Good morning Wilmington!

It’s Earth Day—and what better way to honor it than planning some time outside? Whether you're planting a tree or catching Alo at Greenfield Lake, this weekend offers the perfect blend of nature, music, and local vibes.

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• NC Senate Bill Could Put the Brakes on High-Speed E-Bikes

• Push to Make Chemours Pay for PFAS Cleanup

NC Senate Bill Could Put the Brakes on High-Speed E-Bikes

[WECT] E-bikes are booming in Wilmington and across North Carolina, but concerns about safety and speed have prompted legislative action. Senate Bill 576, sponsored by Wilmington’s Sen. Michael Lee, proposes regulating e-bikes based on speed and design, mandating helmets, and giving cities the authority to control where e-bikes can be ridden. Local e-bike tour operator Erasmo Gomez welcomes the idea but questions how enforcement would work—especially when riders can often outrun police. The bill is headed to the Senate Rules Committee.

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Rep. Ted Davis Revives Push to Make Chemours Pay for PFAS Cleanup

[WHQR] Wilmington Republican Rep. Ted Davis is once again introducing legislation that would make manufacturers like Chemours—whose Fayetteville plant discharged toxic PFAS into the Cape Fear River—responsible for the cost of removing those chemicals from drinking water. Wilmington-area utilities have spent more than $240 million to upgrade filtration systems since 2017. Davis’ proposal targets only original PFAS producers and ties financial accountability to federal EPA standards. Though similar bills failed in 2022 and 2024, this one cleared a House committee and moves forward amid legal battles and industry pushback.

Read More »

News Roundup

Local News

• Child injured in shooting at Surf City's Soundside Park. A juvenile was shot and taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries; police say the incident appears isolated and there's no threat to the public. WECT

• Pender County urges beekeepers to register hives before mosquito spraying. Officials are prepping for mosquito control operations and ask residents to register bee hives to avoid harming pollinators. WECT

• Surf City community rallies around injured e-bike shop owner. Locals are raising funds and support for Jason King, owner of Surf City eBikes, after a serious accident left him hospitalized. WECT

What You Should Know

• Measles outbreaks reported in Virginia and Louisiana. Health officials warn of rising cases linked to international travel and low vaccination rates, urging parents to ensure their children are immunized. The Mirror

• Delta plane bursts into flames at Orlando airport. A Delta flight preparing for takeoff had to be evacuated after flames were seen shooting from one of its engines. All passengers were safely removed. The Gateway Pundit

• Gold hits record high above $3,500 amid global uncertainty. Investors are pouring into gold as a safe haven amid rising geopolitical tensions and economic instability. Insider Paper

What Might Surprise You

• Nevada veterinarian found dead after viral horse abuse video. Shawn Frehner, a veterinarian from Nevada, was found deceased in Lake Mead about two weeks after going missing amid online backlash over footage showing him kicking a horse. X

• NASCAR fans get first look at electric race car prototype. A prototype electric car has been unveiled, signaling NASCAR’s possible pivot toward more sustainable racing technologies in the future. The Express

National News

• Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem robbed during Easter dinner despite Secret Service protection. Noem's purse, containing $3,000 in cash, blank checks, her passport, medication, DHS badge, and more, was stolen at a downtown D.C. restaurant. The suspect—described as a white man in a medical mask—was seen on surveillance footage exiting the scene. Daily Mail

Weather

Summary

Wilmington, NC, will see partly cloudy skies on Tuesday with warm temperatures and minimal rain chance, ideal for beach activities. Wednesday brings scattered thunderstorms with a high chance of rain, potentially disrupting plans. Thursday is mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and cooler temperatures. Tides show increasingly lower lows, peaking at -0.28 ft Thursday morning. Surf remains small at 1-2 ft, with semi-glassy conditions Tuesday morning turning choppy by Wednesday and Thursday due to shifting winds.

Weather Forecast

Tue Apr 22: Partly Cloudy | 79° / 66° | 8% | SSW 16 mph
Wed Apr 23: Scattered Thunderstorms | 76° / 63° | 67% | SSE 9 mph
Thu Apr 24: Mostly Cloudy | 74° / 64° | 24% | ENE 10 mph

Tide Forecast

Tue Apr 22:
2:49am: 3.87 ft (High Tide)
9:33am: 0.34 ft (Low Tide)
3:19pm: 3.37 ft (High Tide)
9:47pm: 0.32 ft (Low Tide)

Wed Apr 23:
3:53am: 3.94 ft (High Tide)
10:22am: 0.04 ft (Low Tide)
4:25pm: 3.79 ft (High Tide)
10:46pm: 0.03 ft (Low Tide)

Thu Apr 24:
4:55am: 4.08 ft (High Tide)
11:10am: -0.28 ft (Low Tide)
5:24pm: 4.31 ft (High Tide)
11:42pm: -0.24 ft (Low Tide)

Surf Forecast

Surf is 1-2 ft, knee-high SE short-period wind swell with occasional thigh-high sets. Conditions are semi-glassy in the morning with SSW winds (<5 mph), becoming semi-choppy by afternoon (S 10-15 mph). Primary swell: SE (136°) 1.9 ft at 7-8 sec. Low tide (0.34 ft) at 9:33am may slightly affect wave shape.

Weather data derived from: weather.com. Tide data from: marineweather.net. Surf data from: surfcaptain.com

Tuesday

Wednesday