Wilmington, NC News

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) – Isaac has strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane with 75 mph winds as it makes its way toward Louisiana.
    
The storm is expected to make landfall over southeastern Louisiana, possibly the New Orleans area, tonight. Heavy rain, and storm surge will be the major effects with this system in that area. 

Here at home, flooding rains are likely today and tomorrow as tropical moisture from Isaac streams onshore. This is an indirect result from the storm being off to our west in the Gulf. 

Please keep in mind that rising water is very dangerous. Do not attempt to cross any roadway with standing water.

You can always see up-to-the-minute forecasts from the StormTrack 3 Weather Team at Hurricanes 101, and catch a full Tropical Video Update. 

– Meteorologist Tim Buckley

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A spokesman for a local group that’s against a tax-funded baseball stadium in Wilmington tells WWAY New Hanover County is talking with Cal Ripken about building a stadium and mall with private money.

New Hanover County Manager Chris Coudriet said an organization approached the county in the last few weeks about an idea. Coudriet would not identify the group. He said the county is not involved in any negotiations with the organization.

Currently Mandalay Baseball Properties is negotiating with the City of Wilmington to build a tax-funded stadium downtown for an estimated $37 million. Voters will get to decide whether to approve that bond during the election this November. That stadium would likely be built on the north end of Downtown Wilmington.

Wilmington had considered hiring Ripken’s firm Ripken Design to do a study on the feasibility of building a ballpark in the Port City. City Council decided against that plan after Mandalay objected because it said Ripken Design, like Mandalay, is in the business of managing minor league teams and stadiums.

Marcy Cuevas is working on this story. She will have more later today here online and on WWAY NewsChannel 3 at 5 and 6 p.m.