators, asking for help. Wednesday, State Senator Julia Boseman’s office delivered the good news Zwan so desperately needed to hear.

Zwan said it was her persistence that finally forced Medicare to cover the insulin pump, a technology that will allow Adam to live a relatively normal life. “I want to make sure that this never happens again, to another child, another American citizen or another American family. That because you are met with catastrophic diseases, you are stripped of all your constitutional rights,” added Kay.

It has been a long road for the family. For nearly two decades the Zwan’s have lived with disease. Zwan’s 21-year-old son, Adam, suffers from type 1 diabetes, multiple seizures, chronic kidney failure and terminal Wolfram syndrome. Kay’s husband is a stage 4 kidney cancer survivor.

While struggling with the medical bills, Kay was laid off from her job in corporate America, forcing her family to turn to government funded insurance. But it was not enough to cover all their medical bills. “We have to have a health care system that protects and preserves human life,” she said.

The Zwan family’s battles are far from over. Kay said the insulin pump is just a small victory. She intends to continue working with elected leaders to ensure other kids will get the coverage they need, and the fighting chance they deserve.

Zwan said Senator Kay Hagan and Congressman Mike McIntyre were both helpful in her fight for her family’s healthcare rights.

It was a sea of pink at Sunday’s UNC-Wilmington women’s basketball game against Hofstra.

Both teams donned as much pink as possible in support of breast cancer research. Proceeds from the game will support the Kay Yow Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Cancer Fund.

The longtime NC State women’s basketball coach died last month after a 22-year battle with breast cancer.

Fans who wore pink to Trask Coliseum were admitted to the game for just two dollars. Fans also had the opportunity to purchase pink wrist bands, pink head bands and pink megaphones.

The Lady Seahawks, by the way, won the game 72-62.