Good morning Wilmington!

It was a busy weekend in the news, both locally and globally. Former President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss a potential peace deal with Russia, but tensions quickly derailed the conversation.

Meanwhile, Trump is making waves in the crypto world with an executive order establishing a U.S. cryptocurrency reserve, including Ripple (XRP), Solana (SOL), and Cardano (ADA). Bitcoin surged past $91K following the announcement.

Closer to home, wildfires have been raging across North and South Carolina, prompting evacuations and challenging firefighters working to contain the blazes.

And, of course, Hollywood’s biggest night took center stage as the Oscars crowned its 2025 winners. Check out the full list of winners.

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• UNC Wilmington Med Campus Sees Record Growth

• Senators Demand Probe into Military Housing Costs

UNC Wilmington Med Campus Sees Record Growth

[WilmgtonBiz] Since launching in 2016 with only three third-year students, the UNC School of Medicine campus in Wilmington has grown dramatically. This March, the campus welcomes its largest-ever cohorts—30 third-year and 18–20 fourth-year students. Dr. Joseph Pino of Novant Health notes that more graduates are returning to serve locally, bolstered by hands-on clinical rotations, personalized training, and innovative simulation programs. Campus adviser Carrie Fales and emergency physician Matthew Yeager emphasize the Wilmington experience’s unique blend of academic rigor and community engagement, embodying UNC’s “mountain-to-the-coast” initiative to improve North Carolina’s healthcare landscape.

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Senators Demand Probe into Military Housing Costs

[WECT] Over a dozen U.S. senators have urged the Department of Defense to investigate rising rental rates for military families in cities like Wilmington, spotlighting the role of RealPage software in alleged price gouging. The bipartisan group, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, pointed to a national lawsuit against RealPage and property giants like Greystar and Blackstone’s LivCor, accusing them of colluding to inflate rents. With the DOD spending $24 billion on housing allowances in 2023, the senators argue that predatory landlords may be exploiting service members. The letter highlights Wilmington’s 12.4% rent hike in 2022—double the national average—underscoring the urgency to protect military families from unfair housing costs.

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News Roundup

The Oscars

Last night, March 2, 2025, the 97th Academy Awards took place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, hosted by Conan O’Brien, where Anora emerged as the big winner, securing five awards including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress for Mikey Madison, with director Sean Baker making history by winning four Oscars for a single film (NPR). The Brutalist also shone with Adrien Brody winning Best Actor, while Zoe Saldaña took Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez. The ceremony featured heartfelt moments, a James Bond tribute with performances by Raye and others, and avoided heavy politics, focusing instead on celebrating cinema and resilience after LA wildfires (Vanity Fair). For a full winners list and more highlights, check out ABC News.

Local

• Wildfires Threaten Myrtle Beach Area: A massive blaze near Myrtle Beach doubled in size overnight Saturday, reaching 3,200 acres by Sunday, with containment at just 30% as dry winds fuel its spread (USA Today).

Western NC

• Hurricane Relief Bill: A new bill promises to finally complete homes for survivors of Hurricanes Florence and Matthew, addressing years of delays (Carolina Journal).

• Landslides Devastate Communities: Over 2,000 landslides triggered by Hurricane Helene have wrecked Western North Carolina, with Black Mountain among the hardest hit (WLOS).

What you need to know

• Norway Fuel Giant’s Stand: Norway’s Equinor has refused to supply fuel to ships linked to controversial clients, sparking debate over corporate ethics (Express).

What Might Surprise you

• Kanye’s Swastika Stunt: Kanye West paraded a swastika t-shirt in Los Angeles, reigniting outrage and calls for accountability (JNS).

National

• JD Vance Ambushed in Vermont: Vice President JD Vance faced protests in a Vermont ski town over Ukraine policy, with locals clashing over U.S. involvement (Daily Mail).

Weather

Summary
The next three days in Wilmington, NC, will bring a mix of weather conditions, starting with mild, partly cloudy skies on Monday, followed by a chance of showers on Tuesday, and clearing up by Wednesday. Temperatures will hover in the low to mid-60s, with cooler nights. Tides will follow a typical coastal pattern with two highs and two lows daily, while surf conditions will vary from choppy to fair, influenced by shifting winds and swells.

Weather Forecast

• Mon 3: Partly Cloudy | 62° / 47° | 20% | S 10-15 mph

• Tue 4: Scattered Showers | 60° / 45° | 50% | SW 12-18 mph

• Wed 5: Mostly Sunny | 63° / 43° | 10% | NW 10-15 mph

Tide Forecast

Mon 3

• 6:15 AM: 4.3 ft (High Tide)

• 12:30 PM: -0.3 ft (Low Tide)

• 6:35 PM: 3.8 ft (High Tide)

• 12:45 AM: -0.5 ft (Low Tide)

Tue 4

• 7:00 AM: 4.4 ft (High Tide)

• 1:15 PM: -0.4 ft (Low Tide)

• 7:20 PM: 3.9 ft (High Tide)

• 1:30 AM: -0.6 ft (Low Tide)

Wed 5

• 7:45 AM: 4.5 ft (High Tide)

• 2:00 PM: -0.5 ft (Low Tide)

• 8:05 PM: 4.0 ft (High Tide)

Surf Forecast

• Mon 3: 2-3 ft waves, S swell, S wind 10-15 mph, fair, choppy in the afternoon

• Tue 4: 3-4 ft waves, SW swell, SW wind 12-18 mph, fair-good, choppy conditions

• Wed 5: 2-3 ft waves, NW swell, NW wind 10-15 mph, good, clean early

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday